Certification in Polyvagal-Informed Somatic Trauma Treatment

You’re eligible if you meet three basic requirements:

• You are a licensed mental health professional.

• You are in good standing with your licensing board.

To qualify for certification, applicants must complete at least 22 continuing education (CE) hours in polyvagal-informed skills training. This coursework should emphasize the practical how-tos clinicians need to integrate polyvagal theory into their practice.

We’re flexible in what “counts” toward this requirement, so clinicians can tailor their learning to what’s most useful in their work.

Accepted Trainings
Online CE Credit’s Certificate in Polyvagal-Informed Somatic Trauma Treatment program fully meets these requirements. We also accept trainings offered by the Polyvagal Institute, PESI, and NICABM.

If you’ve trained with another provider not listed here, please contact us. Most trainings are accepted, and if for any reason yours is not, we’ll refund your certification processing fee in full.

To ensure a strong foundation in polyvagal-informed and somatic trauma treatment, certification candidates must complete a reading requirement of two books focused on Polyvagal Theory, autonomic nervous system regulation, and their application to clinical practice. These readings are intended to deepen understanding of neuroception, co-regulation, autonomic state shifts, embodied healing, and polyvagal-informed interventions.

The choice of books is yours, but we strongly recommend including at least one title by Dr. Stephen Porges, the developer of Polyvagal Theory, to provide a foundational understanding of the theory upon which much contemporary polyvagal-informed clinical work is based.

Recommended Titles (choose any two):

• The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological Foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, Self-Regulation, and Health – Stephen W. Porges

• Treating Trauma and Addiction with the Felt Sense Polyvagal Model: A Bottom-Up Approach – Jan Winhall

• Applied Polyvagal Theory in Yoga: Therapeutic Practices for Emotional Health – Arielle Schwartz

• Anchored: How to Befriend Your Nervous System Using Polyvagal Theory – Deb Dana

• Polyvagal Exercises for Safety and Connection: 50 Client-Centered Practices – Deb Dana

As part of the certification process, candidates must complete a set of knowledge exams.

• If you complete your coursework for this certification through Online CE Credits, no additional steps are required, as the certificate program already includes multiple knowledge exams that you’ll take as you progress.

• If you complete training for this certification through another provider and those courses do not include exams, just let us know. We’ll provide an alternative assignment or a make-up exam to ensure the requirement is met.

We recognize that licensed clinicians are in the best position to determine what they need in order to achieve competency. Ultimately, ongoing practice and consultation are professional responsibilities guided by your licensing board and your clinical judgment. Our goal is not to overload you with front-end requirements, but to emphasize quality over quantity and encourage a lifelong commitment to consultation and practice.

For certification purposes, the minimum requirements are:

• 30 Treatment Practice Sessions

  • These may be completed with peers, clients, or role-played cases.

• 10 Consultation Sessions (each session should be at least 15 minutes long)

  • Options include: live sessions with OCEC consultants, independent consultants or supervisors, or recorded/on-demand consultation modules (if offered by your consultant).

  • At least 3 sessions must involve live interaction.

We strongly recommend that consultation become ongoing, career-spanning activities, not something limited to the certification process.

Effective practice requires more than mastering protocols and techniques — it also requires a commitment to practicing with cultural humility. Clinicians must be mindful of how their own perspectives, biases, and blind spots can affect the therapeutic process.

As part of certification, we ask candidates to engage in the following continuing education on cultural humility and culturally responsive care. These resources are designed to help you reflect, expand your awareness, and integrate more inclusive practices into your work.

Required education includes:

• Getting to the Core of Culturally Competent Therapy (Video, 30 min)

• Affirming Care for the LGBTQ Community: A Training on Cultural Humility (Video, 1.5 hours)

• Cultural Humility (Video, 30 min)

By engaging with these resources, you demonstrate your commitment to practice in a way that is respectful, inclusive, and attuned to the diverse identities and lived experiences of the clients you serve.

As part of your certification, you will submit two de-identified client vignettes demonstrating your ability to complete case formulations and apply core assessment/therapy skills.

⚠️ Important: All vignettes must be fully de-identified (no names, initials, or other identifying information).

Vignette Outline

1. Client Background (1–2 paragraphs)

2. Case Conceptualization (2–3 paragraphs)

3. Preparation and Treatment Planning

4. Application of Assessment/Treatment

5. Outcomes & Reflections

6. Summary Statement

• Key takeaways about your competency

• Overall outcome for the client

Formatting Guidelines

• Length: 2–4 pages per vignette (typed, double-spaced)

• Confidentiality: All identifying details removed or altered

• Style: Clear, professional, reflective of clinical reasoning

By following this outline, your case vignettes will demonstrate your ability to think critically, apply psychotherapeutic concepts and skills, and reflect on your clinical practice.

As part of the certification process, you will provide evidence of your clinical strengths and professional reputation. Please choose one of the following options:

Option A: Client Feedback Forms (5 Required)

Submit five anonymized client feedback forms reflecting client perceptions of your work.

• Confidentiality: Remove all identifying client information. Feedback must remain fully anonymous.

• Format: Feedback can be written (short form, survey-style, likert scale, or narrative - whatever you prefer).

• Content: Ask clients to briefly comment on their experiences of:

  • Safety (Did you feel safe and supported during sessions?)

  • Empathy (Did you feel understood and respected by your therapist?)

  • Effectiveness (Did therapy help you with the concerns you were hoping to address?)

  • Other Aspects of the Experience (Any additional feedback about comfort, professionalism, or outcomes that feels important to share)

Purpose: These forms provide client-centered evidence of your ability to create a safe, effective, and compassionate therapeutic environment.

Option B: Letters of Recommendation (2 Required)

Submit two letters of recommendation from professional colleagues or supervisors.

• One letter must be from a supervisor, consultant, or senior colleague who has observed your clinical work.

• One letter may be from another professional colleague familiar with your practice.

• Letters should comment on:

  • Your professional reputation

  • Your compassion, empathy, and clinical integrity

  • Your ability to provide safe and effective therapy (if the recommender is a supervisor)

  • Any other qualities that reflect your competence.

Purpose: These letters provide professional perspectives on your character, reputation, and clinical skill, reinforcing the personal qualities essential for effective work.

Whether you choose client feedback or letters of recommendation, the goal of this requirement is to demonstrate that you consistently provide safe, compassionate, and effective care in your practice.

To complete certification, applicants must demonstrate integration, creativity, and professional contribution by completing one of the capstone project paths below. The Capstone is your opportunity to apply your new skills beyond the training room and show your readiness to practice responsibly, innovatively, and with professional depth.

General Standards for All Capstones

• Length/Format: Written projects should be approximately 4–8 pages (double-spaced) unless otherwise specified; presentations/workshops should be approximately 1 hour long.

• Professional Quality: Submissions should be organized, clearly written or presented, and appropriate for sharing with a professional audience.

• Confidentiality: Any case material must be fully de-identified.

Capstone Pathways

1. Clinical Demonstration Path

• Mini Case Series:

  • Write up 3–4 de-identified cases demonstrating the application of the new skills you learned in the certification courses.

  • Each case should include: case conceptualization, use of new skills, observed outcomes, and challenges encountered.

  • Include a reflection on clinical decision-making and lessons learned across cases.

  • Standard: Shows mastery of skills, flexibility in clinical reasoning, and sensitivity to client needs.

2. Educational / Teaching Path

• Workshop Design:

  • Create a 1-hour professional training (with slides, objectives, and outline) for peers or a professional audience.

  • Should include learning goals, interactive elements, and references to relevant literature.

  • Standard: Content is accurate, engaging, and appropriate for professional CE-style delivery.

• Psychoeducation Resource:

  • Develop a client-friendly tool such as an infographic, handout, booklet, or video.

  • Must explain concepts/skills in accessible, non-technical language.

  • Standard: Clear, visually engaging, and useful for client understanding.

3. Community / Outreach Path

• Humanitarian Service Project:

  • Volunteer your new skills in a community clinic, disaster relief setting, or underserved population.

  • Submit a 3–4 page reflection describing the context, work performed, challenges, and impact.

  • Standard: Demonstrates cultural humility, adaptability, and contribution to social good.

• Adaptation Project:

  • Design an adapted protocol or approach related to your certification topic that is tailored for a specific underserved community (e.g., refugees, rural populations, BIPOC communities).

  • Submit a 4–6 page write-up detailing rationale, modifications, and potential impact.

  • Standard: Innovative, sensitive to community needs, and theoretically grounded.

4. Research & Innovation Path

• Literature Review:

  • Write a 5–8 page critical review of research in a specialized area related to your certification topic.

  • Include implications for clinical practice and areas for further study.

  • Standard: Clear, analytical, and demonstrates integration of research into practice.

• Innovation Project:

  • Propose or pilot a new method or tool related to your certification topic.

  • Submit a written report with rationale, design, and potential clinical use.

  • Standard: Creative, evidence-informed, and professionally presented.

5. Personal / Professional Integration Path

• Reflective Paper:

  • Write a 4–6 page reflection on how this certification training has influenced your clinical identity, ethics, and trauma-informed practice.

  • Include insights about challenges, growth, and future professional goals.

  • Standard: Thoughtful, honest, and demonstrates meaningful integration of new skills into practice.

• Therapist Self-Care Plan:

  • Create a structured, evidence-based plan for maintaining resilience while delivering psychotherapy.

  • Should include strategies for self-monitoring, supervision/consultation, and personal well-being.

  • Standard: Practical, personalized, and realistic for sustaining long-term clinical work.

Submission Guidance:
Choose the path that best fits your professional goals and context. The Capstone is an opportunity to show how the new skills you gained in this certification program becomes part of your unique contribution to the field!

Your Certification through our program is valid for four years, rather than the two years required by many other organizations. This policy was carefully chosen based on our knowledge of the pace of scientific progress in psychotherapy.

• Why 4 Years?
  Psychotherapy research evolves gradually. In most cases, there are no major shifts in best practices within a two-year period. A four-year cycle better reflects the true pace of innovation in the field while still ensuring that clinicians remain aligned with current standards of care.

• No Cost, No Redundancy
  We do not believe in charging renewal fees or requiring clinicians to go through re-testing or re-evaluation once certified. In fact, we do not even frame this process as “recertification.” Instead, we use a Maintenance of Certification model.

• Our Philosophy
  We assume that if you are actively practicing skills you’ve learned, you are becoming more knowledgeable, not less over time. Requiring you to “re-prove” your competence every few years does not reflect the reality of clinical growth and practice.

Maintenance of Certification (Every 4 Years)

To maintain your certification, you will simply need to attest that you:

• Are still a licensed mental health professional in good standing with your board.

• Are regularly practicing skills related to your certification in your clinical work.

• Remain engaged in consultation activities, consistent with best practices.

That’s it. There are no hidden costs, no mandatory courses, and no re-examinations.

Why This Approach Works

• Scientifically Grounded: Aligned with the pace of psychotherapy research and innovation.

• Clinician-Friendly: Respects your time, expertise, and ongoing clinical experience.

• Ethically Responsible: Ensures ongoing licensure, good standing, and consultation are maintained without unnecessary financial or administrative burdens.

• Accessible: Maintenance of certification is always free.

Bottom Line: Certification lasts 4 years, and continuing your certification is simple, free, and based on trust in your growth as a practicing clinician.