This training is best suited for individuals who are beginning to explore the relationship between trauma and weight lifting. You will learn how to incorporate trauma-informed principles into your practice. The course is designed to support: 

• Personal Trainers 
• Fitness Coaches
• Weight Lifting Coaches
• Physical Therapists
• Occupational Therapists
• Mental Health Clinicians and other health providers
• Weight Lifters
• Body Workers and Movement Practitioners
• Athletes 

No prior training is required. This training covers a lot of topics and the content is designed to “get you up to speed” on any topic relevant to Trauma Informed Weight Lifting.

We created this program to be 100% web-based to increase accessibility to participants an any location. Live sessions are held via Zoom, and the link sent by email to participants before the first live session. 

The breakdown of the 15 hours is as follows: 

• Self-paced study = 11 hrs. (though this depends on your learning style and needs) 
• Live sessions = 4 hrs. (two separate 2-hour sessions) 

It is extremely important that you are able to attend the 4 hrs. of live sessions in order to complete the training. We understand that emergencies can happen and if something comes up, let us know so that we can collaborate on a plan. These are rare and we appreciate communicating with us if it happens. 

Yes, the live sessions are recorded and uploaded after the training. All course content is available for 60 days from the first live session date. 

The cost of this training is $450 (U.S.). You have the option of paying in full or in two (2) installments: one to begin, the second to be automatically charged one month after the first payment. The process for scholarship-based payments is different, please click here to apply Scholarships.

Yes, we offer a limited number of full and partial scholarships as part of our diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative. The purpose of scholarships is to expand the reach of the TIWL program and to address health disparities by engaging professionals who will commit to providing TIWL services to a range of historically marginalized communities, including those contemporarily impacted by oppression-related traumatic stress.  

As a program, we respect the data that shows individuals seeking care tend to be best served by providers who come from the same or similar communities, or cultural milieu, especially when considering marginalization or people who have experienced system discrimination. We take this into consideration in our decision-making process for these scholarships.  

Click here to apply for a scholarship.

We will reach out to you before registration officially closes with our scholarship award letters.

Yup! In general, we try to offer this training twice a year. Please follow us on Instagram and/or subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on training dates and other opportunities.

Our more intensive Certification Program is an 8-week, 60+ hour program accompanied by leadership consultations, peer groups, and a final project. 

In this Certification course, you gain the knowledge and skills necessary to facilitate Trauma Informed Weight Lifting sessions, as an adjunctive treatment for complex trauma and PTSD.  The course is conducted online, with no in-person attendance. However, it also has required live sessions, along with the self-study, over the course of 8 weeks. Please note: the Certification Program is NOT a self-paced course.  

We recommend the following, to learn more about trauma and recovery: 

• The Body Keeps the Score, Bessel van der Kolk
• Trauma and Recovery, Judith Herman
• Direct and Indirect Effects of Exercise on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms: A Longitudinal Study, James Whitworth et al. 

Feasibility of Resistance Exercise for Posttraumatic Stress and Anxiety Symptoms: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study, James Whitworth et al.