This HeartMath certification course was especially designed by trauma specialists to teach practitioners how to incorporate the HeartMath skill set in a trauma-sensitive manner to build their client’s resilience and capacity for emotional regulation following trauma.

While this course was designed for healthcare professionals, and the certification is only available to certified health professionals – such as trauma therapists, licensed and certified health professionals, chaplains, clergy and peer-to-peer counsellors (see list of eligible qualifications below) –, the information provided in the course can also be beneficial for personal use.  

This trauma-sensitive certification course contains over 12-hours of trauma-focused video content providing a rich expanse of information and expertise across topics including the neurophysiology of trauma, developmental trauma, collective trauma and how to integrate HeartMath into the different therapeutic modalities used to treat trauma.

Please note that this programme does not include HeartMath technology or CE credits.

This beautifully filmed course combines masterful knowledge, intuitive wisdom and powerfully emotional stories from trauma practitioners around the world, woven together with compelling cinematic moments to create a distinctly unique and engaging course that is both educational and heart-warming to watch.

The HeartMath tools and techniques taught in this course are intended as an adjunctive skill set for practitioners to facilitate a variety of trauma-focused therapies aimed at improving the symptoms associated with trauma. HeartMath is not meant to replace other trauma-focused therapies or be used in isolation for trauma processing.

This program works well for practitioners who see clients both virtually and in-person.

Also included in this course is a Comprehensive Resource Library which includes course notes, client handouts, and over 50 related research publications.

In This Course, You Will:

• Learn practical tools to use “in the moment” that build resilience and improve the capacity for emotional regulation for yourself and your clients or patients.
• Learn about heart rate variability (HRV) as a measure of physiological regulation, and how to use HRV biofeedback as an additional tool for self-regulation.
• Learn to use and teach the HeartMath skill set in a trauma-sensitive manner.
• Gain foundational, up-to-date knowledge about the neurophysiology of trauma, attachment, developmental trauma, intergenerational trauma and collective trauma.
• Discover how to integrate HeartMath with other trauma-focused therapies including EMDR, Brainspotting, somatic psychotherapies, exposure and wilderness therapy.
• Learn new and powerful perspectives of how the intelligence of the heart can help to address some of the most challenging aspects of trauma’s impact on the mind and body.
• Attend Live Q & A Sessions
• Join the trauma-sensitive HeartMath community with monthly online Q &A sessions, led by Dr. Jorina Elbers or other trauma specialist experienced in integrating HeartMath techniques into different trauma therapies. These Q&A Zoom calls are held on the 1st Wednesday of each month at 10 am PT.

Instructors for this course:

Learn from highly skilled practitioners specializing in a wide variety of trauma-focused therapies including EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Brainspotting, Hakomi, Somatic Experiencing, Wilderness Therapy, Acupuncture and Polarity Therapy.

Lead Instructor Jorina Elbers, MD, Pediatric Neurologist, with expert guests.

Steve Sawyer, LCSW, CSAC , Dr. Sara Gilman, PsyD, LMFT, Susann von Meijenfeldt, RSW, CPCC, CHT and Sheva Carr, MA LAc BCPP, RPP, RPE

Learn from medical and science experts about the neurophysiology of trauma, the neurophysiology of emotions, and heart-brain interactions:

Dr. Jorina Elbers, MD, MSc and Rollin McCraty, PhD

Special guest interviews with:

Dr. Daniel Siegel, MD, Drs. John Gottman, PhD and Julie Gottman, PhD and Thomas Hübl

From the Front Lines

Nine long-time HeartMath Certified Practitioners share in-depth stories, revealing their success of using HeartMath with the different populations they serve:

• Refugees
• Veterans
• At-Promise Youth
• Perpetrators
• Survivors of human trafficking
• Incarcerated women
• Adults with brain injuries
• Children and teens

Course Content—8 Parts

• Part One: Heart-Focused Care for the Caregiver
• Part Two: Understanding the Impact of Trauma
• Part Three: Resetting a New Pattern for the Nervous System
• Part Four: From Chaos to Coherence
• Part Five: Integrating the Heart, Mind and Body for Trauma Healing
• Part Six: Rebuilding Trust and Relationships
• Part Seven: Teaching a Child to Love Again
• Part Eight: The Collective Experience of Trauma and Healing

Eligibility for Certification

While anyone may enroll in this course, and everyone who completes the assessment will receive a document of completion, to be certified, applicants must hold a current mental health or health care license or related qualification, or work in a relevant field.

Certification is available to:

• Practitioners with training, certification or licensure within a related health care field: Mental health professionals
• Medical professionals
• Alternative health practitioners
• Health professional students and interns
• Practitioners working within a therapeutic relationship with clients, but who do not have a professional license e.g. Chaplains and Clergy
• Peer-to-peer counselors
• Professionals working in a trauma-related field with clientele who are likely to have experienced trauma:Social service professionals working in homeless shelters, correctional facilities etc.

Full details of required Professional Standards for Certification: List of Eligible Professionals
Note: Equivalent certifying bodies in countries outside the US are acceptable.

Licensed Mental Health Professionals
Addictions, Alcohol and Drug, Chemical Dependency/Substance Abuse Counselor
Behavior Analyst (board certified)
Child Life Specialist
EMDR Practitioner
Hakomi Practitioner
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Licensed Professional Counselor
Marriage and Family Therapist
Occupational Therapist
Occupational Therapist Assistant
Psychoanalyst
Psychologist
Psychologist Assistant
Recreational Therapist
Social Worker
Somatic Experiencing Practitioner
Somatosensory Integration Practitioner
Speech Language Therapist
Licensed Medical Professionals
Audiologist
Chiropractor
Dentist
Emergency Medical Technician
Esthetician
Medical Doctor (MD, DO, MBBS)
Midwife
Naturopath
Nurse – LPN, LVN, RN, BSN, MSN, PhD, Nurse Practitioner, Advanced Practice Nurse
Optometrist
Pharmacist
Physical Therapist
Physical Therapy Assistant
Physician Assistant
Registered Dietician

Certified Health Professionals (training must include consultation, mentoring, in-person training, or internship)
Alexander Technique – certified by an AmSAT-certified teacher
Anat Baniel Method NeuroMovement Practitioner
Art Therapist from a program accredited by the American Art Therapy Association
Ayurvedic practitioners certified by NAMA-approved programs.
Biodynamic Breathwork & Trauma Release Facilitator
Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapist
Biofeedback Technician – certified by BCIA
Biofeedback Practitioner – certified by BCIA
Biodynamic Breathwork & Trauma Release System (BBTRS) Practitioner
BodyTalk Practitioner
Brainspotting Practitioner
Brennan Healing Science Practitioner
Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist – certified by the NSTRC
CHEK Practitioner certified by the CHEK Institute
Craniosacral Therapist certified by the Upledger Institute
Doula, Certified
Eden Energy Medicine
Emotional Freedom Technique Practitioner certified by ACEP or EFT International
Equine Assisted Learning Facilitator
Equine Assisted Therapist
Feldenkrais Practitioner
Functional Diagnostic Nutrition® Practitioner
Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach
Hanna Somatic Education® Practitioner
Healing Touch Practitioner
Health & Wellness Coaches from programs approved by the National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching and Wellcoaches
Note: Other coaches (life, personal, etc.) are not eligible. Refer to our Building Personal Resilienceprogram
Health Educator certified by NCHEC
Homeopath – certified by the CHC, ABHt, HANP or NASH
Hypnotherapist certified by AAPH, ASCH, or SCEH
Integrative Nutrition Health Coach certified by IIN
Kinesiologist
Kinesiotherapist
Massage Therapist – Licensed or Certified
Medical Herbalist registered with AHG Certification requirements
Medical Qijong Practitioner from programs approved by NCCAOM
Music Therapist certified by CBMT
Myofascial Release Therapist
Neurofeedback Practitioner – certified by BCIA
Neurofeedback Technician – certified by BCIA
NLP Master Practitioner
Nutritional Therapy Practitioner certified by NTA
Nutritionist – Certified Clinical Nutritionist certified by the CNBC
Nutritionist – Certified Nutritional Professional certified by the NANP
Nutritionist – Certified Nutrition Specialist certified by BCNS
Nutritionist – Holistic Nutritionist certified by the NANP
Osteopathic Manual Practitioner certified by a member of the OIA
Pilates Teacher – in-person training only
Polarity therapists (RPP or RPE only – Advanced Training required)
PSYCH-K (Facilitator or Instructor only)
Quantum Touch Practitioner
Reflexologist – certified by the American Reflexology Certification Board
Registered Yoga Teacher certified by the Yoga Alliance
Reiki (Level III or higher)
Rolfer
Somatic Education Practitioner, Certified Clinical
Somatic Movement Educators and Therapists
Somatic Yoga Practitioner
Tension and Trauma Release Practitioner
Therapeutic Touch Practitioner
Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner (Acupuncturist, DAOM, etc.) from programs approved byNCCAOM