All Continuing Education Certificate courses may be taken as either certificate courses or as stand-alone Continuing Education courses. Prerequisites must be observed.
Since 9/11, approximately 2.1 million troops have served in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in Afghanistan, Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation New Dawn (OND). California has one of the highest numbers of deployed, wounded, and seriously wounded service members. 30,000 service members come back to California yearly - more than the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can adequately serve. A RAND Corporation report in 2008 estimated that 300,000 vets suffer from PTSD, anxiety or major depressive symptoms. An additional 320,000 may have experienced a traumatic brain injury. Experts estimate that it usually takes about a year to re-stabilize after coming back but one's family can be deeply impacted in that time.
This new certificate program is designed to provide mental health providers, family members, educators, school counselors, VA program staff at colleges and universities, and advocates at the many organizations who serve our veterans with the information and skills they need to address the pertinent issues affecting our returning troops. Taught by experts from the VA and the National Center for PTSD, the curriculum includes the latest empirically-supported treatment methods endorsed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Certificate requirements: A minimum of 50 hours is required. This includes three core courses, one treatment method, and at least three electives. Additional treatment methods may be taken as electives. New electives will be available in each catalog.
Core Courses
1. Working with Veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan: Exploring the Psychological Impact of War and its Unique Treatment Considerations
2. Integrated Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT): An Effective, Evidence-Based Therapy for OEF/OIF Veterans and their Partners
3. The Difficult Journey Home: Promoting Resilience in Families during and after Deployment
Treatment Methods (choose one)*
Each participant must complete the full training in one of the following treatment methods:
A. Prolonged Exposure Therapy for PTSD: Overview, Implementation, and Consultation
B. Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD: Overview, Implementation, and Consultation
C. PTSD and Substance Abuse in Veterans - Seeking Safety: Overview and Implementation
D. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) - Part I and Part II plus Consultation
Treatment Method A, Part 3
Prolonged Exposure Therapy for PTSD: Case Discussion
January 25, 2013 - Pleasant Hill campus
Elective Course
Women in the Military: What You Need to Know to Provide Effective Treatment
December 1, 2012 - Pleasant Hill campus
Elective Course
Military Sexual Trauma in Veterans: Assessment & Treatment Considerations
February 9, 2013 - Pleasant Hill campus
Core Course
Integrated Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT): An Effective Evidence-Based Therapy for OEF/OIF Veterans & their Partners
February 23, 2013 - Pleasant Hill campus
Treatment Method B, Part 1
Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD: An Overview
March 8, 2013 - Pleasant Hill campus
Treatment Method B, Part 2
Implementing Cognitive Processing Therapy
March 22-23, 2013 - Pleasant Hill campus
Core Course
The Difficult Journey Home: Promoting Resilience in Families During & After Deployment
April 13, 2013 - Berkeley campus
Treatment Method B, Part 2
Cogitive Processing Therapy for PTSD: Case Discussion
May 17, 2013 - Pleasant Hill campus
Elective Course
Assessment & Treatment of Mild, Moderate & Severe Traumatic Brain Injury
July 19, 2013 - Pleasant Hill campus
Treatment Method C, Part 1
PTSD & Substance Use in Veterans: An Overview of Seeking Safety
August 10, 2013 - Pleasant Hill campus
Treatment Method C, Part 2
Implementing Seeking Safety for Veterans with PTSD & Substance Use Disorders
August 24, 2013 - Pleasant Hill campus
*Additional treatment method courses may be taken as electives. New electives will be available in each catalog.
Discount Available! Enroll in three classes in this series at one time and receive10 percent off each class.
Certificate Series Enrollment
The certificate program enrollment fee is $35. Please submit a Certificate Program Enrollment form on or before registering for your second course in the series. You will have three years to complete your course work from the date of your enrollment. Click here to submit your Certificate Program Enrollment online or use the downloadable enrollment form available under "Related Downloads" on the right side of this page.
Certificate Series Completion
After you have completed the all the courses needed to fulfill the certificate requirements, please complete and submit a Certificate Verification form, available under “Related Downloads” on the right side of this page. Please allow six weeks for your course work to be reviewed and a certificate to be issued to you.
Frequently Asked Questions are available under "Related Downloads" on the right side of this page.
John F. Kennedy University is an affiliate of the National University System.