A Training for Therapists and Healing Practitioners

 A live, online continuing education training for licensed clinicians who want to move beyond checklist ethics and learn to stay grounded, clear, and relational in the moments that matter most.

At a glance

• Date: April 17, 2026
• Format: Live online via Zoom (interactive)
• Total CE Hours: Up to 5 (3 Ethics + 2 Suicide Prevention)
• Content Level: Intermediate
• Audience: Licensed therapists and mental health professionals
• Prerequisites: None
• Investment: Ethics only $180, Suicide Prevention only $120, Both $300

Registration Links Below

Why This Training Is Different

Most ethics and suicide prevention trainings focus on rules, checklists, and liability. But when you are sitting across from a client in real time, especially in moments of complexity or crisis, that is not what determines your decisions. Your internal state does.

This training is designed to help you stay grounded, clear, and relational in the moments that matter most.

When working with trauma and suicidality, many clinicians:

• Freeze or lose access to clinical thinking
• Default to fear-based or overly cautious decisions
• Struggle to balance ethical care with legal expectations
• Feel uncertain how to respond in real time

This training moves beyond procedural ethics and into the lived, moment-to-moment reality of clinical work. You will learn how to stay present under pressure, navigate complex ethical decisions, and respond to suicidality in a way that is both clinically sound and deeply human.

What You Will Take Away

• A clear understanding of how therapist reactivity impacts ethical decision making
• A grounded framework for responding to suicidal ideation in session
• Greater confidence in assessing risk and determining next steps
• The ability to stay connected and attuned, even in high-stakes moments
• A deeper understanding of how trauma-informed care is inherently ethical care

Schedule

April 17, 2026 | All times Central

• 9:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.: Ethics (with one 15 minute break)
• 12:15 to 1:00 p.m.: Lunch
• 1:00 to 3:15 p.m.: Suicide Prevention (with one 15 minute break)

You may register for one or both portions.

Part One: Ethics (3 CE Hours)

We will explore how ethical practice is shaped not just by rules, but by presence, attunement, and clinical judgment.

Topics include:

• The tension between ethics and legal requirements
• The impact of therapist nervous system activation on decision making
• Boundaries, consistency, and pacing as ethical care
• Navigating complex relational dynamics and attachment wounds
• Ethical decision making in real-world clinical scenarios

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

1. Identify how therapist nervous system activation influences ethical decision making
2. Describe the relationship between legal requirements and ethical care, including where they diverge
3. Apply a relational, trauma-informed lens to ethical decisions involving boundaries, pacing, and consistency
4. Analyze a clinical scenario and articulate the ethical considerations involved
5. Recognize signs of clinician reactivity and identify strategies for returning to a regulated, grounded state

Part Two: Suicide Prevention (2 CE Hours)

This portion focuses on helping you respond to suicidality with clarity, confidence, and connection.

Topics include:

• Common clinician responses that interfere with effective care
• Staying regulated and present during suicidal disclosure
• Direct and effective suicide risk assessment
• A structured, relational framework for responding in session
• Determining appropriate next steps, including safety planning and higher levels of care
• Integrating prevention into ongoing trauma work

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

1. Identify common clinician reactions to suicidal disclosure that interfere with effective care
2. Describe the components of a direct, relational suicide risk assessment
3. Apply a structured framework for responding to suicidal ideation in session
4. Determine appropriate next steps, including safety planning and decisions about higher levels of care
5. Explain how suicide prevention can be integrated into ongoing trauma-focused treatment

Who This Training Is For

This training is designed for licensed therapists and mental health professionals who:

• Work with trauma and complex cases
• Want to feel more confident navigating ethical gray areas
• Are looking for a more relational and grounded approach to suicide prevention
• Value depth, nuance, and real-world application

About the Presenter

Melanie Reese, LMFT, CCTP is the founder of Trauma Therapy of Nashville and Groundwork Trauma Education, with over 15 years of clinical experience specializing in complex trauma, nervous system regulation, Brainspotting (Consultant level), EMDR, parts work, somatic therapy, and ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. She is an AAMFT-Approved Supervisor and provides clinical consultation, supervision, and continuing education for therapists nationally.

Continuing Education Credit

Up to 5 CE hours are available (3 ethics + 2 suicide prevention). Participants must attend the full session(s) and complete the post-training evaluation to receive a certificate of completion.

State licensing boards vary in their acceptance of NBCC-approved continuing education. Participants are responsible for confirming acceptance with their own licensing board.

For full details on attendance requirements, certificate delivery, refunds, cancellations, accessibility, and grievances, please review our Policies Page before registering.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this training NBCC approved? Yes. Groundwork Trauma Education is an NBCC Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7927). Full approval statement appears in the page footer.

Will I receive a CE certificate? Yes, after full attendance and completion of the post-training evaluation.

Does this meet my state's ethics CE requirement? Most state licensing boards accept NBCC-approved CE, but acceptance varies by state and license type. We recommend confirming with your board before registering.

What if I cannot attend live? This is a live, interactive training. CE credit requires live attendance. A recording will not be available for CE. You may purchase the "On-Demand" version of the training to self-pace the material for CE credits. 

Can I register for just one portion? Yes. You can register for Ethics only, Suicide Prevention only, or both.

What platform will be used? The training is delivered live via Zoom. Login details will be sent after registration.

Groundwork Trauma Education has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7927. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Groundwork Trauma Education is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Please confirm with your licensing board about CE eligibility.