PTG Certification

If you are a licensed mental health professional, get certified so you can bring the practices and principles of PTG into your work. The PTG Certification Program is available to psychologists, social workers, counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychiatrists, and other licensed mental health professionals.

Quick Facts

For: Licensed Mental Health Clinicians

Length: 10 Instruction Hours

Locations: Online - Enrollment Open

Fee Applies

Enroll Now

Why Get Certified in PTG?

If you are helping individuals overcome trauma, expand the breadth and depth of your clinical work through our Posttraumatic Growth Certification Program. Developed and taught by Dr. Richard Tedeschi, co-founder of Posttraumatic Growth (PTG), this program offers an in-depth course on the clinical applications of PTG. Through a rigorously designed curriculum, you will be challenged to integrate PTG principles into your practice, enhancing your ability to support individuals in overcoming trauma and promoting psychological growth. This program provides you with the knowledge and tools needed to make a deeper impact in your therapeutic work through the PTG framework.

The PTG Certification Program is available online. Enroll now.

If you are interested in PTG, but are not eligible for the Certification program, we also offer two alternate courses: PTG Qualification for Healthcare, Education, and Support Personnel, and PTG for Life: Learning to Struggle Well for the general audience interested in PTG.

Check Eligibility

Course Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of the PTG Certification course, participants will be able to:

Explain the theoretical foundations of Posttraumatic Growth (PTG) and its relevance to trauma-informed psychology and social work practice, including its distinction from PTSD and resilience.
Define key concepts of Posttraumatic Growth (PTG), including: trauma, its relationship to core belief disruption, and how traumatic events can lead to profound personal growth
Describe how PTG functions as both a process and an outcome, and explain the implications of this dual nature for supporting people in growing after trauma.
Identify and describe the five domains of Posttraumatic Growth and the conditions that contribute to growth following trauma.
Illustrate how the PTG Process Flowchart maps the cognitive, emotional, and relational processes that can occur after trauma, as individuals experience both distress and growth.
Analyze key empirical findings in PTG research, including the roles of trauma severity, coping, age, social support, and cultural context in shaping growth outcomes.
Administer and interpret validated PTG assessment tools, including the Core Beliefs Inventory (CBI), the Event-Related Rumination Inventory (ERRI), and the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI).
Demonstrate the five phases of “Expert Companionship” and explain how this approach supports clients in navigating trauma and fostering growth.
Apply the five phases of Expert Companionship — Education, Emotion Regulation, Disclosure, Narrative Development, and Mission/Service — in clinical interactions with trauma survivors.
Evaluate how client characteristics (e.g., cultural background, attachment style) inform relational approaches to PTG facilitation.
Utilize PTG-oriented tools such as the PTG Workbook and the Transformed by Trauma framework to support clients in meaning-making and recovery.
Apply PTG principles to clinical case formulation and treatment planning for diverse populations

Our focus is to shine a light on PTG so that mental health practitioners can learn about the possibility of growth in the aftermath of trauma, and in turn, help the people they serve to see their potential for growth, value, and worth.

Dr. Richard Tedeschi

58%

increase in Posttraumatic Growth experienced by Warrior PATHH graduates

58%

sustained reduction in depression experienced by Warrior PATHH graduates

53%

sustained reduction in anxiety experienced by Warrior PATHH graduates

Boulder Crest Institute for PTG

The Boulder Crest Institute for Posttraumatic Growth serves as the hub for the development, delivery, study, and scale of Posttraumatic Growth (PTG) programs.

Lead by Dr. Richard Tedeschi, the Institute is dedicated to advancing the science and methodologies of PTG. Dr. Tedeschi is co-founder of the science of PTG, having coined the term in 1995 with his colleague Dr. Lawrence Calhoun. Dr. Tedeschi is widely considered the foremost authority on PTG, having published 10 books and over 140 professional articles.

Learn About the Institute Meet Dr. Tedeschi

Frequently Asked Questions

PTG Certification is not open to students completing their course of study. We hope you will register after you obtain licensure.

Our foundational online course — PTG for Life: Learning to Struggle Well — is well suited for people who are not eligible for certification or qualification, but who want to learn the essentials of PTG. This 3 hour, self-guided course teaches the concepts and practices of Posttraumatic Growth using video instruction, workbook exercises, and recommended reading. Lessons include the History of PTG, Phases of PTG: Trust & Connection, Education, Regulation, Disclosure, Service & Story, and the Domains of PTG: New Possibilities, Deeper Relationships, Personal Strength, Spiritual & Existential Change, and Appreciation For Life.

Please also explore the PTG Resource Center to stay up to date on PTG-related topics.

Healthcare professionals who are not licensed mental health clinicians are well suited for PTG Qualification for Healthcare, Education, and Support Personnel. You can also consider enrolling in PTG for Life: Learning to Struggle Well for the general audience interested in PTG.

Coaches who are not licensed mental health clinicians are well suited for PTG Qualification for Healthcare, Education, and Support Personnel. You can also consider enrolling in PTG for Life: Learning to Struggle Well for the general audience interested in PTG.

The online course is approximately 10 hours of video instruction led by Dr. Richard Tedeschi, Ph.D, widely considered the foremost authority on PTG.

Dr Tedeschi, together with his colleague Dr. Lawrence Calhoun, coined the term Posttraumatic Growth in 1995. Among his many accolades, Dr. Tedeschi’s work has been named in Stanford University’s list representing the top 2% of the world’s most-cited researchers.

All students will need to purchase Transformed by Trauma: Stories of Posttraumatic Growth and The Posttraumatic Growth Workbook: Coming Through Trauma Wiser, Stronger, and More Resilient.

There are a series of articles that will be referenced with abstracts provided throughout the course.

This is a self-paced course. It is divided into modules with reflection questions built in. We recommend that you take the course in whichever way allows you to have an effective, personal learning experience. There is no required timeframe — please allow yourself time to complete the course in a way that is most valuable to you.

Scope
This policy applies to the PTG Certification course offered by the Boulder Crest Institute for Posttraumatic Growth^SM(BCI).

Participant-Initiated Cancellation
– Registrants may cancel after enrollment for a full refund, provided they have not (a) completed the course, (b) claimed CE credit, or (c) progressed beyond Module One of course content (as recorded in the Learning Management System).

Provider-Initiated Cancellation
– If BCI cancels a CE activity for any reason, all registrants will receive a full refund.
– Participants will be notified via email and provided with refund instructions within 5 business days of cancellation.

Refund Process
– Refund will be issued to the original payment method per the payment provider’s process and guidelines
– To request a cancellation or refund, email institute@bouldercrest.org with your full name, course title, order date, and reason for the request.

Exceptions & Limitations
– BCI does not refund transactions involving fraudulent, abusive, or chargeback activity and reserves the right to suspend LMS access in such cases.
– Coupon codes and promotional pricing are not redeemable for cash.
– Group purchases or third-party billing may be subject to additional terms.

Complaints & Grievances
Participant complaints are handled under BCI’s CE Program Grievance Procedure. To initiate a complaint, please email institute@bouldercrest.org.

Effective Date
This policy is effective immediately and applies to all purchases/enrollments from the effective date forward. BCI may update the policy to align with regulatory or platform requirements; the current version will always be posted at the policy link.

For assistance with technical difficulties and to share concerns or feedback about this course please email institute@bouldercrest.org. Participants with concerns or complaints may submit a written grievance to institute@bouldercrest.org. We will respond within 10 business days and document all resolutions.

The Boulder Crest Institute for Posttraumatic Growth^SM (BCI) is committed to ensuring equitable access to all continuing education activities. If you require accommodations to participate fully in this course, please contact institute@bouldercrest.org. We will make every reasonable effort to support your learning needs in accordance with applicable accessibility standards.

PTG Certification

Why Get Certified in PTG?