Trauma Touch Therapy FAQs

• What qualifications are needed to enroll in the Trauma Touch Therapy™ Program?
  1. Those looking to attend the Trauma Touch Therapy™ 5-day immersion would need to work in a health care field such as massage therapy or somatic talk therapy. This would include massage therapists, somatic therapists, psychotherapists, talk therapists, chiropractors, nurses, wellness and life coaches, and other health care professionals whose work is impacted by the somatic effects of trauma.

Registration requires high school transcripts, documentation of educational training, documentation of licensure or certification, and documentation of active liability insurance. Students should have a high level of understanding of ethics and presence, and understand the scope of practice of their given field.

• What are the core objectives of the Trauma Touch Therapy™ Program?
  1. Trauma Touch Therapy™ is a somatic approach to working with trauma. By understanding the neuromuscular, pathological and neurological effects of trauma in the body, the therapist is able to safely and effectively work with clients to facilitate a deeper sense of healing and autonomy in the healing process.

Trauma Touch Therapy™, at its core, is the therapist and client working with sensation and emotion in the client’s body, while remaining present and engaged.

• How is the Trauma Touch Therapy™ Program structured?
  1. Trauma Touch Therapy™ is structured in two phases. Level 1 is a 5-day immersive class which takes place on the campus of Colorado School of Healing Arts in Lakewood, CO. The Level 2 class is a self-designed, supported externship which uses distance education tools to have the therapist complete 30 sessions of Trauma Touch Therapy™ with clients.

Trauma Touch Therapy™ Level 1 currently runs 3 times a year in March, June, and September. Classes are held on 5 consecutive days, Thursday through Monday, from 9am until 9pm. A one-hour lunch break and one-hour dinner break is scheduled into this time each day, along with many shorter breaks throughout the day. Course instruction is divided between lecture, dyad and group exercises, and session trades. As with other bodywork courses, students are expected to trade sessions and will need to be prepared to work with the somatic traumas that come up for them and also to hold space for their clients.

Trauma Touch Therapy™ Level 2 is designed to prepare therapists to develop their own resources and support systems in order to create a Trauma Touch Therapy™ practice wherever they are currently located. Prospective students will need a space to work in, an on-site personal support facilitator, and will need at least 3 clients interested in doing 10 sessions of Trauma Touch Therapy™ each. Support is provided by the TTT™ Level 2 Instructor as well as group zoom calls with other students and active Trauma Touch Therapists. Students have one year to complete their Level 2 Externship however most complete in about half that time.

• What types of trauma issues does the Trauma Touch Therapy™ address?
  1. According to Judith Herman, “Traumatic events are extraordinary, not because they occur rarely, but rather because they overwhelm the ordinary human adaptations to life.” When this happens, trauma can become trapped in the body, disrupt the nervous system, and lead to physical symptoms and emotional distress. Rather than thinking of a particular type of trauma, we look at the impacts of trauma on the nervous system and the body. Issues that have long felt resolved in the mind can still show themselves in the body. A constellation of overwhelming events can build and become Complex post-traumatic stress disorder. Generational trauma or vicarious trauma can have an impact even when the incident did not directly occur to an individual. Seemingly small occurrences can impact us for years after they have occurred and color our schemas and beliefs about ourselves and our relationships.

Trauma Touch Therapy™ gives clients the tools for working with past and ongoing somatic dysregulation. Our hope is that clients gain autonomy over their bodies and their own healing journey.

• Who is the ideal candidate for the Trauma Touch Therapy™ Program?
  1. Ideal candidates for attending the Trauma Touch Therapy™ 5-day immersion would be those working in the health field who have clients who deal with traumas in the body. These traumas can come up through sensation and emotion in many ways during sessions. TTT™ is an excellent modality for health care professionals who seek to address the body in order to heal the person.

Trauma Touch Therapy™ is not a modality that can be role-played or simply talked about, in order to fully understand this work, students should come prepared to acknowledge and work through their own somatic traumas. Holding space and respecting boundaries of others in the class is also vital to everyone’s success.

• Are there any continuing education credits available through the program?
  1. Trauma Touch Therapy™™ Level 1 is a 50-hour class in integrative techniques and fundamentals. TTT™ Level 1 50 hours is NCBTMB CE approved. Both levels are approved by the Department of Private Occupational Schools. Please verify the requirements for continuing education in your state or area.
• How does Trauma Touch Therapy™ integrate with other therapeutic practices?
  1. Trauma Touch Therapy™ is a bodywork modality and as such is best used in practices that focus on body work and somatic processing. Practitioners who complete the Trauma Touch Therapy™ Level 1 class will be able to integrate the techniques and fundamental principles of TTT™ into their own practices.

When safety and communication are present in a therapeutic relationship, the opportunity may arise for traumas that have not been processed to express themselves. The techniques learned and the presence gained by learning Trauma Touch Therapy™ help therapists to work with each client in an authentic way. We use conscience contact, breath, and movement to process through the sensations and emotions.

• What are the expected outcomes after completing the Trauma Touch Therapy™ Program?
  1. Completing students will have an understanding of the neurology of trauma and will be able to recognize somatic effects of trauma. Students will be versed in identifying and developing guidelines for creating safety and boundaries while working with clients who have experienced trauma. They will understand how to explore touch, movement, breath, and creativity to deepen somatic awareness and demonstrate proficiency in working with differing levels of emotional states. Lastly, students will be versed in identifying traits of vicarious trauma and understand the importance of self care for those who work with somatic trauma.
• Can the Trauma Touch Therapy™ techniques be applied in group settings?
  1. Although some techniques could be adapted to a group setting, Trauma Touch Therapy™ relies heavily on the building of a strong therapeutic relationship between he client and therapist.
• Where can I find more resources or support after completing the program?
  1. Those who have completed the Level 1 and/or Level 2 trainings are invited to join The Trauma Touch Therapy™ Community Facebook Group. Those who have completed Level 2 or are currently in their externship are invited to our Quarterly TTT™ Connection Zoom meetings and our yearly in-person Gather and Trade Weekend. Students are also highly encouraged to reach out to others in their class and continue the deep connections created during the in-person classes.