Rural Center of Excellence on SUD Treatment
UVM CORA Co-occurring PTSD and OUD Toolkit

Training Opportunities

Several training opportunities are available for treatment providers who are interested in learning how to deliver evidence-based posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) assessments and interventions.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers a free online course for providers who are interested in learning about the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5), which is the gold-standard PTSD assessment. This assessment explains the history, rationale, administration, and scoring of the CAPS-5. This training also offers interactive online courses and simulators that provide prompts in real time and on-screen coaching that teach participants how to administer and score the CAPS-5.

Webinars and in-person trainings are available for providers who are interested in Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) or Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT). During these trainings, experts provide intensive instruction in the use of these evidence-based interventions for survivors of trauma, covering the basics of all components of treatment and how to modify treatment procedures in order to tailor the treatment to the client’s specific needs. Depending on the training opportunity, lecture, discussion, videotaped therapy sessions, and participant role plays with feedback from experts may be used to accomplish the goals of the workshop.

In addition to the foundational training opportunities listed below, ongoing consultation and/or supervision is recommended to develop proficiency in delivering these treatments. Many of the training opportunities include the option to attend weekly consultation (often for an additional cost).

The online VA course for providers who are interested in learning about the CAPS-5 is free, and UVM CORA can cover the cost of the PE, CPT, and COPE trainings below for rural treatment providers. Please see section below for descriptions of available trainings and an application for reimbursement. 

University of Vermont Center on Rural Addiction (UVM CORA) aims to support mental health professionals who are providing care to people with OUD in HRSA-designated rural counties by covering the costs associated with taking one of the five trainings (described below) in evidence-based psychotherapies for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

We have included an application (linked at the bottom of this section) to determine whether you are eligible to receive reimbursement for training in specific trauma-focused therapies for PTSD to support your work with clients with co-occurring PTSD and OUD.

Access to PE and CPT courses may be restricted to licensed mental health professionals or those working under a licensed mental health professional. It is also recommended that participants have prior experience treating trauma survivors.

  1. University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine Center for Treatment and Study of Anxiety (CTSA) Intensive Workshop in Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) for PTSD – PE is a specific type of cognitive behavioral therapy that focuses on gradually approaching trauma-related memories, feelings, and situations that patients have been avoiding because of their trauma. By helping patients confront these challenges, patients may experience a decrease in their PTSD symptoms. This intensive four-day workshop is conducted live via Zoom and provides expert-led training in PE from faculty at the center where PE was created. The workshop provides training on the science behind PE, essential PE techniques, the development of effective treatment plans, challenges in exposure therapy, and skills for enhancing therapeutic effectiveness. The opportunity to participate in consultation calls with a PE expert is available following this foundational training for an additional cost.
  2. Cognitive Processing Therapy: Foundational Trainings – CPT is a specific type of cognitive behavioral therapy that focuses on evaluating and changing upsetting thoughts that patients have had since their trauma. By helping patients change their thoughts, they may experience changes in the way they feel. This two-day training is offered live via webinar or in a pre-recorded format by the developers of CPT, Drs Resick, Monson, and Chard and can also be accessed in an on-demand format. This intensive training covers every step of this highly structured 12-session cognitive treatment approach for PTSD. This training also provides opportunities to practice treatment skills, ask questions, and receive constructive feedback from peers and from the developers of the intervention. The opportunity to participate in consultation calls with a CPT expert is available following this foundational training for an additional cost.
  3. STRONG STAR Prolonged Exposure Therapy & Cognitive Processing Therapy Learning Communities – The STRONG STAR Training Initiative at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio offers a collaborative “Learning Community” approach to training in evidence-based PTSD therapies. These 2-day live online workshops are facilitated by expert trainers and provide foundational knowledge in delivery of PE and CPT. The workshops include didactic content, video demonstrations, and experiential practice in core elements of both treatment modalities. The trainers walk attendees through treatment session-by-session, and provide opportunities to practice foundational skills. Following the workshop, attendees will be ready to deliver treatment to patients. Attendees may also attend weekly consultation calls. Consultation is included in workshop fees and builds off the foundational training offered in the workshops, allowing attendees to apply treatment to clients with the support and guidance of expert consultants. Consultation is offered in live, weekly, Zoom-based, small group video calls and provides opportunities to learn how to deliver treatment with fidelity to maximize effectiveness, and learn from the cases of peers as well. Consultation occurs weekly for 8 months following the workshop.
  4. Training in Concurrent Treatment of PTSD and Substance Use Disorders Using Prolonged Exposure – COPE is an integrated cognitive behavioral therapy that combines PE with relapse prevention strategies for substance use disorders. Foundational COPE trainings are provided live via webinar and are designed to provide a comprehensive overview of the COPE treatment model. Post-training consultation is also offered for an additional cost. The training workshops and consultation services work together to provide clinicians with the resources, tools and support needed to effectively use COPE in their practice. Consultation is designed to build confidence, refine skills, and address any questions that may arise as providers implement COPE.

Click here to determine whether you are eligible and to submit an application for reimbursement.