The Wendt Center Training Institute is a unique initiative dedicated to deepening understanding and building skills around grief and trauma. We offer workshops and trainings for a diverse range of participants—mental health providers, school staff, first responders, community leaders, and more—designed to enhance skills, confidence, and capacity related to grief and trauma. Rooted in the Wendt Center’s unmatched expertise in trauma and grief, our programs combine evidence-based theory with the firsthand experience of our clinicians, creating interactive, collaborative learning environments that make content engaging, practical, and immediately applicable.
I have attended hundreds of trainings and this has to be one of the very best I have ever attended. Thank you.
– Wendt Center Trainee
Quick links to our offerings:
Trainings for Organizations & Communities
Grief and trauma affect people in every type of community, organization, and workplace. Maybe you are part of a church, synagogue, or mosque, or a grassroots community group, or a larger business, our training services are designed to support your knowledge and skills related to how grief and/or trauma is impacting your team. Our workshops build knowledge and skills around grief and trauma, helping professionals and community members feel confident, competent, and prepared to support others in meaningful ways.
Please submit an online request for pricing information or to schedule a training at your agency in any of the following topics. If you don’t see it listed, you can use the web form below to inquire about other possibilities.
Some of our most popular offerings include:
- Sitting with Grief: Grief 101
- Understanding the impact of trauma
- Grief and Trauma: A Maze of Intersections
- Supporting Grieving and Traumatized Children/Teens
- Vicarious Resilience: Sustaining Yourself in the Work
Submit an online request for pricing or to schedule a training for your organization or group. If you don’t see the topic you need, use the webform to inquire about other possibilities.
The trainers were excellent, knowledgeable, dynamic teachers of such an important topic-they conveyed their expertise so well, and I left the training with several concrete tools I will start using immediately!
– Wendt Center Trainee
Trainings & Support for Schools
Children and teens don’t leave their grief and trauma behind at the school door. In some cases, their grief and trauma might stem from events that happen at school, like the death of a classmate or a campus safety incident. Grief and trauma not only affect the wellbeing of young people; it can greatly affect learning, behavior, and social-emotional development, making it essential that school staff are prepared to respond effectively. As a trusted capacity-building resource for schools, the Wendt Center provides training and support for teachers, school mental health providers, and administrators, ensuring they have the knowledge, skills, and strategies to support students—and colleagues—impacted by grief and trauma.
We partner with schools to identify the services that will be most impactful for their community. Examples include:
Grief- and Trauma-Supportive Classrooms – Our most requested training, this curriculum blends our dual expertise in grief and trauma to provide educators with practical strategies for creating classrooms and school environments that meet the emotional and learning needs of students affected by grief or trauma. Drawing on the Wendt Center’s five decades of clinical experience, these trainings offer immediately applicable tools so teachers can create environments that support the needs of their students.
Coaching for School Leaders – When a school community faces grief or trauma, administrators and staff often lack a clear roadmap. Questions may arise about handling a student’s desk after a death, planning a memorial, or supporting a student returning after the loss of a parent. Our coaching helps school leaders develop customized support plans that reflect the unique needs and culture of their school.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What happens to my registration fee if a training is cancelled?
In the event that a training needs to be canceled or postponed, participants (or the partnering agency) will be notified and offered a refund or a transfer of registration.
What is your inclement weather policy?
The Wendt Center follows the Federal Government for all closures and delays. In the event the Federal Government is closed the training will be canceled and rescheduled. Participants will be offered a refund or a transfer of registration to the new date. If the Federal Government has a delayed opening the training will begin on time as scheduled.
What are the requirements for completing a course with continuing education credit?
At the beginning of the training, participants will sign in and may complete a pre-test to measure learning. Participants are required to attend for the entire duration of the workshop, signing in and out for breaks. Facilitator(s) may complete a check-in process at the beginning of the workshop, and participants’ virtual presence in webinars will be tracked by the Zoom report feature. After the workshop is completed, participants will be required to complete an evaluation and post-test in order to receive their certificate.
What is the process for receiving my certificate?
Participants who completed the entire training and signed in providing an email address will receive an email requesting they complete an evaluation within two weeks of the training. Once participants have electronically completed their evaluation and post-test, they will be sent a certificate for continuing education by email within two weeks of the evaluation closing. Attendees will receive an immediate score on the post-test portion of the evaluation. A participant’s receipt of their certificate is not contingent upon achieving a particular score on their post-test. For trainings sponsored by an organization, the evaluation may be distributed by the organizer.
How can I request a refund as an individual participant?
Course participants may request a refund up to 30 days prior to the training date. The registration fee, less a $25 administrative fee will be refunded. To request a refund within this timeframe, please e-mail training@wendtcenter.org. Refunds will be issued electronically within approximately one week of your request.
How do I request an accommodation?
The Wendt Center’s training facilities are wheelchair accessible. Individuals needing special accommodations may contact the Director of Training, Melissa Sellevaag, at training@wendtcenter.org.
How can I file a complaint or grievance about the course or instructor?
The Wendt Center seeks to ensure equitable treatment of every person and to make every attempt to resolve grievances in a fair and transparent manner. Therefore, we are eager to address any refund requests, complaints about course content, speakers, facilities, non-receipt of certificates, and any other occurrences. To submit all other grievances, please send a written summary of the incident to Lindsay He, LICSW at forms@wendtcenter.org. All grievances will be documented and actions taken to address any grievances will be recorded. These records can be made available to the ASWB ACE program for review upon request. Grievances will receive, to the best of our ability, corrective action in order to prevent further problems. A copy of this policy is available on promotional material and upon request.
If you have a question or need more information before you’re ready to proceed, please submit this webform: