Trauma-Informed Pelvic Health Certification
Elevate Your Care with the Skills That Matter Most in Pelvic Health
The Trauma-Informed Pelvic Health Certification is designed for pelvic floor therapists who want to better serve their pelvic health clients by becoming trauma-informed and bridge the gap between hands-on techniques and transformative healing in their pelvic health sessions.
The Trauma Informed Pelvic Health Certification is a 3.5 month, intensive mentorship program that teaches you the *specifics* of how to incorporate the latest in trauma-informed care into your existing pelvic health sessions.
By gaining a deeper understanding of trauma, how it surfaces in pelvic health sessions, and tools to help both you and your client - you will get better results for your clients.
Being trauma-informed isn't a "nice" to have in pelvic health - it is absolutely essential to the well-being and care of our clients.
The next enrollment will be in November, 2025
Receive AOTA CEUs for Completing The First and Only Trauma-Informed Pelvic Health Certification
The Functional Pelvis is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development. Course approval ID# # 0000008352. This Blended/Hybrid course is offered at 3.2 CEUs, Advanced Level, OT Service Delivery and Foundational Knowledge.
Dear World Changing Pelvic Floor Therapist,
In our pelvic health sessions we often face the overlooked impact of trauma.
We are working with the most emotional and sensitive parts of our clients, and yet, it is easy to feel unprepared for what can surface during our sessions.
Trauma presents itself in a range of ways and without fluency in the topic, you'll continue to struggle to achieve the highest results for your clients. Trauma is there in the stories your client doesn't share during intake and treatment. Trauma is there when they are showing up committed but aren't getting better despite you "trying every technique" you know.
Trauma is there when your client feels disconnected from their body and doesn't feel like they have agency and a sense of control.
We see it everyday - symptoms lingering despite commitment and a giant basket of techniques.
And that's because you haven't gotten to the source of the problem.
This certification teaches you all the knowledge and skills you need to change this. It's about more than manual techniques, it is about truly connecting, building trust, knowing how to hold space for them, and understanding how trauma works and presents itself so you understand exactly what to do.
Understanding trauma is not taught in-depth in any pelvic floor therapy course, despite the fact that trauma appears in almost every pelvic floor session. We all know the buzz terms around nervous system and trauma, but because we haven't received any specialized, formalized training, many pelvic floor therapists feel unprepared and underconfident. Which means that clients aren't getting the care they need, and in some cases, they are actually worse off if the sessions worsen their trauma response.
Without a trauma-informed approach to pelvic health, we risk not being able to serve our clients to the fullest, and in some cases, actually making it worse. That is why we the first and only Trauma-Informed Pelvic Health Certification, which combines in-depth, up-to-date knowledge with practical training that you will use in your sessions with clients.
Here's What You Can Expect:
- Master the Art of Emotional Navigation: Learn to confidently guide your clients through unexpected emotional surges with grace and professionalism, turning "What do I do now?" into "I have the skills to handle this."
- Speak the Language of Healing: Adopt the precise language that resonates with your clients, ensuring you ask the right questions and provide answers that empower, not alienate.
- Balance Empathy with Self-Care: Discover strategies to maintain your own emotional equilibrium while holding space for your clients' pain, so you can serve without the cost of your own well-being.
- Demystify Trauma-Informed Care: Cut through the buzzwords to grasp the true essence of trauma-informed practice, making it more than a label in your toolkit—it becomes your second nature.
- Harness the Power of Somatic Wisdom: Uncover the subtle language of the body to help clients reconnect with their somatic experiences, facilitating a deeper healing that transcends words and taps into the body's innate wisdom.
- Navigate the Delicate Terrain of Trauma: Learn how to foster a safe environment where clients feel seen, heard, and supported on their journey to recovery.
- Empower with Precision: Learn how to empower your clients to understand and release their trauma, transforming it from a part of their identity into a step towards their empowerment.
- Calm the Nervous System: Equip yourself with an array of techniques for nervous system calming, providing your clients with the peace they need to heal from within.
- Transform Client Conversations: Turn defensive reactions into open dialogues by learning the art of communication that respects boundaries and encourages trust.
- Expand Your Therapeutic Toolkit: Integrate somatic and psychosocial interventions seamlessly into your sessions, offering comprehensive care that addresses the root cause, not just the symptoms.
- Cultivate Deep Safety and Trust: Develop the ability to create an environment of deep safety and trust, where clients can reveal their stories and embark on their healing journey with you as their steadfast ally.
And Here's How It Works:
When Was The Last Time You Felt COMPLETELY CONFIDENT In The Treatment Room?
Our Trauma-Informed Pelvic Health Certification equips you to support your clients' deepest needs WITHOUT feeling out of your depth.
If you are...
... EXHAUSTED from hitting the same roadblocks with manual techniques that don't address the underlying issues
... FRUSTRATED by the sense that there's a missing piece in your practice that could unlock true healing
...and YEARNING to connect with your clients on a level that fosters genuine progress and profound healing
...then this Trauma-Informed Pelvic Health Certification is perfect for you.
YOUR CLIENTS ARE SEEKING HEALING—BE THE BRIDGE TO THEIR RECOVERY
The Trauma-Informed Pelvic Health Certification is an intensive 3.5-month mentorship program combining online coursework and live group coaching that teaches you not just the “why” but also the “how-to”
EVEN IF you're new to trauma-informed practice: Our certification is designed to build your understanding from the ground up, providing you with the foundational knowledge and skills you need to confidently support your clients.
EVEN IF you've felt overwhelmed by emotional client reactions in the past: We'll equip you with practical tools and strategies to maintain your composure and provide effective care, even in the most challenging moments.
EVEN IF you're relatively new to pelvic health: As long as you've completed OT Pioneers or an equivalent foundational course and have the opportunity to practice hands-on, this certification will guide you to apply and refine your skills, ensuring you grow in confidence and competence with each session.
EVEN IF you've tried other trainings and didn't see a change: Our approach is unique, focusing on experiential learning and real-world application that translates into tangible results in your practice.
DEEPER HEALING. STRONGER TRUST. GREATER IMPACT.
…and A LOT of support along the way
Your Blueprint for Healing: Inside the Trauma-Informed Pelvic Health Certification Curriculum
You'll complete 9 online modules, attend twice a month mentoring calls (these are recorded), and successfully submit a case-study for review to earn your Trauma-Informed Pelvic Health Certification
1. Introduction To The Course
- Program Objectives
- Housekeeping - Orientation to calendar, expectations for certification, workbook, library of audio & video practices, library of scripting options
- The importance of self-care
2. Defining Trauma
- What is Trauma?
- Prevalence of Trauma
- Understanding Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Defining Traumatic Stress - chronis, complex & development
- Trauma Myths
- Defining Trauma Informed Care
- To Screen or Not to Screen? Inviting Disclosure
3. Impact of Trauma - Acute Stress
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Survival Responses
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When the Threat Passes
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Human Coping Patterns
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Client Translation - Compassionate Curiosity
4. Impact of Trauma - The Nervous System
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The Polyvagal Theory
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Neuroception & The Window of Tolerance
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Co-Regulation & Tracking
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Client translation:
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Tracking & developing the skill of dual awareness.
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Helping our clients get to know and track their nervous system in daily routines.
5. Impact of Trauma - The Brain
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The Brain in the Window of Tolerance
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The Brain on Stress
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Disintegration
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Trauma, Pain & Sensory Processing: Making connections
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Client Translation - Mitigation and Response
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Client Translation - Optimizing Presence Using The Senses
6. Impact of Trauma - Behavior
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Understanding Complex & Developmental Trauma
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Long Term Impact - The ACES Study
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Behavioural Defences
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Client Translation - Responding to Armour
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Client Translation - The Wisdom of Emotions
7. Trauma Informed Care
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Qualities of a Trauma Informed Pelvic Health Practitioner
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Responding to Trauma Disclosures
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Responding to Self-Preservation/Survival Responses
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Graded Exposure & Titration: Promoting Safety & Self-Efficacy
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Client Translation - Stages of Trauma Recovery: When & How to Refer to Trauma Focused Therapy
8. Somatics in Trauma Informed Pelvic Health Care
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Survival responses from a somatic lens
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Polyvagal theory and the vagus nerve
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Making connections: The postural system & the pelvic floor
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The Sensory Systems: Keys to restoring regulation
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Interoception
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Client translation - When & how to use somatic practices
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Principles of the the Polyvagal Theory from a Somatic Lens: Autonomic Hierarchy, Neuroception and Co-regulation
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The Vagus Nerve in Trauma Informed Pelvic Health: Tools for Vagus Stimulation
9. Safety, Connection & Empowerment/Dignity
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Tying it together
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Universal TIC considerations:
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Environment & inclusion
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Relationship
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Screening
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Assessment
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Treatment planning
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Discharge
Here's Some Critical Details
How Do I Enroll?
Access 9 Chapter Self-Paced Online Curriculum Starting Jan 15th, 2025
Attend Live Support Calls
Submit Certification Case-Study + workbook By April 16th
Attend Virtual Graduation Party May 7th!
What Is The Cost?
Do You Offer AOTA CEUs?
About Your Instructors
Lindsey Vestal, OTR/L
Lindsey is the founder The Functional Pelvis which was the first pelvic health practice in NYC ran by an occupational therapist.
She host a weekly OT Empower Hour on her Facebook Page "OTs for Pelvic Health" which has over 7,200 members.
Since 2018 she has been training other OTs in Pelvic Health through her popular online courses. She aims to train over 10,000 OTs by the year 2030 with more than 3,000 completing this certification.
In 2022 she launched her top rated podcast called OTs in Pelvic Health to further support and spread the word.
Lara Desrosiers, MSc. OT Reg. (Ont)
Lara is an Occupational Therapist with a keen interest in mental health, pelvic health and pain science. She has worked in community mental health and addictions settings since 2009.
She is an advocate of integrating a deeper understanding of pain, the nervous system, and the body into mental health care and of integrating a deeper understanding of psychology and trauma into rehabilitation practice.
Lara launched her private practice, Pelvic Resilience, In Ontario, Canada in 2017 which has a mission of supporting individuals experiencing pelvic floor dysfunction and persistent pain to get back to living life.
Lara is a teacher, mentor, and passionate advocate of the value of the Occupational Therapy lens in pelvic health care. Lara is also a teacher and mentor to clinicians interested in developing their psychologically-informed and trauma-informed practices.
