Narrative Focused Trauma Care® Level II

Narrative Focused Trauma Care® Level II Training is designed for practitioners and leaders who desire to deepen their skills learned in Narrative Focused Trauma Care Level I in order to further serve and foster healing in their communities.

Available in an interactive, fully online format, this secondary level of training expands on the foundational competencies and story engagement techniques developed in Narrative Focused Trauma Care developed in Level I.

Over four intensive weekends of training, this program will help you discover and cultivate your own unique style of story work facilitation through:

  • Targeted teaching from a diverse group of expert leaders
  • Experiential learning as you practice group facilitation under the care and guidance of a skilled facilitator
  • Comprehensive coaching and individual feedback helping you discover your personal strengths and growth opportunities

Thank you for your interest in this training. Applications for the 2025-2026 cohort of Narrative Focused Trauma Care Level II will open soon. If you’d like to be notified when applications open, please join the Interest List below. 

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“This training is imperative if they want to do work specifically as it relates to Narrative Focused Trauma Care. I think Level I is more about understanding and Level II is about taking what we’ve learned and applying it in real time. It’s extremely valuable and I’m so glad that I answered the call.”
– Narrative Focused Trauma Care Level II participant

About Level II

We believe there is a strong connection between learned theory, personal transformation, and the ability to care for others’ stories with artistry and skill. It requires returning regularly to core concepts, continuing your own healing journey, and creating space to practice and receive guidance along the way.

Narrative Focused Trauma Care Level II is designed to combine all of these realms to support your growth as a story practitioner within your particular context of work or counseling.

Central to this next level of training is a deepened capacity to recognize core issues of shame, contempt, and ambivalence as they are revealed through story, and identify inroads to name and engage these themes more effectively with those in your care.

You will apply and practice your skills and technique as you take a turn as the group leader and facilitate engagement with other participants’ stories. You will receive personal feedback and coaching on your facilitation strengths and opportunities. These will be coupled with thoughtful engagement around ways in which your own story has shaped your style of relating.

Narrative Focused Trauma Care Level II will take place online over the course of one orientation and four intensive weekends:

  • Orientation: Date TBD
  • October 9-12, 2025
  • December 4-7, 2025
  • February 5-8, 2026
  • April 16-19, 2026

Each four-day session runs on a similar schedule: 8:00am-4:00pm PT Thursday-Saturday and 8:00am-12:30pm PT Sunday. A detailed schedule for the 2024-25 cohort will be provided.

Key Takeaways

  • Identify and utilize core Narrative Focused Trauma Care structures, including: narrative, trauma, family of origin, cultural context, arousal, triangulation, complicity and binds
  • Increase capacity to engage with wisdom and precision through learning to listen to your own body, identifying primary themes in story, learning to read body language and speech, learning to listen to your own body, and growing in discernment regarding the work of evil and the role of shame
  • Develop increased awareness of your personal style of relating and leading, including how it is experienced by others
  • Deepen your understanding for how your style of relating was formed within story and how it informs your calling
  • Develop an understanding of how our past stories of harm continue to play out through the process of countertransference: how particular themes of our story create reenacting experiences within relationships, your leading style, and the group dynamic
  • Continue to grow in personal identity formation and recognize where culture, gender, race, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic experiences inform how you read and engage the personal and collective stories and where they intersect
  • Eligibility to continue to the Certificate in Narrative Focused Trauma Care Level III

Your Experience Includes

Each Weekend

  • Immersive engagement with personal transformation and skill development
  • Live, interactive teaching from our diverse and skilled Teaching Team
  • Opportunity to practice story engagement and receive feedback in a supportive small group process led by an experienced Allender Center facilitator
  • Specific space during the weekends hosted by our staff of color for non-majority participants to connect and converse
  • A schedule that is designed with intention for rest and sustainability, including provision of self care resources to utilize throughout the program and beyond
  • An interactive and supportive learning environment
  • A seamless learning environment hosted by Zoom technology with access to technical support

You Will Also Receive

  • Preparatory reading, films, and writing assignments to support your learning and development between weekends
  • Downloadable schedule to guide you through the program weekends
  • Access to recordings of all teaching sessions throughout the duration of the program year

Benefits of Completing Level II Training

  • Eligible to apply for Level III Training, successful completion of which (together with the capstone project) is the pathway towards being recognized as a Certified NFTC Practitioner
  • Eligible for membership to the NFTC Directory with Level II Trained designation
  • Increased marketability and visibility of your training and skills in Narrative Focused Trauma Care
  • Documented completion of 110 seat hours (50 hours of teaching, 50 hours of group work) for those seeking CEUs

Eligibility to Apply

To be eligible to apply, you must have completed Narrative Focused Trauma Care Level I Training.

Continuing Education Units

Participants in Narrative Focused Trauma Care Level II at the Allender Center receive a certificate of completion verifying 110 seat hours. Participants may apply for recognition of these hours for CEU credit with their respective licensing bodies. The Allender Center is an organization housed within The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology. The Seattle School is accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) and the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), is authorized by the Washington Student Achievement Council, and meets the requirements and minimum education standards established for degree-granting institutions under the Degree-Granting Institution Act.

The Allender Center at The Seattle School will not be held responsible for professional licensing boards or states that do not recognize the requested CEUs. 

 

Join the Interest List