Posttraumatic Stress and Related Disorders
- Continuing Education
Explore cutting-edge research and evidence-based treatments for PTSD and related disorders in this intensive 2-day virtual course. Gain practical strategies from leading experts through presentations, panels, and interactive sessions to enhance clinical care across diverse settings.
- Live Online
This course is taught online in real time.
Continuing Education Credits
Earn up to:
21.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.
21.75 ANCC contact hours
On This Page
Overview
The mental health consequences of trauma—whether from violence, combat, abuse, or disasters—continue to shape clinical practice across all settings. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often goes undiagnosed, and even when identified, many individuals do not receive effective, evidence-based treatment. Related disorders, including depression, anxiety, insomnia, and substance use, only add to the complexity of accurately diagnosing and effectively treating PTSD.
This intensive, 2-day course brings together some of the foremost authorities in the field. Our goal is to provide participants with cutting edge research and treatments in order to enable them to serve their patients and clients more effectively. Numerous aspects of treatment will be covered, including psychopharmacology, various psychotherapeutic approaches, family work, and neurotherapeutics. Diagnostic confusion and controversies around issues such as dissociation, distinguishing borderline personality disorder from complex PTSD, and substance use will be addressed.
An intensive 2-day conference and also an optional, 1-day workshop on EMDR for PTSD will be offered virtually. The conference and workshop features expert presentations, panel discussions, question and answer sessions, and other engaging learning formats that will assist clinicians in developing new strategies to be applied in clinical settings.
Learning Objectives
- Describe patterns of trauma responses around the globe and different manifestations of trauma-related sequelae.
- Define the role of the mental health practitioner in violence prevention.
- Discuss the opportunities and challenges of integrating medical and psychiatric care in the face of trauma.
- Develop strategies to treat trauma patients from a multicultural perspective.
- Evaluate developments in psychopharmacology of PTSD and their impact on patient care.
- Develop strategies to care for patients suffering from PTSD and other trauma related disorders, including their comborbid symptoms of depression, sleep difficulties, and substance abuse.
- Assess PTSD and trauma-related disorders in civilians, first responders, and veterans.
- Diagnose and treat PTSD and its comorbid symptoms.
- Diagnose common problems in traumatized civilian and veteran populations.
Developed and Offered By:
Continuing Education courses are developed by faculty from Harvard Medical School's teaching hospitals and accredited by Harvard Medical School. This course is offered by McLean Hospital.
Participant Types
Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Social Workers, Nurse Practitioners, Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Social Workers and Nurse Practitioners, Licensed Mental Health Counselors, and RNs.
Schedule
All agenda sessions are in Eastern Time.
Please note there will be an optional EMDR Workshop held on February 5, 2026. The add-on workshop fee is $250.
Thursday, February 5, 2026
Registration and Sign-In
7:45-8:15 am
Welcome and Introduction
8:15-8:30 am
Overview of Course, EMDR Therapy and the Adaptive Information Processing Model; the Three-pronged Approach of Past, Present and Future, Conscious and Unconscious Memory Mapping
8:30-10:15 am
BREAK
10:15-10:30 am
Case Presentation with Video Illustrating Dual Attention, Co-regulation of Affect, Use of Clinical Interweaves, with a PTSD Presentation
10:30 am-12:00 pm
LUNCH break
12:00-1:00 pm
EMDR Therapy Procedures and Modifications with Case Presentation and Video Footage Illustrating Client Attachment Style as an Adaptation to Unresolved Developmental Trauma, Sense of Self of the Therapist
1:00-2:30 pm
BREAK
2:30-2:45 pm
Clinical Interventions to Facilitate Developmental Repair and Generate More Adaptive Ways of Thinking, Feeling and Responding using EMDR’s Future Template to Develop More Flexible Strategies of Relating to Self and Other
2:45-4:00 pm
Wrap-up & Question and Answer
4:00-4:15 pm
Friday, February 6, 2026
Welcome and Introduction
7:45-8:00 am
The Neurobiology and Scope of PTSD: Treatment Approaches from Bench to Bedside
8:00-8:45 am
Psychopharmacologic Appraoches to PTSD
8:45-9:30 am
Break
9:30-9:45 am
Creating Trauma-Informed Change
9:45-10:30 am
Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: from Pharmacotherapy to Psychotherapy to Virtual Reality
10:30-11:15 am
Q&A Panel
11:15-11:45 am
Lunch
11:45 am-12:45 pm
Treating Veterans with PTSD and Related Disorders
12:45-1:30 pm
Treatment of Patients with Comorbd Substance Use Disorders and PTSD
1:30-2:15 pm
Break
2:15-2:30 pm
Empirically-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Approaches to PTSD
2:30-3:15 pm
Borderline Personality Disorder vs Complex PTSD
3:15-4:00 pm
Psychedelics in the Treatment of Trauma-related Disorders
4:00-4:45 pm
Question and Answer Session
4:45-5:15 pm
Saturday, February 7, 2026
PTSD, Stressor-Related Disorders, and Post-Trauma Manifestations
8:00-8:45 am
PTSD, DID and the Brain: Implications for Treatment
8:45-9:30 am
Trauma-Related Health Disparities in African-Americans
9:30-10:15 am
Break
10:15-10:30 am
Addiction-PTSD Comorbidity
10:30-11:15 am
Q&A Panel
11:15-11:45 am
Lunch Break
11:45 am-12:45 pm
Trauma and Its Impact on Physical Health
12:45-1:30 pm
Relationships after Trauma
1:30-2:15 pm
Break
2:15-2:30 pm
Treatment and Biology of PTSD in Children and Adolescents
2:30-3:15 pm
Evaluations for Asylum Seekers: What We Know About Survivors of Torture/Systematic Violence and Oppression
3:15-4:00 pm
Biofeedback
4:00-4:45 pm
Question and Answer Session
4:45-5:15 pm
Faculty
Harvard Medical School Continuing Education attracts the best and brightest faculty from all around the world. As a student in this course, you’ll have access to outstanding course directors and faculty.
Kerry J. Ressler, MD, PhD
Course Director
- Chief Scientific Officer
- Chief, Division of Depression and Anxiety Disorders
- James and Patricia Poitras Chair in Psychiatry
- Director, Neurobiology of Fear Laboratory
- Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
Milissa Kaufman, MD, PhD
Course Director
- Medical Director, Trauma Continuum of Care at the Hill Center
- Kingdon Saylor Endowed Director of Trauma Programs
- Director, Dissociative Disorders and Trauma Research Program
- Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
Stephanie Collier, MD, MPH
Course Director
- Director of Education, Division of Geriatric Psychiatry
- Instructor in Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
Christopher M. Palmer, MD
Course Director
- Director, Department of Postgraduate and Continuing Education
- Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
Course Fees
Fee Disclaimer
You may register through our secure online environment and will receive an email confirmation upon receipt of your payment. Prices include CME credit, electronic syllabus, and access to recordings for 180 days after the course. At the end of the registration process, a $10 non-refundable processing fee will be added to your registration.
| Role | Course Fee |
|---|---|
| Physician (MD/DO) | $495.00 |
| Nurse (RN/APRN) | $395.00 |
| PA | $395.00 |
| Psychologist | $495.00 |
| Social Worker | $395.00 |
| Allied Health Professional / Other | $395.00 |
Optional EMDR Workshop, February 5, 2026: $250
Learners may register for the full course and/or the optional workshop; it is not necessary to register for both.
Accreditation
The Harvard Medical School designates this live activity for a maximum of 21.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Harvard Medical School designates this live activity for a maximum of 21.75 ANCC contact hours, of which 2.25 is eligible for pharmacology credit.
Harvard Medical School has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 21.75 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.
McLean Hospital is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. McLean Hospital maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Participants meeting requirements for the two-day conference will receive 15.25 CE credits. Participants meeting the requirements for the optional pre-conference EMDR Therapy Workshop will receive 6.50 CE credits.
McLean Hospital has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEPTM No. 6085). Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified.
McLean Hospital is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. This offering meets requirements for up to 21.75 credits.
The American Medical Association (AMA) has an agreement of mutual recognition of continuing medical education (CME) credit with the European Union of Medical Specialties (UEMS). Additional information regarding this agreement may be found on the European Union of Medical Specialties website.
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada recognizes conferences and workshops held outside of Canada that are developed by a university, academy, hospital, specialty society or college as accredited group learning activities.
For information about continuing education credit for social workers, please email ceprograms@mclean.harvard.edu.