Psychological Trauma First Aid
4 hours · 8 lessons · Certificate included
Online Course
Know what to do
when someone
needs you most.
Psychological Trauma First Aid is a 4-hour online training that equips you with biblical principles, research-informed skills, and a simple framework to respond confidently when someone is in crisis, overwhelmed, or in distress.
Taught By
Jennifer Ellers, Dr. Shannae Anderson, Keisha Wright & Dr. Kevin Ellers
$47
all fees included
• Limited Time Price
8 video lessons, 25–40 minutes each
Downloadable course workbook
Certificate of completion & digital badge
Knowledge quiz after each lesson
Self-paced. Learn on your schedule.
4 Hours
Total runtime
8 Lessons
25-40 min each
Certificate
+ digital badge
1 Year
Access from enrollment
4 Instructors
Ministry & mental health experts
AACC Is proud to present
Project: Stand in the Gap
“I looked for someone who would stand in the gap on behalf of the land — but I found no one.”
Ezekiel 22:30
%
of U.S. adults have experienced at least one adverse childhood experience
CDC, 2024
adults report experiencing four or more ACEs — significantly increasing long-term risk
CDC, 2024
Americans live in areas with critical shortages of mental health providers
Council of State Government, 2024
%
of people with mental illness were able to access timely care in the last reported year
Commonwelath Fund, 2023
We have learned that when ordinary people receive the right training, they can bring real help, genuine hope, and lasting healing to those around them.
The need has never been greater, and the church has never been better positioned to respond. But we need an army. Pastors and Sunday school teachers. Coaches and biblical counselors. Small group leaders, parents, neighbors, and friends.
Anyone willing to answer God’s call to care. This is that training.
"I want to help. I just don't know what to say or do."
When someone near you is overwhelmed by crisis, trauma, or distress, will you know how to respond?
Most of us want to show up for people in their hardest moments. The gap isn’t compassion; it’s know-how. This training closes that gap with biblical principles and research-informed skills that anyone can learn.
Offer calm, compassionate presence that communicates safety and care, even when you don’t have the perfect words.
Build trust through connection and dignity, creating the conditions for someone to feel safe enough to receive support.
Assess immediate needs and provide practical, grounded support that helps reduce acute distress in the moment.
Help individuals identify next steps for ongoing care, support, and (when needed) referral to a professional.
Whether you serve in ministry, care for your community, work as a coach or counselor, or simply want to be ready when someone around you struggles, this training helps you respond with wisdom, compassion, and confidence.
What makes this different
Built for real-life moments when someone needs help now
Psychological Trauma First Aid pulls together four pillars that most training programs offer separately, or not at all.
01
Trauma-Informed Principles
Learn to respond in ways that recognize the deep impact of crisis and trauma on the whole person (body, mind, and spirit), not just the immediate presenting situation.
02
Research-Backed Skills
Gain practical tools drawn from crisis response research and clinical practice that you can use immediately when someone is overwhelmed or in distress.
03
A Simple, Memorable Framework
The PTFAID framework gives you a clear, step-by-step path for offering support in the moment, so you’re not trying to remember a textbook when it matters most.
04
Spiritually Sensitive Care
Understand how faith can serve as a genuine source of resilience and meaning, and learn how to recognize and engage those resources with sensitivity and care.
Course Content
Program Overview
Each lesson is taught by leading experts in trauma care, crisis response, and ministry, running around 30 minutes with a knowledge quiz at the end.
The PTFAID Framework
A simple structure for an overwhelming moment
Like medical first aid, PTFAID gives you a clear sequence to follow before additional treatment begins, so you’re not improvising when it matters most.
P
Presence
Offer calm, compassionate presence that communicates safety.
T
Trust
Build trust through connection, dignity, and a secure environment.
F
Faith
When appropriate, identify faith as a supportive resource.
A
Assess
Assess immediate needs and help reduce acute stress reactions.
I
Intervene
Provide practical grounding steps to restore stability.
D
Develop
Plan next steps for coping, collaboration, and referral.
This framework supports the whole person, emotionally, relationally, and spiritually, helping individuals move from disruption toward grounding, support, and a path forward.
The Instructors
Learn from leading experts in psychological trauma first aid
Why does this training need expert voices?
Trauma response is too important to learn from theory alone. Each instructor brings active clinical experience, ministry credibility, and a genuine commitment to equipping everyday people — not just licensed professionals — to respond well.
Meet your instructors
Jennifer Ellers, M.A.
Jennifer brings deep expertise in trauma-informed care and ministry-based crisis response, with a particular focus on the theology of care and the role of compassionate presence in healing.
Dr. Shannae Anderson
Dr. Anderson specializes in the neuroscience of trauma and stress response, translating complex clinical concepts into practical, accessible language that equips non-professionals to respond with confidence.
Keisha Wright
Keisha is a trauma-informed coach with extensive experience helping people navigate trauma and emotional recovery. Her teaching on trust and care planning is grounded in years of direct client work.
Dr. Kevin Ellers
Dr. Ellers draws on years of pastoral and coaching experience to equip helpers with the spiritual sensitivity and practical skills needed to meet people where they are in their most difficult moments.
“AACC has been at this for nearly 40 years, and I am more convinced than ever that God uses ordinary people to bring extraordinary healing. The greatest gap in trauma care is not expertise. It is the willingness of everyday people to be equipped and stand alongside the professionals already in the field. We need an army, and I believe you are part of it.”
Who this is for
Anyone called to care
This course is designed for anyone who wants to respond well when someone around them is in crisis, not just professionals.
Pastors, ministry leaders, and lay counselors
Life coaches and biblical counselors
Healthcare workers, educators, and first responders
Anyone caring for family, friends, or community members in distress
Mental health professionals seeking trauma-informed ministry integration
What this is not
A replacement for professional treatment
This training equips you to provide a thoughtful first response and help guide next steps. It’s designed as an introductory foundation, not a replacement for professional care.
This course does not qualify for NBCC continuing education or CE credit toward mental health licensure. It is not a CISM or ICISF-approved training. Upon completion, participants receive a certificate of completion and digital badge, not a clinical certification.
Additional training is required to serve as a crisis chaplain or formal crisis responder through recognized crisis response organizations.
Take the first step today
Pyschological Trauma First Aid
Don’t wait for a moment of crisis to leave you unsure how to respond.
All fees included · 1 year of access
8 video lessons, 25–40 minutes each
Downloadable course workbook
Knowledge quiz after each lesson
Certificate of completion and digital badge (shareable on LinkedIn)
Full year of access. Learn at your own pace
Delivered via TalentLMS · Access on computer or iPad
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions
How long is the course?
Psychological Trauma First Aid is a 4-hour, self-paced online training. Each of the 8 lessons runs 20–30 minutes and includes a knowledge quiz. You can complete the course in one sitting, or work through it over several days or weeks; you have up to one full year from your enrollment date to finish. The flexible format is designed to fit your schedule, ministry, and life.
Who is this training designed for?
This training is for anyone who wants to respond well to individuals in the aftermath of crisis, trauma, and distress, regardless of professional background. It’s especially helpful for those in ministry, coaching, biblical counseling, education, healthcare, or anyone walking alongside someone in their personal community. No clinical training is required.
What's included with my enrollment?
Your enrollment includes 8 video lessons, a downloadable course workbook, a knowledge quiz after each lesson, and a certificate of completion and digital badge upon finishing the course. You’ll have 1 year of access from your enrollment date. After one year, you may re-enroll to regain access.
How do I access the course?
Once enrolled, you’ll receive access to the training through our TalentLMS platform at aacc.talentlms.com. For the best experience, complete the course on a computer or iPad using a web browser.
Is this a certification course?
Upon successful completion, participants receive a certificate of completion and a digital badge that can be shared on LinkedIn or other platforms. This training is not approved for NBCC continuing education credit and does not qualify for CE credit toward mental health licensure renewal. It is also not a CISM or ICISF-approved training. It’s designed as an introductory foundation for practical, trauma-informed care.
Does this training replace professional therapy or emergency care?
No. Psychological Trauma First Aid is designed to equip you with an initial supportive response and help guide next steps when additional care is needed. It’s not a substitute for therapy, emergency mental health care, or professional crisis intervention. Part of what the PTFAID framework teaches is knowing when and how to connect someone with professional support.
A training by the American Association of Christian Counselors. This course is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional mental health care or emergency services.
