Description
LIVE STREAM: July 15, 2026 from 8:30am – 4:00pm (Vancouver, BC) Please adjust your start time according to your specific time zone.
ON-DEMAND: Recorded footage & course content (certificate, videos, quiz) will be available until August 19, 2026. Please allow 3 – 5 business days for footage to be processed. Extensions cannot be granted under any circumstances.
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) remains one of the most challenging and prevalent mental health conditions faced by clinicians today. Whether working with survivors of childhood adversity, interpersonal violence, or combat-related trauma, mental health professionals inevitably encounter clients whose lives have been shaped by traumatic experiences. This comprehensive workshop offers an updated, evidence-informed look at the nature of PTSD, the neurobiological changes associated with trauma, and the therapeutic approaches proven to support recovery.
While established interventions such as Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Prolonged Exposure (PE) remain foundational, research continues to evolve, highlighting new strategies for clients who do not fully respond to traditional treatments. Emerging modalities—including Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)—offer promising ways to help clients relate differently to their thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations while rebuilding meaningful lives.
Led by clinical psychologist and international trainer Dr. Richard Sears, this workshop integrates lecture, clinical examples, and practical tools to help clinicians deepen their understanding of PTSD and strengthen their therapeutic skillset. Participants will leave with actionable strategies for assessment, case conceptualization, and intervention across multiple evidence-based approaches.
1. Diagnostic Foundations
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PTSD diagnostic criteria (DSM-5)
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Differentiating stress vs. trauma
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Trauma responses vs. PTSD
2. Biological and Neurological Aspects of Trauma
3. General Treatment Considerations
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Understanding the avoidance cycle
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Principles of exposure and why details are not always necessary
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Uncoupling affect from thoughts, sensations, and triggers
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Present-Centered Therapy and the evolution of supportive approaches
4. Prolonged Exposure (PE) Therapy
5. Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
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Identifying and working through stuck points
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Assimilated vs. over-accommodated beliefs
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Using Socratic questioning
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Challenging beliefs and promoting cognitive flexibility
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Overview of the 12-session CPT model
6. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) for PTSD
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Clinical mindfulness: moving toward discomfort
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Mindfulness as a form of exposure
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Overview of the 8-session MBCT model
7. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
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Creative hopelessness and letting go of unworkable strategies
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Cultivating psychological flexibility
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The six core ACT processes
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Experiential exercises:
Clinical Professionals: All mental health professionals including, but not limited to Clinical Counsellors, Psychologists, Psychotherapists, Social Workers, Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Hospice and Palliative Care Workers, School Counsellors, Youth Workers, Mental Health Workers, Addiction Specialists, Marital & Family Therapists, Speech Language Pathologists, Vocational Rehabilitation Consultants and all professionals looking to enhance their therapeutic skills.
Richards W. Sears, Psy.D., Ph.D., ABPP is a board certified clinical psychologist in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he runs a private practice and conducts regular MBCT groups for medical centres as well as for the community. He is director of the Centre for Clinical Mindfulness & Meditation, and has several academic faculty appointments, including the UC College of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience. He was clinical lead on one of the first trials using MBCT for PTSD within the VA system, and is also on the first research team to conduct brain scans on children and adolescents before and after mindfulness practice. Dr. Sears is author of 10 books, including Building Competence in MBCT, MBCT for PTSD, and Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy and Mindfulness. He is an authorized Zen teacher, has a fifth degree black belt in To Shin Do/Ninjutsu, and once served as a personal protection agent for the Dalai Lama.
| Registration | Early bird Fee | Regular Fee |
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| Individual Enrollment | $244.00 | N/A |
| Group 3 - 7 | $183.00 | N/A |
| Group 8 - 15 | $122.00 | N/A |
| Group 15+ | $97.60 | N/A |
| Full-Time Student | $97.60 | N/A |
All fees are in Canadian dollars ($CAD) and per person.
How to Purchase a Group Rate
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Add Seats to Your Cart
Select the total number of seats you need for your group and add them to your cart. Each seat represents one participant who will be enrolled in the course.
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Complete Your Purchase
Proceed to checkout and complete the payment for the total number of seats needed for your group.
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Contact Our Office
Once your purchase is complete, please contact our office at webinars@jackhirose.com with your order number.
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Receive Group Enrollment Link
We will send you a unique link that you can distribute to group members. Group members will be required to use this link to complete receiving access to the course.
If you have any questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out.
Fees are per person, seat sharing is not allowed. Please respect this policy, failure to comply will result in termination of access without a refund. For group rates please contact webinars@jackhirose.com
