Frequently Asked Questions
Answers about our trainings, CE credit, consultation, and how to work with Groundwork.
About Groundwork
What is Groundwork Trauma Education?
Groundwork Trauma Education is a continuing education and clinical consultation company for licensed mental health providers, based in Nashville, Tennessee, and offering trainings online nationally. Groundwork is an NBCC Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7927. We offer live and on-demand CE trainings in trauma-focused clinical work, clinical consultation and mentorship for therapists, custom workshops for organizations, and speaking engagements.
Who founded Groundwork?
Groundwork was founded by Melanie Reese, LMFT, a trauma therapist, AAMFT-Approved Supervisor, Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, and Brainspotting Certified Consultant based in Nashville. She also owns Trauma Therapy of Nashville, a group practice specializing in trauma treatment. She has 15+ years of experience in as a trauma therapist.
Who are Groundwork's trainings for?
Groundwork's trainings are designed for licensed clinicians who work with trauma, including LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCs, psychologists, LADAC, and psychiatric nurse practitioners. Some programs, including our ketamine-assisted therapy training, are open to both mental health and medical providers. Individual training pages list the intended audience and any prerequisites.
Where is Groundwork located?
Groundwork Trauma Education is based in Nashville, Tennessee. Most trainings are delivered live online, so clinicians can attend from any state. Select programs include in-person components in the Nashville area.
CE Credit and Approval
Are Groundwork's trainings approved for CE credit?
Yes. 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. We recommend confirming with your licensing board that our trainings meet your specific requirements.
Will my state board accept NBCC-approved CE?
Most state licensing boards accept CE from NBCC Approved Continuing Education Providers, but acceptance and any format restrictions vary by state and by license type. Because requirements differ, we recommend confirming with your board before registering. Our CE Requirements page has more detail.
How many CE hours does each training offer?
CE hours vary by training and are listed on every training page alongside the date, format, and price. Our trainings currently range from 2 CE hours for a single focused workshop to 25 CE hours for our ketamine-assisted therapy cohort program.
How do I receive my CE certificate?
For live trainings, full attendance is required. Certificates are issued after the training and after you complete the course evaluation, typically within 7 business days.
For on-demand trainings, you complete the course materials, pass the post-test, and complete the evaluation. Your Certificate of Completion is issued within 7 business days.
What happens if I miss part of a live training?
Full participation is required to receive CE credit, and partial credit is not available. This is a requirement of our approval as an NBCC ACEP, not a Groundwork preference. If you know in advance that you cannot attend the full session, contact us before the training to discuss options. Partial credit may be issued for cohort, retreat style or specialty trainings.
Live Trainings
What is a Groundwork live training like?
Groundwork live trainings are held online in real time and are interactive rather than lecture-only. They include direct instruction, case discussion, questions answered in the moment, and peer connection. Trainings are taught by experienced clinicians who are actively practicing in the area they teach.
What platform do you use?
Live trainings are held on Zoom. You receive access details by email before the training. You will receive your certificate through your course library on Kajabi Platform.
Do I need to keep my camera on?
Autonomy and choice is at the top of our list. You may attend in any way creates the best learning experience for you. That said, participants are expected to engage in conversation.
Will live trainings be recorded and released later?
Live trainings are recorded, and most are later made available as on-demand home-study purchases. Recordings are not distributed to live participants as a session replay.
If you are deciding between formats, it is worth knowing that live and on-demand hours are not interchangeable for licensure. Most boards require the majority of your CE to be earned live and cap how many hours may come from home study, so waiting for the recording means those hours count toward your home-study allowance rather than your live requirement.
Am I recorded when I attend a live training?
Live trainings are recorded so the material can later be offered as an on-demand home-study course. What gets recorded is the instructional content, not participants.
Participant video and audio are not included in the recording that is released. Case discussion, questions, and anything shared by participants during the training are edited out or excluded from the recorded version. If a portion of a session cannot be separated from participant contributions, that portion is not released.
By registering, you agree to Groundwork's recording policy, available on our Policies page.
Can I share clinical material during a live training?
Live trainings include case discussion, and we ask participants to protect client confidentiality by de-identifying any clinical material they bring. Do not share names, identifying details, or anything that could reasonably identify a client.
Participation in discussion is always optional. If you prefer not to speak during a recorded portion, you are welcome to use the chat or simply listen.
On-Demand and Self-Paced Trainings
What is the difference between live and on-demand trainings?
The clinical content is the same. Live trainings are held in real time and include instructor interaction, case discussion, and peer connection. On-demand trainings are recorded and self-paced, so you can pause, revisit, and complete the material on your own schedule. On-demand is priced lower because it does not include real-time interaction.
Can I use on-demand trainings for all of my CE hours?
Usually not. Most licensing boards require the majority of continuing education to be earned through live instruction and limit how many hours may come from home-study or asynchronous formats. On-demand trainings count toward your home-study allowance. Limits vary by state and license type, so we recommend confirming your board's specific requirements as you plan your renewal cycle.
How long do I have access to an on-demand training?
You will have unlimited access to your on-demand training for as long as the course remains available. If a course is retired or substantially updated, enrolled participants will be notified in advance and given time to complete it.
Download your certificate when you complete the training and keep a copy for your records. Boards typically require you to retain CE documentation for your own audit purposes.
Is there a test?
Yes. NBCC requires that home-study programs verify completion through an assessment. Our on-demand trainings include a post-test requiring a score of 80% to pass. You may retake the test as many times as needed.
Pricing and Registration
How much do Groundwork trainings cost?
Standalone workshops are priced by CE hour. Live trainings range from $40 to $60 per CE hour depending on the level. On-demand trainings range from $25 to $35 per CE hour. Certificate programs, cohort-based trainings, and retreat-style immersives are priced individually, with full pricing listed on each program page.
Why do some trainings cost more per hour than others?
Pricing reflects the depth of the material. Foundations trainings assume no prior background in the topic. Intermediate trainings assume working familiarity with trauma-informed practice and build clinical application. Advanced trainings assume established competence in the area, and in most cases prior formal training in it. Each training page lists its level and any prerequisites.
Do you offer discounts or scholarships?
Yes. We do not want cost to be a barrier to your participation.
Reduced rates
- Students receive 25 percent off.
- Pre-licensed clinicians receive 20 percent off.
- Groups of six or more receive 20 percent off.
Groundwork instructors receive 20 percent off, plus one free training during the calendar year in which they teach. (Free seats are excluded from cohort, retreat style and speciality trainings).
Need-based scholarships
We hold a limited number of need-based scholarship seats for each training. No documentation or explanation is required beyond your request.
How to request
Email [email protected] before registering, and let us know which training you are interested in and which rate or scholarship you are requesting. We will send you a discount code or scholarship details.
Requests must be made before you register, as we are not able to apply discounts retroactively.
What is your refund policy?
Live Trainings (In-Person or Virtual)
Cancellations made within 6 days of the event are eligible for partial credit (50% of the CE hours) toward a future program.
No credit will be issued for no-shows or cancellations made after the training has begun.
Credit hours are non-transferable and must be used within 12 months of the original program date.
Home Study (On-Demand) Courses
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Credit may be granted only if the participant has not accessed any course content, including videos, materials, or the post-test.
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Once any portion of the course is accessed, the course is considered in progress and nonrefundable.
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If a participant is dissatisfied due to a technical or accessibility issue, they may contact us to resolve the issue or request credit toward a future course offering.
Course Cancellation by Provider
In the unlikely event that Groundwork Trauma Education cancels a live training, participants will be
offered the choice of:
If a home study course is discontinued, enrolled participants will retain access for a minimum of 30 days or receive a refund if access is disrupted.
Consultation, Supervision, and Mentorship
Does Groundwork offer clinical consultation?
Yes. Groundwork offers clinical consultation and mentorship for therapists who want to deepen clinical confidence, support with complex cases, integrate trauma modalities, or expand their work into intensives, supervision, or teaching. [Add format, length, and pricing.]
Do you offer Brainspotting consultation?
Yes. Melanie Reese, LMFT, is a Certified Brainspotting Consultant, and consultation is available in two forms.
Skill-building and case consultation. For clinicians who want support deepening their Brainspotting practice. This is case staffing, troubleshooting what happens in the room, and building confidence and range with the modality. There is no certification requirement or endpoint. You come when you want the support.
Certification consultation. A structured consultation track for clinicians working toward Brainspotting certification. These hours count toward the consultation requirement for certification through Brainspotting International. Current requirements are set by Brainspotting International.
All consultation is individual and held online. Sessions are 30 minutes, one hour, or up to 90 minutes depending on what you need.
$75 for 30min and $150/60 min.
To get started, email [email protected].
Do you offer supervision for licensure?
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Do you offer consultation for ketamine-assisted therapy?
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H2: Ketamine-Assisted Therapy Training
What is Groundwork's ketamine-assisted therapy training?
Ketamine-Assisted Therapy Training: Foundations and Facilitation for Mental Health and Medical Providers is a 10-week cohort program offering 25 CE hours. It runs January 27 through April 14, 2027, with live online sessions Wednesdays from 10am to 12pm and two in-person experiential sessions on Fridays.
Who is the KAP training for?
The training is open to both licensed mental health providers and medical providers. [Add any prerequisites, screening requirements, or cohort cap.]
H2: Custom Workshops and Speaking
Can Groundwork train my team or organization?
Yes. Groundwork works with clinics, universities, agencies, and group practices to deliver trauma-informed education tailored to a specific team or program. Custom workshops can be built from existing trainings or developed for your setting. Contact us to discuss scope, format, and pricing.
Do you offer speaking engagements?
Yes. [Describe topics, formats, and how to inquire.]
Teaching With Groundwork
Can I teach a training through Groundwork?
Yes. Groundwork works with experienced clinicians who want to teach. We handle CE approval, registration, platform, and marketing, and we provide a course development process and instructor support. Presenters must meet NBCC qualification requirements for the subject matter they teach. Visit our Teach With Us page for the instructor application.
How are instructors compensated?
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Accessibility and Policies
What if I need an accommodation?
We are committed to making our trainings accessible and provide accommodations consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact us at [EMAIL] at least [TIMEFRAME] before the training and we will work with you.
How do I raise a concern about a training?
Groundwork maintains a written grievance policy for participant concerns and disputes. [Summarize briefly and link to the policies page.]
Where can I find your full policies?
Our complete policies covering attendance, cancellations, refunds, CE requirements, recording, privacy, and grievances are on our Policies page.
H2: Still Have Questions?
Contact us at [EMAIL] and we will get back to you.
