About Our Trainings
Star Behavioral Health Providers is training civilian mental health professionals to better understand the unique challenges and stresses of the military experience. All trainings are free and offer CE credits. The tiers are taken progressively beginning with Tier One which introduces participants to military culture and focuses on military structure, values, beliefs and other factors that may affect clinical work with military-connected clients.
Upon completion of the Tier One training, you can join our Star Providers Directory and then build on your initial learnings by enrolling in advanced Tier Trainings. Additional topics include sleep problems, posttraumatic stress disorder, suicide prevention and evidence-based psychotherapies.
Each successive level of training builds on the one before. Most sessions are presented online via Zoom. Trainings must be completed in order, and attendees must join the online directory of trained providers before attending Tier Two, Tier Three, and Special Topics trainings.
Explore the Training Tiers
Tier One Training
Tier One: Introduction to Military Culture and the Military-Connected Experience is foundational and the first in a three-tiered series of trainings that prepare civilian mental health providers to serve military-connected clients through Star Behavioral Health Providers (SBHP). Designed as a full-day interactive training, it introduces participants to the distinctive elements of military culture and life, equipping providers with critical insights to deliver culturally competent care. Participants explore the origins and structure of the U.S. military, including its core values, branches of service, missions, and the roles of Active Duty, National Guard, and Reserve components. Emphasis is placed on understanding how assimilation into military culture shapes a service member’s identity, performance, and family dynamics.
| Length | Earn CEs | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|
| 1-day training | 7 CEs For details visit CEs and Surveys | None |
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Tier Two Training
Tier Two: Overview of Military Service-Related Behavioral Health Challenges is an intermediate-level training that builds on the foundational knowledge of Tier One, and equips civilian mental health professionals with deeper insights about specific mental health challenges and difficulties that are often associated with military service. Topics include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sleep disorders, suicide, and ethics.
| Length | Earn CEs | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|
| 1-day training | 7 CEs For details visit CEs and Surveys | Complete Tier One Member of the Star Providers Directory |
Tier Three Training
Tier Three consists of a menu of advanced skills-based trainings designed to enhance mental health professionals’ clinical expertise in delivering evidence-based treatments for particular clinical conditions that service members and veterans may experience. Each training centers on a specific, evidence-based therapy which has demonstrated effectiveness with military and veteran populations. These workshops provide hands-on instruction in protocol-driven/manualized treatments, including opportunities for video demonstrations, role-plays and experiential exercises. Participants learn the rationale and techniques unique to each protocol and how to implement the therapy session-by-session. These in-depth workshops build upon foundational knowledge from Tier One and Two trainings, advancing providers’ competence for treating specific problems experienced by military-connected clients.
| Length | Earn CEs | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|
| 2-day training, unless noted | 14 CEs, unless noted For details visit CEs and Surveys | Complete Tier One & Tier Two Member of Star Providers Directory |
Tier Three Training Courses
These are independent trainings and conducted separately from each other.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)
This Tier Three training provides mental health providers with intensive instruction in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicide Prevention (CBT-SP) and the opportunity to practice assessment and intervention strategies. The workshop first lays the foundation for working with suicidal clients by reviewing suicide rates in the military/veteran community, discussing terminology, and providing an overview of critical theories underlying suicidal ideation and behavior. The training then moves into exploring the three phases of CBT-SP. The section on the early phase of treatment highlights the evaluation of suicide risk, including identifying risk and protective factors for suicide. The section on the intermediate phase of treatment focuses on a variety of behavioral, affective, and cognitive coping strategies that can be utilized with suicidal clients. The section on the later phase of treatment emphasizes a set of relapse prevention exercises. Video demonstrations, participant role plays, and small discussion groups are used during the workshop to enhance learning with an emphasis on using CBT-SP with military-connected clients.
- Prerequisites: Participants must complete both Tier One and Two trainings and be members of the Star Providers Directory prior to enrolling in this Tier Three training.
- Note: Full attendance on both days is required to earn CE credits.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicide Prevention (CBT-SP)
This Tier Three training provides mental health providers with intensive instruction in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicide Prevention (CBT-SP) and the opportunity to practice assessment and intervention strategies. The workshop first lays the foundation for working with suicidal clients by reviewing suicide rates in the military/veteran community, discussing terminology, and providing an overview of critical theories underlying suicidal ideation and behavior. The training then moves into exploring the three phases of CBT-SP. The section on the early phase of treatment highlights the evaluation of suicide risk, including identifying risk and protective factors for suicide. The section on the intermediate phase of treatment focuses on a variety of behavioral, affective, and cognitive coping strategies that can be utilized with suicidal clients. The section on the later phase of treatment emphasizes a set of relapse prevention exercises. Video demonstrations, participant role plays, and small discussion groups will be used during the workshop to enhance learning with an emphasis on using CBT-SP with military-connected clients.
- Prerequisites: Participants must complete both Tier One and Two trainings and be members of the Star Providers Directory prior to enrolling in this Tier Three training.
- Note: Full attendance on both days is required to earn CE credits.
Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD (CPT)
This Tier Three training offers mental health providers intensive instruction in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), an evidence-based treatment for PTSD. The workshop presents theory underlying CPT, a brief overview of CPT’s empirical support, and step-by-step instructions in CPT protocol techniques. Throughout the training, strategies for conceptualizing and dealing with co-morbidity, managing avoidance, and keeping clients optimally engaged are provided. Video clips of expert therapists demonstrate CPT skills, and participants are asked to do role-plays and other assignments to learn concepts and practice skills with an emphasis on using CPT with military-connected clients.
- Prerequisites: Participants must complete both Tier One and Two trainings and be members of the Star Providers Directory prior to enrolling in this Tier Three training.
- Note: Full attendance on both days is required to earn CE credits.
Prolonged Exposure Therapy for PTSD (PE)
This Tier Three training provides intensive instruction in Prolonged Exposure (PE) Therapy, an evidence-based treatment for PTSD described in the manual, Prolonged Exposure Therapy for PTSD – Therapist Guide (Foa, Hembree, Rothbaum, & Rauch, 2019). The workshop covers the theoretical support for PE and reviews the main clinical techniques used in the standard protocol with an emphasis on application with military-connected clients. Step-by-step instructions for conducting PE therapy sessions, including in vivo and imaginal exposure, along with strategies for working with over- and under-engaged clients and other difficult cases, are shared. Videotaped examples of PE cases are used to demonstrate therapist skills. Participants practice PE techniques in role-plays during the workshop, and are expected to be familiar with the evidence base supporting PE prior to attending the workshop.
- Prerequisites: Participants must complete both Tier One and Two trainings and be members of the Star Providers Directory prior to enrolling in this Tier Three training.
- Note: Full attendance on both days is required to earn CE credits.
Unified Protocol (UP)
This Tier Three training provides intensive instruction in the Unified Protocol (UP), an evidence-based treatment introduced by Dr. David Barlow and his colleagues in 2004 that cuts across diagnostic boundaries to focus on helping clients learn to experience and manage strong emotions in ways that are consistent with their long-term goals. This transdiagnostic treatment harnesses evidence-based principles of change to help clients simultaneously target the symptoms of multiple disorders and improve their quality of life. The UP is the most widely used transdiagnostic treatment with substantial empirical support for its effectiveness. This introductory workshop discusses the rationale for a transdiagnostic approach to treatment and review evidence from over 70 clinical trials demonstrating the effectiveness of the UP. Next, all eight UP treatment modules are introduced, including demonstrations of how to apply the content and discussion of similarities and differences between the UP and traditional CBT. There are demonstrations of core intervention components, discussion of using the UP with military-connected clients, and participants are encouraged to participate as part of these illustrations.
- Prerequisites: Participants must complete both Tier One and Two trainings and be members of the Star Providers Directory prior to enrolling in this Tier Three training.
- Note: Full attendance on both days is required to earn CE credits.
Special Topics Training
Tier Special Topics trainings (Tier S) offer mental health professionals focused education on emerging and high-priority areas relevant to serving military-connected clients. These concise, clinically informed, evidence-based sessions address specific challenges not fully covered in Tier One, Tier Two, or Tier Three trainings. Designed to foster continued engagement, these specialized trainings support providers in sustaining their professional development and deepening their knowledge for more effectively working with service members, veterans, and their families.
Based on professional interests or clinical focus, participants are encouraged to take several or all of the Tier Special Topics trainings offered by SBHP.
| Length | Earn CEs | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|
| 2 – 4.5 hours | 2-4 CEs For details visit CEs and Surveys | Complete Tier One & Tier Two Member of Star Providers Directory |
Special Topics Courses
These are independent trainings and conducted separately from each other.
Clinical Approaches to Working with Guilt in Patients with PTSD
This Special Topics training provides mental health providers with an introduction to Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) as it relates to working with military-connected clients. First, it will briefly examine the terminology around IPV and information about its prevalence in civilian and military populations. A discussion of military risk and protective factors will be presented, along with recommendations for key assessment elements (i.e., questions to ask, potential screeners). Finally, the training will review programs and resources available to prevent and respond to IPV with a military-connected population.
- Prerequisites: Participants must complete both Tier One and Two trainings and be members of the Star Providers Directory prior to enrolling in this Tier S training.
- Note: Attendance of the full session is required to earn CE credits.
Intimate Partner Violence: An Overview of Assessment and Response with Military-Connected Clients
This Special Topics training provides mental health providers with an introduction to Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) as it relates to working with military-connected clients. First, it briefly examines the terminology around IPV and information about its prevalence in civilian and military populations. A discussion of military risk and protective factors is presented, along with recommendations for key assessment elements (i.e., questions to ask, potential screeners). Finally, the training reviews programs and resources available to prevent and respond to IPV with a military-connected population.
- Prerequisites: Participants must complete both Tier One and Two trainings and be members of the Star Providers Directory prior to enrolling in this Tier S training.
- Note: Attendance of the full session is required to earn CE credits.
Military-Connected Couples: An Intervention Model for Treating Infidelity
This Special Topics training presents mental health providers with an overview of Dr. Douglas Snyder’s three-stage model for treating infidelity. It begins by defining behaviors that constitute an affair and then explores issues which may be specific to military couples. Next, the three-stage model is introduced along with tasks to be accomplished during therapy and treatment goals for each stage. In addition to didactic content, this training incorporates use of videos, role plays, and poll questions as additional opportunities for learning and practice.
- Prerequisites: Participants must complete both Tier One and Two trainings and be members of the Star Providers Directory prior to enrolling in this Tier S training.
- Note: Attendance of the full session is required to earn CE credits.
Moral Injury in Service Members
While moral injury is not a recognized mental health disorder, it is well-known to have impacted the lives of many throughout time. Recent military conflicts and worldwide events, like COVID-19, have brought the construct of moral injury more to the forefront in the mental health professions as researchers and clinicians work to better understand and identify how it is both similar and different from other issues clients face, like depression and PTSD.
This Special Topics training for mental health providers defines moral injury, describes how it develops, and examines various assessment and treatment methods. The focus is on moral injury in the military population, while recognizing that it also occurs in the civilian population. The presenter encourages participants to consider challenges they face in identifying and treating moral injury, including how to create a nonjudgmental, safe space for clients to talk about it, and how to distinguish moral injury from common co-occurring problems such as PTSD. Military cases are introduced to demonstrate approaches for assessing and addressing moral injury. While specific treatment modalities are not be taught in detail, participants gain tools for assessing and interacting with increased competence, and general treatment methods are explored.
- Prerequisites: Participants must complete both Tier One and Two trainings and be members of the Star Providers Directory prior to enrolling in this Tier S training.
- Note: Attendance of the full session is required to earn CE credits.
Overview of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in the Military
This Special Topics training for mental health providers defines and describes the different types of traumatic brain injury (TBI). It examines the rates and impact of TBI in the military population with a focus on mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and blast-related TBI. Participants will learn key tools for screening, assessment, and management of TBI. The training also highlights common comorbid conditions, treatment models, and resources for providers, families, and clients in the military with TBI.
- Prerequisites: Participants must complete both Tier One and Two trainings and be members of the Star Providers Directory prior to enrolling in this Tier S training.
- Note: Attendance of the full session is required to earn CE credits.
Overview of Written Exposure Therapy (WET)
This Special Topics training provides an overview of Written Exposure Therapy (WET) for the treatment of PTSD, focusing on the growing interest in studying and implementing this brief approach for helping trauma-impacted individuals. The training identifies why WET was developed by the authors, Drs. Denise Sloan and Brian Marx, and how it may offer both clients and providers an appealing alternative to other evidence-based psychotherapies for PTSD. After reviewing WET-related theory and research, the presenter provides the basics for delivering this 5-session, structured treatment, including the tasks expected of the therapist and patient. Breakout sessions and case examples are used to demonstrate session goals and key clinical skills. Note that this overview should not be a substitute for completing the one-day training offered by the authors or WET-certified instructors and reading the WET treatment manual.
- Prerequisites: Participants must complete both Tier One and Two trainings and be members of the Star Providers Directory prior to enrolling in this Tier S training.
- Note: Attendance of the full session is required to earn CE credits.
Provider Sustainment and Self-Care
This Special Topics training focuses on mental health provider sustainment and self-care. It analyzes the importance of sustainment and self-care as a way of reducing or eliminating burnout in mental health providers with special attention given to those who serve military-connected clients. The ProQOL self-assessment tool is reviewed with results used to aid in the development of a sustainment plan. Participants create a personalized sustainment plan that includes personal, professional, and organizational strategies, as well as engage in practical application exercises to aid in reducing burnout. The training content reflects materials and references focused on provider burnout, impacts/implications to clinical and nonclinical practice and the application of prevention strategies at the individual and organizational level that have consistent and credible empirical support in the literature.
- Prerequisites: Participants must complete both Tier One and Two trainings and be members of the Star Providers Directory prior to enrolling in this Tier S training.
- Note: Attendance of the full session is required to earn CE credits.
Supporting Military Members During the Transition Out of Service: Considerations for Mental Health Providers
Transitions are a hallmark of military service. Service members are accustomed to moving, changing jobs, adjusting to new roles, and taking on new responsibilities. However, separating from military service and returning to civilian life can be destabilizing for even the most resilient military members. This Special Topics training provides clinical providers with tools to understand and assess various aspects of the transition journey with a focus on mental health and overall well-being. Strength-based interventions and considerations for when to refer are also discussed. Case examples, role plays, and group discussions are utilized to enhance engagement and learning.
- Prerequisites: Participants must complete both Tier One and Two trainings and be members of the Star Providers Directory prior to enrolling in this Tier S training.
- Note: Attendance of the full session is required to earn CE credits.
The Center for Deployment Psychology is solely responsible for all aspects of continuing education including content development, delivery, evaluation administration, record keeping and promotional material.