Trauma Assessment Basics: Foundations for Effective Treatment Planning - Background Image
Live Event

Trauma Assessment Basics: Foundations for Effective Treatment Planning

Sat, Jan 24th, 2026
11:00am – 2:15pm US Eastern Time
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About the Event

Unfortunate life experiences, such as loss, violence, or other major stressors, can shake a person’s sense of safety, trust, and hope. For many, the aftermath may feel overwhelming and uncertain. But a traumatic event doesn’t always mean a clinical diagnosis like Post‑Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

In many therapy settings, individuals seek help because they feel unsettled, anxious, or “stuck,” without necessarily meeting formal criteria for PTSD. Because of this, clinicians must carefully assess and differentiate trauma symptoms from other concerns, and understand when a trauma-focused treatment is appropriate.

This training, led by licensed psychologist with 16 years of experience, Dr. Lillian Gibson, is designed to give clinicians a strong foundation for conducting diagnostic assessments. Participants will build critical interviewing skills, learn to navigate the diagnostic criteria for PTSD, and understand how to interpret clients’ emotional, psychological, and physiological reports. The workshop will also cover cultural considerations and current limitations in trauma assessment research. You’ll leave with practical knowledge of validated assessment tools and clearer insight into when a trauma diagnosis is applicable.

By the end of this webinar, you’ll be equipped to confidently complete trauma assessments and better determine if trauma-specific interventions are warranted. This clarity will support you in developing tailored, effective treatment plans that reflect each client’s unique history and needs.

Live Event
This live online event will be held as a Zoom Webinar. Attendees will have the option to interact through features such as the Chat and Q&A, but cameras and microphones will not be enabled.

Live Event Instructor

Lillian Gibson, PhD

Lillian Gibson, PhD

Dr. Lillian Gibson, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist often referred to as a “mood make-over” expert. She is a highly recommended speaker, consultant, and mental health clinician. Dr. Gibson takes pride in combining her vocational rehabilitation counseling and clinical psychology expertise to cultivate culture affirming care for clients and protocols for agencies. Her professional footprints include places such as Johns Hopkins, and international research in South Africa. She is passionate about highlighting mental health wellness in relation to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Target Audience

This live interactive webinar is intended for behavioral health professionals, including Psychologists, Social Workers, Counselors, MFT's and Addiction Professionals.

Learning Objectives

After taking this activity, you should be able to:

  1. 1 Identify DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for PTSD (Criteria A–H).
  2. 2 Describe how cultural factors can impact the assessment and interpretation of PTSD symptoms.
  3. 3 Identify commonly used PTSD assessment tools that support diagnostic evaluation.
  4. 4 Identify and differentiate the intervention options available for treating trauma symptoms in order to create an appropriate treatment plan.

American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787.

De Jongh, A., & Hafkemeijer, L. C. S. (2024). Trauma‐focused treatment of a client with Complex PTSD and comorbid pathology using EMDR therapy. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 80(4), 824-835. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.23521

Jowett, S., Karatzias, T., Shevlin, M., & Albert, I. (2020). Differentiating symptom profiles of ICD-11 PTSD, complex PTSD, and borderline personality disorder: A latent class analysis in a multiply traumatized sample. Personality Disorders: theory, research, and treatment, 11(1), 36. https://doi.org/10.1037/per0000346

Seiler, N., Davoodi, K., Keem, M., & Das, S. (2023). Assessment tools for complex post traumatic stress disorder: A systematic review. International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice, 27(3), 292-300. https://doi.org/10.1080/13651501.2023.2197965

Ware, O. D., Strickland, J. C., Smith, K. E., Blakey, S. M., & Dunn, K. E. (2023). Factors associated with high-risk substance use in persons receiving psychiatric treatment for a primary trauma-and stressor-related disorder diagnosis. Journal of dual diagnosis, 19(4), 199-208. https://doi.org/10.1080/15504263.2023.2260340

Disclosure to Learners

CE Learning Systems adheres to the ACCME's Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity – including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others ― are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (formerly known as commercial interests).

The following relevant financial relationships have been disclosed by this activity's planners, faculty, and the reviewer:

Planners and Reviewers

The planners of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships.

Faculty

There are no known relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Commercial support

There is no commercial support for this distance-learning course.

Event Agenda

Agenda times are listed in US Eastern Time. That is 3 hours later than US Pacific Time. The event starts at 8:00am US Pacific Time.

11:00 - 11:30 AM - Introduction & Course Overview (Conflicts of interest, learning objectives, and literature review)

11:30 - 12:30 PM - Present and Discuss DSM5 PTSD Criterion A through H

12:30 - 1:00 PM - Outline Cultural PTSD Assessment Considerations

1:00 - 1:15 PM - BREAK

1:15 - 1:45 PM - Present and Discuss PTSD Assessment Measures to Support Diagnostic Workups

1:45 - 2:00 PM - Case Study Presentation

2:00 - 2:15 PM - Closing & Q&A

Policies

If a grievance arises pertaining to your participation in our continuing education activities, please contact our support team immediately. See our full grievance policy for more information.

ADA accommodations will be made in accordance with the law; please indicate your special needs when you register by contacting us.

Up to 30 days prior to the event, live event registrations may be canceled for a refund via the current courses tab in your member account. Less than 30 days prior to the event, live event registration purchases are not eligible for a refund, but can be transferred to a different event. Please contact our support team for assistance with changing your registration.

  • This is a live event, hosted via Zoom Webinar. you may be prompted to download or upgrade your Zoom app if using a mobile device. A strong WiFi/internet connection will be required for best quality.

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If you need to cancel your registration for a webinar, please contact our support team for assistance prior to the event. Please note our refund policy, above.

If the activity must be cancelled by the provider, all attendees will receive an email notifying them of the cancellation. The email will also provide details about transferring the registration to another educational activity or receiving a refund of the registration fee. As always, you can contact our support team if you have questions or concerns.

Frequently Asked Questions

Once you register, you'll receive an email with the link and instructions to join the live event. The event will be hosted via Zoom. You may test your Zoom connection prior to the event at the Zoom Test page We recommend logging in 10-15 minutes early to be sure your connection is ready.

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If you need to withdraw 30 or more days before the event, you can do this your self from your current courses tab.

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