Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapy Certificate
Trauma is not an event — it's a disruption to the body-mind's capacity to adapt, thrive, and flourish. This first-of-its-kind 60-hour live certificate program brings together world-renowned somatic trauma teachers into one unified curriculum, offering a holistic framework for understanding and working with trauma from a body-centered perspective. Across 11 weeks, you'll gain practical tools to access the innate wisdom that guides healing for yourself and the people you work with.
Are you ready to help heal trauma from a holistic and body based unified approach? Are you committed to transforming pain and challenges into growth, meaning, change and resilience?
Then we wholeheartedly invite you to our first-of-its-kind 60-hour Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapy Certificate Program.
This unique 3-month online certificate program is designed for individuals, practitioners and educators wanting to explore a unified somatic approach to trauma-informed care: including a deeper understanding of the body's relationship with social, environmental, developmental, relational, spiritual, and cultural wounding and healing. This program brings together world renowned somatic trauma therapy teachers into one training.
Learn from World-Leading Voices in Trauma Treatment
↗
↗
↗
↗
↗
↗
↗
↗
↗
↗
↗
↗
↗
↗
↗
↗
↗
↗
↗
↗
Free Preview Event
Why Somatic Trauma Therapy?
Bringing together world renowned Somatic Trauma Therapy teachers into one program, our intention is to offer a holistic framework for understanding and working with trauma from a body-centered perspective. This extraordinary program offers a collection of practical tools that will help you access the innate wisdom that guides the healing process for yourself and your work with others.
What Is Trauma?
A holistic approach to trauma defines trauma not as an event, but rather as a disruption and overwhelm to our body-mind's capacity to adapt, thrive, and flourish.
It is essential that we consider social, developmental, and cultural factors when reflecting on a client's trauma history. By not acknowledging these contextual factors we do the individual a disservice.
The symptoms of trauma may occur immediately or emerge over time from the compounding stress and challenges of processing and adapting to the experiences of life. Symptoms of trauma emerge as the body and mind attempt to cope with and resolve the stressors.
The effects of trauma may include:
Physical symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, tightness in the body, muscle tension, digestion challenges, and constrictions around the breath.
Emotional symptoms such as flatness / inability to feel, fear, anxiety, panic, overwhelm, loss of choice, difficulty feeling comforted, anger, and shame.
Psychological symptoms such as dissociation, mental rumination, low self worth, negative self talk, self blame, memory challenges, depression, and loss of interest in activities.
Relational / Social symptoms such as isolation, loneliness, relational and attachment reenactments.
Trauma can lead to feelings of powerlessness, helplessness, and groundlessness. It interferes with our ability to feel real in body and mind, it disrupts our very sense of existence, and takes us away from the present moment. However, as Dr. Peter Levine, creator of Somatic Experiencing says "Trauma is a fact of life. It does not have to be a life sentence."
Symptoms are the gateway to healing trauma. Our job as practitioners and educators is to listen and hear the messages and wisdom encoded in the body.
Join the revolution of coming home to the body and rediscovering how it can truly transform our lives and the world!
Somatics Help Heal
'Soma' is a Greek word for 'the living body known from within', or known to the Self. This 'knowing' signifies wholeness. Somatic therapy is an experiential approach towards mindbody integration. The pain, overwhelm, and coping responses manifested by trauma take us away from feeling at home in our body, and as a result there is often a split within ourselves.
Somatic trauma therapy offers techniques for clients to sense and regulate their own physiology and states of being. This includes building more internal and external resources, building trusting and co-regulatory relationships, learning to turn inward with compassion, being invited deeper in the body, and given time and space to process the trauma. These somatic techniques unwind trauma and restore well being.
A Unified Approach to Somatic Trauma Therapy
While trauma is processed and stored through the body, the ramifications of it shows up in many places including our relationships to other people, the environment, the collective, and a multitude of systems (education and political structures).
Through a unified Somatic Trauma Therapy approach we are able to assist individuals to integrate an understanding of their developmental and attachment experiences as well the culture, structural inequities, transgenerational trauma, and systemic forces of oppression they have been subject to.
Somatic Trauma Therapy encompasses a wide range of approaches to restore well-being. Each of these are based on the foundational principle that healing and integration happens through our bodies' primal language of movement, breath, and sensation. Additionally, body awareness helps us access an internal source of wisdom that guides the healing process and builds resilience.
Each of these therapeutic approaches use different techniques to support the unwinding of trauma. The intention of a unified approach is to embody the foundational principles of somatic trauma therapies and utilize the many tools and techniques to support ourselves and others.
The Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapy Certificate will explore and integrate many different somatic therapy approaches including:
Curriculum
01 Befriending The Body 10 SESSIONS
- Overview - Somatic Psychology and Trauma Recovery for the Individual Body
- Towards an Alchemical Resilience: Foundations and Inspirations
- Shadow Work and Navigating Shame
- From the Individual to the Systemic: Sites of Trauma and Healing
- Polyvagal Theory and Pathways to Connection Part 1
- Polyvagal Theory and Pathways to Connection Part 2
- Neuroscience and Trauma
- Research & Application of Psychedelics for Trauma
- Introduction to Embodiment
- Embodying Ancestral Wisdom
02 Trauma ReprocessingThe Building Blocks & Tools of Trauma Healing 12 SESSIONS
- Hakomi — Core Principles
- Closing Your Eyes to See: Focusing, Active Imagination, and Inner Dialogue
- Foundations of Trauma and Healing in Children
- Trauma and the Internal Body Mind Family — Part 1
- Trauma and the Internal Body Mind Family — Part 2
- Trauma & Embodied Movement — Part 1
- Trauma & Embodied Movement — Part 2
- Integration
- Balancing Individual and Collective Transformation
- Addiction, Trauma and Healing
- Sensorimotor Psychotherapy for Trauma - Part 1
- Sensorimotor Psychotherapy for Trauma - Part 2
03 Applications / Populations 5 SESSIONS
- The Bodily Roots of Developmental Trauma
- Somatic Relational Skills
- Structural Embodiment: Somatics for the Collective Body
- Diversity of Embodiment
- The Legacy of Early Attachment Relationships
04 Integration(Post Traumatic Growth) 3 SESSIONS
- Embodied Practitioner Skills
- Post-Traumatic Growth: Mind-Body Tools to Foster Resilience & Awaken to your Potential
- Integration Session
- Q&A and What’s Next
Skills you'll carry into your practice
Recognize and embody the key principles of somatic trauma healing approaches
Understand the interconnections between individual trauma healing and collective liberatory practices
Explore the latest evidence-informed approaches to treating and healing individual and collective trauma
Engage practical mind-body therapy tools to resource and prepare clients for trauma processing
Gain a deep understanding of how Polyvagal Theory provides an essential foundation in trauma reprocessing
Discover and experience techniques to offer co-regulation — a key precursor to self-regulation
Practice and apply tools that strengthen emotional and sensation tolerance
Discover how "top-down" and "bottom-up" interventions can pace trauma treatment
Explain how trauma leads to holding patterns and survival responses in the individual and collective body
Understand the dynamics of post-traumatic hyper-arousal and hypo-arousal states in cultural contexts
Gain a road map to facilitate resilience and post-traumatic growth
Identify self- and collective-care practices to navigate boundaries, sustainability, and vicarious trauma
Program Intentions
To inspire and prepare participants for practice and integration of somatic trauma treatment tools.
To foster a deep understanding of both somatics and trauma from psychological, social, environmental, cultural, and historic perspectives.
Explore the foundations of somatics, while providing a breadth of tools offered by various somatic therapy practices in relation to working with trauma — highlighting the main practices in each modality as well as the intersection points between somatic trauma modalities.
Integrating an understanding and treatment of trauma on the individual and the collective levels.
Create opportunities for participants to connect as a community and connect via shared interest of applications.
Sessions include at least two practical skills that can be applied to integrate the educational material.
Program Schedule
The 2026 60-hour certificate program runs live from September 27 to December 18, 2026, and includes 23 two-hour modules offered over 11 weeks. A Student Orientation session and multiple Community Connection sessions are also included. Classes and optional Community Connections are held on weekdays.
A detailed schedule is provided upon registration. All live sessions are recorded, so students can watch them at their own pace.
There are no homework assignments during the program. See Certificate of Completion below for more information.
— Breakout room times available on request
— All times listed in Eastern Time (ET)
— A detailed schedule is provided upon registration
How You'll Learn
Zoom: The live portion is offered using Zoom in meeting format, allowing instructors and students to interact and participate in breakout sessions.
ONLINE LEARNING PLATFORM- Detailed schedule and reminder emails
- How to access via Zoom
- All recordings available within 48 hours
- Supporting materials including PDFs
- Download video or audio to your computer
- Lifetime access to the content
- Live captioning and transcripts in English
Requirements
Licensed therapists may use the title“Somatic Trauma Therapies Practitioner.”
20 CE hours available with live attendance.
- Social Workers
- Mental Health & Pastoral Counselors
- Yoga Therapists / Yoga Teachers
- Movement Therapists
- Coaches
- Physicians (MD, DO, ND, DC & others) & Physician Assistants
- Nurses & Nurse Practitioners
- Psychologists
- Emergency Medical Personnel
- Meditation Teachers
- Educators
- Massage Therapists & Body Workers
- Acupuncturists
- Hypnotherapists
- Kinesiologists
- Complementary & Alternative Medicine Professionals
- Clergy & Religious Leaders
- Other Wellness Professionals
Questions, answered
Can't find your answer? Reach out directly.
info@theembodylab.com →What are the dates, schedule and time commitment for ISTT 2026?⌄
See the Program Schedule section above for full dates and times. In summary: the program runs live September 27–December 18, 2026, with 23 two-hour modules over 11 weeks, plus a Student Orientation and several optional Community Connection sessions. All sessions are recorded so you can watch them at your own pace.
Who is this program designed for?⌄
This program is a certification process that distills an educational methodology to integrate into a variety of modalities such as: Social Workers, Mental Health & Pastoral Counselors, Yoga Therapists / Yoga Teachers, Movement Therapists, Coaches, Physicians (MD, DO, ND, DC & others) & Physician Assistants, Nurses & Nurse Practitioners, Psychologists, Emergency Medical Personnel, Meditation Teachers, Educators, Massage Therapists, Acupuncturists & Body Workers, Hypnotherapists, Kinesiologists, Complementary & Alternative Medicine Professionals, Clergy & Religious Leaders, and other Wellness Professionals.
This is an education program and not a licenser program.
How can I interact with the instructors? Will I receive guidance?⌄
During each of the live sessions, the instructors will have a Q&A period where you may ask questions. Three community connections will also be offered with one of the co-directors of the program and special guests. A private online community forum will be provided for the certificate.
What are the homework requirements?⌄
There are no homework assignments during the program.
Do you offer refunds?⌄
We offer a Registration Guarantee, which means that if you register but decide the course isn't right for you, we'll refund your course fee, no questions asked, up to 48 hours before the course start date.
How can I access the online course and recordings?⌄
Online Learning Platform: Once you register, you will receive access to our online learning platform which will include all the information about the certificate, including: detailed schedules, how to access the live sessions via Zoom, recordings of all live sessions uploaded within 48 hours of the end of the live session, and supporting materials provided by your instructors.
Accessibility | Video / Audio: Within our online learning platform, you may watch the video within your online library or download the video or audio to your computer. You will have lifetime access to the content.
Accessibility | Live Captioning / Transcripts: Captioning will be available during the live sessions. Transcripts will be offered in English.
Accessibility | Reading Lists: The reading list will include items available at the public library or will be provided as a PDF where possible. PDFs of the instructor's presentation will also be provided.
Is this a summit?⌄
No, this is an integrated curriculum co-created by the faculty. The faculty are colleagues in this program, working together to make sure each individual module is cohesive with the entire curriculum. Every teacher is informed about what is coming before and after, and integrates their curriculum based on that information.
Is this a theoretical or practical (experiential) program?⌄
While some theory will be presented to support the learning, the primary focus of the practice is experiential, giving practical tools for the participants.
Will I receive a certificate?⌄
You'll receive a certificate of completion once you have completed attending the live sessions or watching the recordings, submitted the Self-Evaluations & Reflections for each phase, and full payment has been received.
What title can I use after completing this program?⌄
Licensed therapists or health professionals (e.g., social workers, psychologists, clinical therapists, registered nurses) may use the title "Somatic Trauma Therapies Practitioner."
Non-licensed individuals may say: "I integrate somatic trauma healing interventions into my practice."
Will Continuing Education hours (CEs) be offered?⌄
Continuing Education Hours for Health Professionals: 20 hours of CEs are available for Health Professionals upon completion of the live training. Please note: live attendance is required.
To register your interest for CE hours for this program and more detailed information, please visit this link: forms.gle/76mwhjgG5vnzVw9BA
Below is more information on the health professionals who may be eligible for CEs through the Spiritual Competency Academy (SCA), which is co-sponsoring this program.
- CE hours for psychologists are provided by the Spiritual Competency Academy (SCA), which is sponsoring this program. SCA is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. SCA maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
- The California Board of Behavioral Sciences accepts CE hours for LCSW, LPCC, LEP, and LMFT license renewal for programs offered by sponsors approved by the American Psychological Association.
- LCSW, LPCC, LEP, LMFTs, and other professionals outside of California need to check with their state licensing board on acceptance of credits from APA-approved CE sponsors.
- SCA is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN Provider CEP16887) for licensed nurses in California. RNs must retain their certificate of attendance for 4 years after the course concludes. Nurses outside of California must confirm acceptance with their licensing boards.
- For questions about your certificate or the content, logistics, or other support issues, please contact The Embody Lab at info@theembodylab.com.
- For questions about whether APA CE is valid for you, contact your licensing board directly.
- For general questions about APA CE, contact SCA at ce@spiritualcompetencyacademy.com.
From a different state or country? Health professionals from a state or country outside of California need to check with their licensing boards on acceptance of programs offered by APA-approved CE sponsors.
Different credential? If your credential isn't listed, please check with your licensing board on acceptance of programs offered by APA-approved CE sponsors. SCA and The Embody Lab are not able to determine your eligibility.
Are there scholarship opportunities for ISTT 2026?⌄
The scholarship application is due by 11:59pm ET on Saturday, September 5, 2026. Scholarship results will be communicated by end of day Sunday, September 13, 2026.
For every 200 enrolled students, we are able to offer: 10 Full Scholarships (100%) and 10 Partial Scholarships (50%).
Apply here: Scholarship Application Form
Ready to begin?
Choose your payment plan and secure your spot.
Add the monthly membership in your shopping cart for free with a 7-Day trial to get the member rate. Renews at $26/month. Cancel anytime.