Identifying and Treating Complex Trauma: Dynamics, Stages, and Standards of Practice for Recovery

Description

Complex trauma is often misidentified, mismanaged, or misunderstood—leaving both clients and clinicians struggling through cycles of symptom relief without lasting healing. This course offers a clear and research-backed path forward grounded in established clinical standards for recovery.

Understanding how to recognize, respond to, and guide recovery from complex trauma is essential for any behavioral health clinician committed to effective care. This foundational training helps you better identify trauma responses, clarify diagnostic distinctions, and apply evidence-informed standards that honor the depth of your clients’ experiences.

Dr. Dan Sartor, Ph.D., LCPC, NCC, is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with over 20 years of clinical experience and deep specialization in trauma recovery. As a Professor of Counseling at Richmont Graduate University and an international speaker on trauma-informed care, Dr. Sartor brings advanced clinical knowledge, teaching expertise, and compassion-driven insight to this training.

Drawing from leading research, including Judith Herman’s stages of recovery and international diagnostic standards, Dr. Sartor guides learners through a practical framework for treating complex trauma. His teaching integrates clear diagnostic criteria, clinical examples, and real-world application strategies.

Topics covered include the distinction between PTSD and complex trauma, core diagnostic criteria and symptom clusters (including those outlined in DESNOS and ICD-11), six primary areas of disturbance in complex trauma, and Herman’s three-stage model for trauma recovery. The course also addresses treatment pacing, dissociation, affect regulation, therapeutic alliance, and expectations for long-term recovery.

Key Takeaways:

• Distinguish trauma types and symptoms: Learn to clearly differentiate between PTSD and complex trauma using established diagnostic frameworks.

• Apply trauma recovery stages: Gain clinical guidance on how to use Herman’s three-stage model to promote adaptive resilience and relational healing.

• Set realistic clinical expectations: Understand how to develop informed treatment plans that respect the variable pace and scope of complex trauma recovery.

Why this course?

• A trusted expert instructor: Dr. Sartor’s experience in trauma care, clinical supervision, and academic instruction provides a rich and relevant learning experience.

• Grounded in gold-standard research: The course is anchored in Judith Herman’s recovery model and incorporates global standards such as DESNOS and ICD-11.

• Training that meets real-world needs: Offered by Telehealth Certification Institute, this course reflects our commitment to providing exceptional, practical education that empowers clinicians in their day-to-day practice.

Learning Objectives:

• Summarize the key characteristics of a trauma reaction and the unique additional impact introduced by interpersonal trauma.

• Identify six areas of disturbance caused by interpersonal trauma according to the literature on complex trauma (Disorders of Extreme Stress Not Otherwise Specified; DESNOS).

• Apply current published standards of care to complex trauma treatment, especially Herman’s (2015) three stages of trauma recovery as descriptive of the process to establish or restore characteristics of health and adaptive resilience.

• Establish appropriate expectations for complex trauma recovery as distinct from PTSD.

Whether you’re new to trauma work or looking to deepen your understanding of complex trauma treatment, this training offers a clear, compassionate, and clinically grounded foundation. Add this course to your toolkit to more confidently support your clients in their journey toward healing.

Add this to your course library to develop your skills, boost your confidence, and enhance your impact as a behavioral health professional.

Format and Access

This is a non-interactive, self-study course. Instruction consists of 1+ hour of video instruction and a post-test.

Course Details

Availability: 

From the time of registration, you have six months to access the coursework.

Who Should Attend: 

This course is intended for clinicians who provide behavioral health services.

Teaching Methods: 

This is a non-interactive, self-study course. Teaching methods for this course include recorded lectures, videos, a post-test, and a course evaluation.

How to Attend: 

Course access and completion instructions.

Instructor and Disclosures

Instructor

About Dr. Dan Sartor, Ph.D., LCPC, NCC

Biography: Dan is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist (GA), Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (IL), and Nationally Board Certified Counselor with over 20 years of clinical experience. He is Professor of Counseling at Richmont Graduate University, where he teaches graduate courses in trauma, psychodynamic therapy, and the integration of faith in clinical practice. In his practice, he provides psychotherapy, clinical supervision, and consultation services. Dan regularly speaks and provides training nationally and internationally to organizations on various topics, including trauma-informed care, complex trauma recovery, compassion satisfaction/compassion fatigue, and various topics related to sexuality, marital enrichment, pastoral care, and healthy spirituality. Dan’s clinical specialties include trauma recovery, sexuality issues, addiction recovery, marital therapy, and the integration of faith with clinical practice. Dan is a co-author of Shared Hope, International's i:CARE: A Health Care Provider’s Guide to Recognizing and Caring for Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Victims (2016) and is featured on WebMD on identifying PTSD triggers and the impact of PTSD on relationships.

Disclosure Statement:

The instructor(s) for this course receive compensation for their services. There are no reported conflicts of interest to disclose.

CE Hours

Credit Hours:

This course consists of 1 continuing education hour of credit.

Counselors:

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No, 6693.  Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified.  Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. 

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Mental Health Counselors. #MHC-0048.

Marriage and Family Therapists: 

Many MFT licensing boards accept our courses or one of the approvals which we have from professional associations.  You can check with your board to determine if your licensing board would accept this course.

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0135, effective May 8, 2025.

Social Workers:

Telehealth Certification Institute LLC, #1609, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 05/02/2024 – 05/02/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 1 clinical continuing education credit.

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Social Workers #SW-0435.

Addiction Professionals:

This course has been approved by Telehealth Certification Institute LLC, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits. NAADAC Provider #193104, Telehealth Certification Institute LLC is responsible for all aspects of the programming.

Psychologists:

Telehealth Certification Institute LLC is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Telehealth Certification Institute LLC maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Psychologists #PSY-0128.

Art Therapists: 

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Creative Arts Therapists #CAT-0093.

Other Professionals:

This course qualifies for 60 minutes of instructional content as required by many national, state and local licensing boards and professional organizations.  Retain your certificate of completion and contact your board or organization for specific filing requirements.

This is a non-interactive, self-study course.

Accommodations and Policies

Close Captioning is available for live webinars and recorded video presentations.

You can click on the following links to view our policies:

• Accommodations for Individuals with Disabilities.
• Cancellation Policy
• Grievance Policy
• Support Options
• Disclosure Statement