Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) is an empirically validated adjunctive clinical treatment
for complex trauma or chronic, treatment-resistant PTSD, developed at the Trauma Center in Brookline,
Massachusetts. TSY has foundations in both Trauma Theory (including Attachment Theory and
Neuroscience) and the Hatha Yoga tradition with an emphasis on body-based yoga forms and breathing
practices.
Training offerings include a 7-month certification program
(http://www.traumacenter.org/training/TCTSY_Cert_2017-18.php)
and 40-hour training (http://www.kripalu.org/program/view/TSYT152/trauma_sensitive_yoga_a_workshop_for_yoga_teachers/
for yoga instructors as well as open-registration workshop offerings for clinicians (posted as available on
the Trauma Center website, at http://www.traumacenter.org/training/workshops.php).
In addition, we offer a number of training options tailored to the needs of yoga studios and provider
agencies. Packages include the following:
1) A 2.5 day training program designed to be applicable for both yoga instructors and clinicians wishing
to integrate TCTSY into their practice. This program is tailored to support fiscal access to this program
for community providers and yoga instructors, and requires the commitment of a yoga studio able to
sponsor and organize an open-registration workshop.
2) A 2.5 day training program for provider agencies (clinicians, affiliate clinical providers) who wish to
incorporate TCTSY into ongoing practice. This program includes intensive training on-site for your
agency, and can, at the agency’s discretion, include follow-up consultation provided in-person (for local
agencies) or via video.
3) A consultation-based training program which offers a more flexible / less intense approach to
integrating TCTSY into agencies. This program typically involves bi-weekly consultation and brief training
for a period of 3 months, followed by monthly consultation. Consultation may be remote (via video) or
in-person, depending on location.
General inquiries regarding cost or other structural questions may be directed by submitting the form
located here http://www.traumacenter.org/training/Training_Consult_Request.php.
Specific inquiries regarding training content may be directed to David Emerson, Director of Yoga Services
at the Trauma Center, [email protected] .
Readings:
 Yoga as an Adjunctive Treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized Controlled
Trial. van der Kolk, Stone, West, Rhodes, Emerson, Suvak, Spinazzola. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry,
75(6), e559-e565, 2014.
 Trauma-sensitive yoga as an adjunct mental health treatment in group therapy for survivors of
domestic violence: A feasibility study (abstract). Cari Jo Clark, Angela Lewis-Dmello, Deena Anders, Amy
Parsons, Viann Nguyen-Feng, Lisa Henn, David Emerson. Complimentary Therpies in Clinical Practice.
20(3), 152- 58, 2014.
 Application of yoga in residential treatment of traumatized youth. Spinizzola, Rhodes,
Emerson, Earle & Monroe. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association. 17(6), 431-44, 2011.