I am the current Chairman of ISSTD’s Professional Training Program, to be followed in 2024 by Faige Flakser as Chair, with Jill Hosey stepping into the Chair-Elect position. The PTP represents a core educational function for ISSTD and is comprised of a sequence of courses, at levels moving from introductory to advanced, for the understanding and treatment of complex trauma and dissociative conditions. Courses are offered in English and Spanish and advanced through Master level content, now mostly in teleseminar/virtual formats. In 2023, there were 18 PTP sections offered, with 201 participants. Sections are structured in a full year format, once a month, 150-minutes each, or half-year, twice a month 150-minute classes. ISSTD Certificate Program Credits are offered for all courses, with Continuing Education credits offered for all English taught courses in the USA and Canada.
Through 2023, there have been several primary focus areas for PTP endeavors. We are always looking to recruit new instructors for our courses and to enhance the skills of our existing instructors. Those who have completed the first two sequences of PTP training and who want to teach and become involved, are encouraged to join the ranks of instructors. The PTP currently has 26 instructors, with five new instructors being added soon.
The curriculum of the PTP is constantly updated with new content areas established to stay current with our ever-evolving research and treatment fields and to meet Continuing Education requirements. Content has been added about newer non-verbal modalities, cultural humility/race/colonization, LGBTQ+ issues, the impact of treating complex trauma on the therapist/self-care, and other pertinent current topics. We are in the process of restructuring PTP offerings to aid in learning, moving from basic concepts to advanced issues, with a wide range of specific topic areas and free-standing modules for specific and advanced topics. Currently the Child & Adolescent area is being restructured and will be available soon.
If you would like additional information about the Professional Training Courses, click here. And I would be glad to answer any questions you might have, so please contact me at PeterMaves@aol.com.