
To provide social workers and other mental health professionals with state-of-the-art continuing education encompassing a variety of clinical issues, client populations, and practice settings. We believe effective learning occurs in a professional, nurturing, supportive, and fun environment that fosters collegial sharing and networking.
Our trainings encourage clinicians to reframe and de-pathologize symptoms, while focusing on clients’ resiliency and strengths. We believe that clinicians are only as effective as the extent to which they take care of themselves, so we also address issues of counter-transference, vicarious traumatization, and professional burnout.

Learn how to incorporate effective and creative trauma treatment strategies that promote self-compassion and healing.

Earn valuable CEUs through informative and experiential workshops that strengthen your professional skills and enhance your personal growth.
Discover trainings and keynote addresses that Lisa can offer your professional community at your clinical setting or conference.
Boost your professional knowledge and expand your expertise with our in-person and online trainings.
In this workshop, participants will explore how systemic inequities shape both individual suffering and collective trauma while developing practical, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive tools for ethical practice and advocacy.
In this 6-hour workshop we will use videotaped examples to explore the four major attachment styles: secure; avoidnt; ambivalent; and disorganized.
This workshop will provide a framework within which to reimagine a relationship between therapy and spirituality.
This training has made me realize who I am as a therapist! I have learned so much and I see a huge difference in how I work with my clients. Thank you!
Lisa’s ability to organize and present information is incredibly good. She models everything she teaches, and she shares concrete and practical strategies and techniques. Her strength-based approach as apparent in everything she says and does during the training.
Lisa’s wealth of knowledge and experience as a therapist and trainer are second only to how she validates, encourages, and often highlights contributions from participants.
The Trauma Certificate program was extremely valuable and has contributed immensely to my work with clients. It has been the best investment I have made in regards to my clinical practice.
I love learning the body movement and have been using it every day!
This was by far the best training I have attended. I learned that I was actually doing a lot correctly, but also learned a lot of things I could be doing. I look forward to Level II!
Lisa [Ferentz] has a unique ability to breathe life into an important but dry, dull and boring topic - Ethics! You simply can not fall asleep in Lisa's workshop [Ethical Dilemmas in Clinical Practice].
The presenter [Patricia] conveyed a strong commitment to this very important material through the information she shared as well as appropriate self-disclosure.
I found [Evolving Treatment in the Face of the Opioid Epidemic] very informative. The presenter was very knowledgeable about the topic and I found it helpful to hear real life experiences with addiction.
I really valued [Understanding and Working with Self-Injurious Behavior (SIB)]. Lisa allowed me to more fully understand that my challenging clients are not trying to be resistant or difficult but are struggling with trauma and deeply ingrained, albeit ineffective coping mechanisms. Lisa also supported and solidified for me, what I had already been mulling over — that restructuring our treatment model for high risk and chronic relapsing individuals (substance use) to incorporate more skills training.
The entire program was interesting and thought-provoking. It is change the way I work with all my clients no matter what issues they present with. I wish a class of this nature had been part of my graduate program back in the day. Lisa presented the material same fashion she encourages us with clients. I plan to take Level II.
Susan was easy to follow & understand; and, she was especially honest if she didn't know something.
Personable, approachable presenter whose knowledge was self evident.
I appreciate Lisa�s perfect balance of expertise, humility and humor. She is caring and careful as a presenter and has honed her years of practice and wisdom into a training that is full of critical and immediately usable information.
She [Lisa] is both a teacher and a practitioner- she is clearly not just an academic.
Lisa has a beautiful blend of expertise in practice, compassion and humility that is enhanced by her skill in teaching what she knows to enhance the abilities of the learner.
Holding class attention throughout an ethics seminar [like Ethical Dilemmas in Clinical Practice] is quite a feat, something Lisa accomplished with apparent ease.
Salicia was amazing and I would attend another training session with her.
Lisa is smart, capable, decisive, caring and is a great example of asserting boundaries and values kindly.
The way Salicia facilitated the exercises was most powerful and supportive.
After taking the Trauma Informed Assessment and Treatment training, I feel more confident in how to ask questions about a history of trauma that are properly paced and that will not re-traumatize the victim. As an art therapist, I see more creative ways to ground clients using aromatherapy, tactile objects, sand tray, and visual imagery to support the trauma assessment process. I recommend this training to all therapist.
Going through the Level I and II trauma training has given me a wide array of skills to use in clinical practice that all stem from a strengths-based model. The trainings have not only helped me learn to guide clients to access their wisest and most compassionate self, but has also helped me to further access my wisest self to improve my work as a clinician.
I appreciated the way the presenter [Lisa] didn't just read from the slides but added to them with her own experience and knowledge base. It was clear that she was passionate and knowledgeable of the information.
Learned so much information [in Ethical Dilemmas in Clinical Practice]. It also confirmed that current practices are ethical as measured with current standards.
This program has helped me to become a more competent and confident clinician. I have begun using the skills and interventions from this program with current clients, and the shift in my practice and the progress of my clients has been amazing to witness. I recommend this program to every clinician who wants to develop or strengthen skills and knowledge of trauma informed care.
Sabrina was very personable and allowed you to discuss situations that often made you feel vulnerable if you were to share it with other leaders/supervisors. I liked how she allowed you to feel safe and reflect on how to best address supervisory issues. I love the questions to ask Supervisees on what they will find helpful out of supervision, being better at focusing on my own self-care prior, during, and after supervision, and exercising Supervision as a ritual.
What a powerful comprehensive training! Lisa does a phenomenal job thoughtfully addressing multiple aspects of trauma-informed work with clients along with consistently providing specific, concrete practical applications. Her expertise and talent in communication provided me a solid foundation and that will enhance my work with clients. I'm grateful for the experience. Thank you!
Dr. Papernow's knowledge and understanding of the material is so notable. Knowledge that once shared helps therapists to avoid making the easy mistakes. Knowledge that she can share in a way that was easy to absorb.
Jake's personality is amazing. He is incredibly knowledgeable about the topic, he was respectful of time, involved the audience which kept everyone engaged, created a safe space for sharing, professional, prepared, and he was warm and entertaining as well.
Trauma 1 Program was beyond beneficial as the core of my patients have been affected by trauma and not only did this program validate what I am already doing but also provided me with a wealth of knowledge to take my sessions to the next level and help my patients process through their trauma in a safe and effective way.
Dr. Papernow is passionate about her subject, [provides] evidence-based research, [is] well-organized, very relational and responsive.
Rev. Chase was knowledgeable and easy to follow. Rev. Chase welcomed questions and discussions throughout the presentation.
This workshop was a unique and inspiring sharing of wisdom, knowledge and support for each of us a clinicians and as humans. Dr. Sabrina is an amazing presenter with an abundance of knowledge and inspiration for every one of us!
There's no way you can leave a class you taught, Lisa, without learning new strategies and examples of how to encourage others.
I am a seasoned professional and always leave trainings feeling like there was no new take away. However, after [Understanding and Working with Self-Injurious Behavior (SIB)] I left feeling recharged with new knowledge and skills. Can't wait to get back to work to use use them. Thanks!!
This training transferred well to an online platform. Lisa did a great job keeping everyone active and keeping the training lively and engaging.
She's [Lisa's] such a wonderful teacher AND a seasoned clinician- it's hard to get both in one person!
Lisa is extremely knowledgeable, funny, kind, and encouraging.
I especially liked learning about the way she has handled some of her cases and her amazing experience treating clients with complex PTSD.
I honestly don't have the words to quantify how much I love and appreciate every minute of the Level 1 & 2 Trauma Training Program. The impact on both my personal and professional life have been profound. I wish the experience for every person called to a helping profession. I will always regard Lisa with gratitude for providing this opportunity.
Dee kept us engaged throughout and provided not only very concrete strategies to incorporate into our practice but also resources and information for us to explore later to continue building our knowledge and skills!
Patricia Papernow is an excellent presenter, combining evidence-based theory with clinical application and a clear and empathetic communication style.
Thank you, Lisa, and everyone at the Ferentz Institute, for putting together such an amazing program. I am a better clinician for attending each class. She is a gift on so many levels to those of us in the field. I gained a greater knowledge base as a result I now have new colleagues and new tools to continue learning, growing, and have a renewed passion for what we do.
I really liked the presenters knowledge and helpful answers throughout the training.
She was very knowledgeable about the topic and was open about her own personal experiences. The training brought hope for clients with an often seemingly debilitating diagnosis.
Denise is very articulate and personable. She presented a very well organized and informative training. Thank you!
[Creative Techniques for Managing Traumatic Stress: Grounding, Containment, and Resourcing was a] great introduction to some art therapy techniques specifically aimed for individuals who've experienced trauma.
The Working With Dreams workshop was interesting and informative. Vivienne, our instructor, used experiential exercises to engage our group and illustrate how to use her techniques. I can't wait to try her methods out with my clients.
This ethics workshop was awesome! It allowed for so much time to ask questions and explore concerns that attendees currently had. Lisa made it interesting and engaging.
This training was helpful for seasoned as well as novice supervisors. Provided the opportunity for both groups to engage and discuss their experiences to solidify learning from each other.
Sabrina as a trainer is outstanding. I loved the breakout sessions.
Nancy was a seasoned “pro” and spoke clearly and compassionately about the topic.
Already I'm benefiting greatly from Lisa's excellent, thoughtful engagement and presentation based on her decades of work serving trauma survivors field. Her information is both practical and nuanced.
Lisa was competent, prepared, disclosive and honest about her perspective, engaging with the group.
Lisa has great energy and remains engaging throughout the day. She also provides information in a way that is understandable and relatable.
The class provided a great understanding of OCD and treatment. Susan was so personable and knowledgeable�delightful!
She was very knowledgeable, very organized and interactive and informative. Loved the real life case studies.
Dr. Carter was experienced, professional, creative, humorous, informative, and helpful. He welcomed questions and offered resources, and made himself available for follow-up contact. I learned a lot and feel comfortable reaching out if I have any questions. Excellent!
[Trauma Informed Assessment and Treatment: Ethical Considerations] was my first workshop at the Ferentz Institute and it exceeded all of my expectations! It was highly interactive and offered practical application for ensuring my clinical practice meets the highest ethical standards.
Lisa is a gem. I have learned so many wonderful techniques and gained a fresh perspective on my work with trauma survivors.
Once again, Lisa facilitated a top notch and very relevant seminar [with Trauma Informed Assessment and Treatment: Ethical Considerations]. The presentation was very engaging and time flew by quickly.
I loved the training. Very informative.
[Trauma Informed Assessment and Treatment: Ethical Considerations] overall was well organized and useful. I found much of the presentation had a clinical focus and much less emphasis on the ethical considerations and dilemmas we face in practice. Most of us know that it's our ethical responsibility to provide trauma informed care, but how that plays out in group practices and agencies can be very challenging to navigate and effectively advocate.
Great resource provided by a gifted teacher & clinician.
Jill Penaloza was a fabulous educator and presenter for the Ferentz Institute. Her teachings were well informed, clearly presented, and applicable to many different populations of therapy. I would highly recommend taking a course by Ms. Penaloza. She was a joy. I appreciate her calm, knowledgeable approach to everything she offered during the training. Her direction was clear, helpful, and informative.
Patricia was very engaging and offered a truly interactive experience. She is clearly very knowledgeable on this topic.
I enjoyed the presentation and insights. It was nice to connect more intimately with participants 1:1...
I liked [Patricia's] her warmth, and wealth of knowledge, and approachability.
Presenter had a great depth of knowledge on grief that will serve my future clients well!
Sabrina is a great educator and speaker. She is a real person and keeps it real!
Clear, succinct, lively, personable.
I appreciated the focus on caring for patient, pacing, and the ethics of the work [in Trauma Informed Assessment and Treatment: Ethical Considerations]. I am interested in other trainings.
Dr. Carter managed to make a Zoom training feel like it was taking place in person. He covered a great deal of material while also making time for questions throughout the presentation. Thank you!
Jill created a calm, comfortable environment. She welcomed questions and feedback from attendees.
The training framed supervision as relational, ethical, and helpful as compared to simply policing and gatekeeping.
This program should be a part of every clinician's repertoire. The compassion and knowledge Lisa has is invaluable and I am confident I am a better clinician because of this training and the investment in myself and clients.
I cannot adequately express how much I gained from Lisa's training. I am tuned into my clients on a much deeper level, always mindful of safety, attunement, body language, and their ability to be fully present in session. Lisa is a very generous teacher as well. I encourage other clinicians to take the trauma training, it will give you so many new tools to help your clients.
The presenter [Dr. Evans] was dynamic, engaging and thought provoking. I imagine he's a remarkable therapist. I appreciated how he combined his clinical knowledge with his love of archetypal storytelling to bring about healing with his clients.
Dr. Wayne was able to skillfully weave teaching strategies so successfully, from referencing comic books, graphic novels, movies, tv shows, biblical stories, personal stories, humor, songs/music. All of these teaching modalities helped drive home his points not just on an intellectual level, but also a visceral level. His optimism and refusal to reside in a 'I'm trapped and so are you' mode was so hopeful and inspiring.
Sabrina is knowledgeable, personable and authentic. When I sign up to take a training with Sabrina, I know I will grow as a clinician and as a human. I always get my money's worth and more.
Very knowledgeable about the subject matter and an engaging presenter.
Ms. Kolodny was extremely knowledgeable and brought a ton of interesting and informative anecdotes from her practice. I appreciate your expertise!
Dr. Evans is a very engaging and creative clinician and presenter.
Kory was super authentic, very knowledgeable, and easy to engage with! I appreciated hearing Kory’s own experiences and how this has also shaped her understanding of autism.
This training has been a priceless investment which I believe will change my practice for many years to come.
I absolutely loved this training. How to illicit hope, how and when to use spirituality as a vehicle for change and the difficulties and possibilities therein. The training was more of a conversation then a lecture, I am still thinking about this days after the training and have followed up on some reading suggestions that have also been inspiring. Thank you!
I absolutely loved this training. How to illicit hope, how and when to use spirituality as a vehicle for change and the difficulties and possibilities therein. The training was more of a conversation then a lecture, I am still thinking about this days after the training and have followed up on some reading suggestions that have also been inspiring. Thank you!
The facilitator is engaging and inspiring! She is easy to understand and teaches for every learning style!!!!
Sabrina is extremely knowledgeable. Her way of teaching helps you see yourself from a different prospective. Helps identify your strengths and what you need to work on. She provides real world examples and how to work through real challenges.
Dr. Evans is a phenomenal, engaging educator. He is knowledgeable and fun to listen to. I appreciate the experience he brought and his gift of teaching. I will be looking for his trainings in the future.
This is the stuff I wish we had in college! Lisa is an excellent teacher! Taking this course is something I have dreamed of since I first heard Lisa teach at another training. Every class I went away with immediately applicable teaching and resources. I immediately felt more confident and comfortable in my practice.
I loved Dr. Evans' energy, his knowledge of the topic discussed, his book recommendations.
I find Lisa Ferentz very well informed but down to earth, energetic, and passionate about the work.
Susan was very knowledgeable and shared a lot of concrete, usable strategies while also providing a clear framework in a way that was understandable for me and that I can use with clients.
As a Black woman, this seminar spoke to me on so many levels. It was relatable to both my personal and my professional life. This was an amazing experience that I highly recommend to others.
I was especially appreciative of Lisa�s ability to break down her extensive knowledge and experience into understandable components for clinicians to immediately begin to use.
Lisa is open, approachable, knowledgeable and warm.
Dr. Sabrina's approach to healing leadership offers inspiration and practical tools to tap into our whole selves - and thereby grow leadership that can join with and nurture the whole selves of those we supervise. Invaluable!
The facilitator [Joanne] was very warm and engaging. She encouraged each person to bring a piece of themselves into the workshop [Screenplay: Helping Parents Teach and Reach Children in the Digital Age].
She was very interactive and kept a positive attitude during the entire training.
Invaluable program; by the 2nd class you can bring your clients interventions that will make profound differences in their therapeutic journey and by the end you feel confident and competent to treat clients with trauma.
The Ferentz Institute, Inc. is an approved sponsor of the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners for continuing education credits for licensed social workers in Maryland. CEU approval for all trainings is also granted to Psychologists, LCPC’s and MFT’s and approved by the Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists and the Board of Examiners for Psychologists in Maryland. Reciprocity has also been granted for clinicians in Washington, DC, Virginia, West Virginia, Indiana, Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Texas. All mental health clinicians are encouraged to check with their respective State Boards to learn if reciprocity is offered for our CEUs. The Institute also maintains full responsibility for all programming.
*Please note that, for workshops that offer CEUs in Anti-Oppressive Content, Ethics, and/or Diversity, those credits may only be used for one of those categories, not all.
Join interactive lessons, get expert feedback, and explore your creativity in a supportive community.

"...a magical guide to conquering our fears, phobias and emotional pain...”
—Janina Fisher, PhD
“… a real treasure trove of tools for healing..."
— Dusty Miller

“…a rich resource which helps empower the client and facilitate recovery..."
— Joyanna Silberg, PhD

"...a dynamic and strengths-focused approach to treating challenging trauma-based behaviors..."
—Nancy Napier, LMFT
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