Training

The Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma is a global leader in journalism ethics, safety in reporting, and press freedom. We bring our extensive experience with journalists to offer specific, real-world competency training for mental health clinicians.

What therapists who complete the JTSN program said about their training:

  • "The breadth of information - clinical and otherwise - was incredible. The speakers were some of the best I've ever seen in workshops."

    Malena Vinocur, Ph.D.

  • "Instructive and efficacy-enhancing exercises, intelligent and caring instructors. This was a fantastic training that helped me feel not only much readier but also incredibly excited to serve journalists through this project."

    G. Dawn Lawhon, Ph.D.

  • "The video and role-plays were really effective. The advanced level of the content was really exciting to me and I appreciated the excellent organization of the content."

    Stephanie Sacks, Ph.D.

Training includes:

  • A two-day live CE* webinar training on the culture and occupational risks of journalism, tailored clinical interventions, telehealth security for digitally vulnerable clients, and tips for building a journalist-focused practice

  • Post-training access to free data security consultation for clinicians with digitally at-risk clients

  • A go-at-your-own-pace curriculum of specific subject articles, tip sheets, and high quality short videos, delivered monthly to your email

    * 10 CEs recognized by APA, the NY State DoE, and most other US mental health licensing bodies. Must complete both full days of training to receive CEs (no partial credit).


    Training is currently for U.S.-based therapists only at this time. We hope to offer adapted trainings for other geographic regions soon. Check back at this site for update.

Training Webinar

“Treating Journalists in Distress”

Membership in the Journalist Trauma Support Network (JTSN) begins with a mandatory two-day CE training.

This live interactive webinar (10 CEs), delivered by Dart journalists and psychologists, will provide a primer on journalism cultural and clinical issues, and an introduction to the other core group members. Video interviews with real journalists, live demonstrations, and interactive breakout exercises make this course an engaging and effective basic training for your specialization in journalist mental health.

Therapists in the JTSN training will learn:

Journalism profession and culture

  • Values, traditions, roles and power relationships in professional journalism

  • Unique demands of modern journalism jobs

  • Implications for coping styles and attitudes about therapy

Trauma exposure in journalism

  • Risks involved in crisis and community reporting

  • The latest research on trauma and resilience in journalists

  • Mediating factors: ethical dilemmas, moral injury, and organizational dynamics

  • Bias and harassment at work: risks and resilience for BIPOC and gender minority journalists

Tailored assessment and treatment approaches

  • Differential diagnosis in the context of a trauma-focused career

  • Client-centered care planning: balancing structure with flexibility

  • Psychoeducation tools specifically designed for journalists

Secure telehealth for digitally vulnerable clients

  • Minimum telehealth data security for working with journalist clients

  • How to determine if a higher level of security is needed, and where to get help

Post-Training Learning Support

Free Data Security Consultation

JTSN Staff has partnered with security experts at the Freedom of the Press Foundation to ensure free one-to-one consultation to any core member who receives a referral for a client who may be under digital surveillance. FPF consultants can teach you how to use fully encrypted software for telehealth contacts and documentation (HIPAA compliance does not ensure full encryption), so you can do no harm while you help.


Continuous Learning

The webinar training will get you ready to see your first journalist clients without undue delay. But we have so much more to share with you! Want a deeper understanding of organizational dynamics in journalism? Need a roundup of the latest original research on journalists and trauma? Want to know more about topics like online trolling, sexual harassment, or peer community resources in journalism? We’ll provide continuous learning through specific subject articles, tip sheets, and high-quality short videos, delivered monthly to your email, as well as a searchable blog of topics related to journalism and trauma.