NACTATR Online Courses


Guidelines for Re-Entry: Training Resource for School Administrators and Staff

The following is a condensed video series (one hour total) covering a Four-Phase Re-Entry to School process and a detailed Facilitator’s Guide to compliment the NACTATR “Guidelines for Re-Entry to School During the Pandemic”:

Link to Video Series: Guidelines for Re-Entry: Training Resource for School Administrators and Staff

It is a collaborative effort between NACTATR, Saskatchewan Ministry of Education and the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation with the support of other educational leaders for use by any school district/division using a trauma-informed approach.



NACTATR Foundations Certificate Program and Individual Courses


Three comprehensive Online learning experiences for Professionals, Para-Professionals and interested Individuals and Groups

We are pleased to provide you with notice of the release of the North American Center for Threat Assessment and Trauma Response (NACTATR) “FOUNDATIONS Certificate Program.” This is an online training program primarily for leaders trained in our models, or who intend to be trained, who want their staff to have some exposure to NACTATR’s three primary areas of expertise.

Although some may choose to take one course only, it is the successful completion of all three interconnected courses that will result in the designation of certified in “NACTATR Foundations in Human Systems Dynamics”. The Foundations Certificate Program is a sequential learning experience that begins with Foundation in Threat Assessment and Foundation in Trauma Response, and concludes with Foundation in Family Dynamics. For those taking the courses individually, we still recommend taking them in the established order.

Single Courses are $120.00 +Applicable Tax per individual learner with the 3 Course Certificate Bundle costing $300.00 +Applicable Tax per individual.

Group discounts are available for groups of five or more learners. Please click the icon in the bottom right corner for additional information:   

Register: Foundations Certificate Program – 3-Course Bundle (Twelve credit hours)
Downloadable Overview: NACTATR Foundations Overview

While all three courses can be taken individually as part of non-certified training, when all three are combined they become part of a unique and interconnected systems model of human functioning. In other words, violence, trauma and family dynamics are often interacting with each other. Completion of a stand-alone course will result in a NACTATR™ Badge displayed in your learning portfolio. Successful completion of all three courses will result in the designation of certified in “NACTATR Foundations in Human Systems Dynamics”.

Register: Foundation in Threat Assessment Course (Four credit hours)
Downloadable Overview: Foundation in Threat Assessment

Whether individuals are victims of violence or perpetrators, nothing occurs in a vacuum. There is a story and a reason for “why” behind the complex human causes and reactions where violence, trauma or family dynamics are manifest. We know far more now than ever before, about the “evolutionary pathway to serious violence”. This course will present our own evolutionary process for understanding violence and introduce you to the early research, concepts and variables that led to the development of the comprehensive NACTATR™ Violence Threat Risk Assessment (VTRA™) Model. Unlike other threat assessment models, VTRA™ is the only community-based multidisciplinary model developed to address all forms of violence simultaneously. Therefore, this course will consider multiple forms of violence including, family, community, school and workplace.

Module 1: Threat Assessment Foundation: Early Thinking
Module 2: The Evolution of the VTRA™ Model: Early Research
Module 3: The Missing Link: Connecting the Dots
Module 4: VTRA™ Applies to All Forms of Violence
Module 5: Worrisome Behaviors: Early Intervention
Module 6: The Empty Vessel: The Power of Connection

Register: Foundation in Trauma Response Course (Four Credit Hours)
Downloadable Overview: Foundation in Trauma Response

Whether individuals are victims of trauma or supporting others who are, nothing occurs in a vacuum. There is a story and a reason for “why” behind the complex human reactions to traumatic situations, including the fact that ten people can be exposed to the same traumatic stimuli and yet have ten completely different responses. With that, this course will present our own evolutionary process for understanding trauma and introduce you to the early research, concepts, and variables that led to the development of the NACTATR Traumatic Event Systems (TES™) Model of Crisis and Trauma Response. Unlike other Crisis Response models, the TES™ Model considers the unique characteristics of the individuals, families, schools, workplaces, or communities we are supporting. We do not assume that every human being or human system functions the same, therefore trauma response should be “measured” to the actual circumstance of those we are supporting. Born out of our experience working in the aftermath of some of North America’s highest-profile traumas, this course is a timely edition for understanding the human response to trauma in individuals, families, and beyond.

Module 1: Trauma Response Foundation: Early Thinking
Module 2: Understanding Trauma: Early Research
Module 3: Media-Generated Trauma
Module 4: Impact of Trauma on Adults
Module 5: Impact of Trauma on Children and Youth
Module 6: Impact of Trauma on Families

Register: Foundation in Family Dynamics Course
Downloadable Overview: Foundation in Family Dynamics

Often people either come into counselling or are brought into counselling because it is assumed by others “there is something wrong with them.” Although there are presenting issues unique to each individual entering counselling, there are usually other factors that can elevate risk for symptom development that are “outside” the individual. In other words, it’s not all about the identified person: often family dynamics are a risk enhancing variable that can contribute to what’s wrong with an individual as well. But understanding family dynamics can also be the solution to many problems. This course will introduce you to the early work of the pioneers in the field of family therapy and expand on key insights that have influenced clinical practice throughout the world. It will also tie together elements from the fields of threat assessment and trauma response that are sometimes family-generated. No two families are the same and no two family members have the same experience even if they were raised by the same parents or caregivers.

Module 1: Family Dynamic Foundation: Early Thinking
Module 2: The Whole is Greater Than the Sum of its Parts: Early Research
Module 3: Genograms - The Family Map
Module 4: Family Structure
Module 5: Family Function
Module 6: Family Emotional Process

Who should take the courses?
The Foundation Courses are customized for the person who has an interest in the fields of threat assessment, trauma response or family dynamics, including para-professionals, professionals and those with a general interest in advancing their learning. It is designed to provide learning for those who want general exposure to the NACTATR™ models as well as those who are planning, as part of their professional development, to complete any of the two-day in-person training course. It is also meant to provide those who have already completed two-day trainings an opportunity to refresh their learning and dive more deeply into areas that informed our current training program.

Courses are self-paced; learners can start and stop as they like. Courses run an average of four to five hours each, and offer four credit hours apiece.