The graduate certificate program in Trauma-Informed Counseling is designed for current students, alumni, and professionals who have already earned their Master's degree in the field to enhance their understanding of the effects of trauma on clients' emotional, cognitive, behavioral, neurological, and physical systems across the lifespan. Courses focus on topics such as the effects of trauma exposure, grief and complex trauma, culturally appropriate and gender-responsive assessment and interventions, relational trauma, developmental trauma, secondary trauma, self-care, and self-compassion. The certificate program meets the educational requirements of Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) certification standards.
Admission Requirements
The graduate certificate in Trauma-Informed Counseling is designed for current NEIU graduate students in the Department of Counselor Education, students in mental health-related graduate programs at NEIU, and post-graduates with a master's degree or above in a mental health-related field.
Applicants who are not current Counselor Education students must have a degree in counseling or a closely related mental health field from an accredited university program that meets the academic and clinical requirements for licensure as a master's level mental health professional. Applicants can apply through NEIUs online application system. For applicants not enrolled in one of NEIU's graduate programs in mental-health related fields:
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Application for Admission to Graduate Programs
- Application for Certificate in Trauma-informed Counseling
- Official Transcripts from all universities and colleges attended
- Two letters of recommendation
- Current resume
- Informed Consent
- Successful completion of graduate coursework in the following areas: counseling theories and interviewing, human growth and development, assessment and evaluation, individual and group counseling, and family counseling. Applicants who have not successfully completed the required coursework may fulfill them during the course of their studies toward the certificate in trauma-informed counseling program.
For applicants enrolled at NEIU in a mental health-related graduate program:
- Minimum GPA 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Application for Certificate in Trauma-informed Counseling
- A letter of support from current graduate advisor
Please contact Counselor Education at (773) 442-5550 or counsedu@neiu.edu if you have further questions or if the links are not working.
The courses required to complete the 18-credit hour Certificate in Trauma-Informed Counseling program are listed below. All courses are graduate courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses: | ||
| COUN-422 | Interventions For Grief & Traumatic Bereavement Across The Lifespan | 3 |
| COUN-424 | Resiliency, Wellness, And Self-Care In Trauma Counseling | 3 |
| COUN-428 | Advanced Issues In Co-occurring Disorders And Counseling Interventions | 3 |
| COUN-437 | Trauma-Focused Assessment And Integrative Counseling Interventions | 3 |
| COUN-438 | Trauma And Crisis Counseling | 3 |
| Choose from one of the following elective courses: | 3 | |
| Psychopharmacology | ||
| Case Conceptualization & Treatment Planning | ||
| Couples Counseling And Human Sexuality | ||
| Topics In School Counseling | ||
| Medical & Psychosocial Aspects Of Disability | ||
| Epidemiology | ||
| Total Hours | 18 | |