Our History

The Integrative Trauma Program (ITP) evolved after Sept. 11, 2001, when our Founder/Director, Sandy Shapiro, PhD, was compelled to introduce innovative trauma treatment modalities to supplement NIP’s psychodynamic orientation. Sandy, who was trained in EMDR, offered courses to the NIP community, and this evolved over time into the ITP’s 9-month Certificate Program in Integrative Trauma Studies. This Program is a foundational course in the clinical exploration, understanding and treatment of traumatic experience.

Our EMDR Trauma Treatment Service, originally directed by Peggy Reubens, LCSW, evolved to provide low-cost treatment for clients with a variety of traumatic presentations. The 2-year Clinical Affiliate Program was then developed to provide EMDR-trained clinicians with an opportunity to deepen and integrate their trauma treatment skills within a stimulating and supportive learning community.

In 2020 we were pleased to invite the 9-month Trauma-informed Child & Adolescent Program under our umbrella, expanding our capacity to train therapists who work with the youngest to the oldest trauma clients. The Child & Adolescent Program is the only trauma-informed, certificate program in New York City.

These three programs – the Certificate Program in Trauma Studies, the Clinical Affiliate Program, and the Trauma-informed Child & Adolescent Program - are separate and complementary training programs that may be attended independently, sequentially or simultaneously.