At the heart of this credentialing program is the Becoming Method®—a structured, trauma-informed approach that equips nurse–psychotherapists to deliver deep, ethical, and effective care.
More than a technique, the Becoming Method® is a way of seeing—one that integrates science, story, and spirit to support whole-person healing.
Level 1 starts Aug. 22
In-person
$9,995
Payment plans available
Certified Trauma Recovery Specialist
RNs, RPNs, NPs, CNSs
RN-Psychotherapists
Blended Format
Live Classes | On-line
288+ Continuing Education Hours
Next Cohort: Jun 20-Jun 22
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Whether you’ve just graduated from nursing school with a keen interest in psychotherapy, you’re preparing to register with CRPO or expanding your trauma-informed psychotherapy practice, this program gives you the clinical tools, regulatory insight, and structured support to move forward with confidence. Designed specifically for nurses, this program guides you step by step through the competencies, standards, and supervision needed to legally and ethically deliver psychotherapy in Ontario.
🔄 Foundational Mastery of the Becoming Method®
Learn a structured, trauma-informed approach to help clients move from coping to deep healing.
🎯 CRPO-Ready Training & Credential
Complete core clinical coursework aligned with CRPO entry-to-practice competencies, including Safe and Effective Use of Self (SEUS).
🧠 Assessment, Planning & Treatment Tools
Gain hands-on skills in trauma assessment, treatment planning, and ethical documentation.
👐 Supervised Practice with Faculty Support
Engage in faculty-led demonstrations, reflective exercises, and peer-to-peer learning in live and online formats.
🪜 Clear Path to Registration as an RN–Psychotherapist
Understand the application process, professional obligations, and how to legally deliver psychotherapy as an RN in Ontario.
🌿 Professional Renewal & Confidence
Step into your next chapter with renewed clarity, purpose, and the tools to build or grow a private or clinical psychotherapy practice.
🕒 36+ Continuing Education Hours
Earn CE hours toward regulatory requirements and professional development goals.
288 Continuing Education Credits
This comprehensive, multi-level program equips nurses with the trauma recovery skills, regulatory understanding, and supervised clinical experience required to pursue the practice of psychotherapy in Ontario. Rooted in the Becoming Method®—a structured, trauma-informed framework—this pathway builds professional capacity for ethical, client-centered care.
Designed to align with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) practice standards and the entry-to-practice competencies outlined by the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO), the program begins with a 3-day intensive focused on therapeutic presence, Safe and Effective Use of Self (SEUS), and foundational trauma assessment. Participants then progress through four core clinical courses and a supervised practicum to meet the requirements for CRPO registration.
In the third phase, students can participate in an Early Career Placement, gaining direct clinical experience while working under the supervision of an employer. During this phase, students receive mentoring and coaching support, and have the opportunity to complete a Major Community Project—a capstone initiative that integrates trauma-informed practice into a real-world setting. This phase supports nurses in building expertise and progressing into full-time psychotherapy employment with confidence and readiness.
Whether you’re seeking to grow your therapeutic scope as a nurse or work toward registration with CRPO, this program offers a guided, step-by-step pathway grounded in regulatory clarity, clinical excellence, and career development.
This 3-day in-person training immerses nurses in the 8 core modalities of the Becoming Method® through hands-on practice, mindfulness, and reflective learning. It builds foundational skills in trauma recovery, emotional intelligence, and therapeutic presence—equipping participants for supervised psychotherapy practice in alignment with CRPO and CNO standards.
BECOMING 102 guides students to deeply explore the self as healer, using mindfulness and reflection to strengthen emotional regulation, cultural humility, and therapeutic presence. Through experiential learning, students begin to understand how their own inner landscape shapes clinical interactions, laying the foundation for Safe and Effective Use of Self (SEUS) in psychotherapy.
BECOMING 302 introduces a holistic trauma assessment model that honours the full mind-body-spirit-community connection. Students learn to identify trauma’s impact across multiple domains and design personalized, culturally attuned care plans rooted in regulation and CRPO-aligned practices.
BECOMING 303 offers a critical, culturally grounded exploration of the legal, ethical, and regulatory standards that shape psychotherapy practice in Ontario. Anchored in the Safe and Effective Use of Self (SEUS), the course challenges students to examine their social location, power, and presence in the therapeutic relationship, building the insight and accountability needed to practice with integrity, cultural safety, and clinical clarity.
BECOMING 304 is a 1,000-hour supervised practicum where students refine and master the Becoming Method® while working directly with clients experiencing depression, anxiety, PTSD, and relationship challenges. Through real-world clinical placements, case consultations, and reflective supervision, students develop the confidence and clinical precision to apply trauma-informed psychotherapy in diverse, community-based settings—meeting CRPO’s Entry-to-Practice requirements with integrity and depth.
This final stage bridges formal training and full-time practice through a structured community placement where students apply their skills in real-world clinical or organizational settings. Working under the supervision of an employer or clinical partner, students deliver trauma-informed care while deepening their mastery of the Becoming Method®.
Throughout this phase, students receive mentorship, participate in professional coaching, and complete a Major Community Project—an applied initiative that strengthens therapeutic leadership and community impact. During the placement, students also have the flexibility to complete additional elective courses from the 12-Month Trauma Recovery Certificate Program, allowing them to specialize further, fulfill continuing education goals, or deepen clinical expertise based on their unique interests.
You’re in the right place if you’re a nursing professional who’s ready to offer more than symptom management—you want to help clients truly heal, using psychotherapy rooted in trauma recovery.
Registered Nurses from diverse clinical backgrounds who want to build trauma recovery skills and position themselves for future registration with CRPO as regulated psychotherapy providers.
RPNs seeking to build a strong foundation in trauma recovery—gaining the skills, insight, and confidence to apply therapeutic approaches in clinical and community-based nursing care.
Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) bringing advanced expertise in mental health, trauma, or leadership—and ready to ground their practice in a structured, evidence-informed psychotherapy model that drives meaningful clinical outcomes.
Nurse Practitioners poised to expand their role in mental health by integrating trauma-informed psychotherapy into advanced clinical care. You will bridge diagnostic insight with deep emotional healing.
🧭 No Matter Where You’re Starting From:
Whether you’re exploring psychotherapy for the first time or preparing to certify your expertise, this program grows with you—meeting you where you are and guiding you forward with structure, mentorship, and trauma-informed clinical training. From foundational skills to full certification, you’ll gain the clarity, confidence, and credentials to advance your practice and expand your impact.
Real stories from real practitioners who transformed their practice—and their lives—through the Becoming Method™.
This program provides the clinical skills, therapeutic presence, and structured methodology you need to confidently guide clients through every stage of trauma recovery. You'll not only expand your scope—you’ll transform how you show up in the healing process.
Apply the 8 Trauma Recovery Modalities of the Becoming Method®
Build foundational proficiency in a structured trauma recovery framework that supports clients through emotional processing, nervous system regulation, and personal transformation.
Conduct CNO- and CRPO-Aligned Clinical Assessments
Use a multidimensional trauma assessment model to evaluate psychological, emotional, spiritual, and relational health—then create individualized, trauma-informed care plans with cultural safety in mind.
Open and Close Psychotherapy Sessions with Clarity and Intention
Learn how to establish therapeutic presence, build client trust, and guide each session with structure, clarity, and emotional containment.
Demonstrate Safe and Effective Use of Self (SEUS)
Develop the self-awareness, emotional regulation, and relational attunement required by CRPO to ethically deliver psychotherapy as a nurse.
Integrate Somatic and Mindfulness-Based Tools
Use body-based and reflective practices to co-regulate with clients, reduce distress, and support healing of trauma stored in the nervous system.
Document, Track, and Adjust Treatment Plans
Learn how to ethically document sessions, track client progress, and adapt treatment to meet evolving therapeutic goals in compliance with CRPO and CNO expectations.
Navigate Legal, Ethical, and Professional Standards
Gain clarity on scope of practice, boundaries, informed consent, and documentation—through a lens of both CRPO regulation and CNO nursing standards.
Deliver Psychotherapy Under Supervision
Complete up to 1,000 hours of supervised clinical practice, including direct care, case consultation, and reflection-based learning in hospital and community settings.
Observe Becoming Method® interventions in real time. Watch expert faculty model therapeutic presence, SEUS, and session flow—then reflect and replicate through guided debriefs.
Engage in structured roleplays, therapeutic simulations, and real-time feedback in small group settings. Build the confidence and precision needed for supervised practice and eventual CRPO registration.
Mindful & Somatic Integration
Each day includes movement, guided journaling, and nervous system regulation practices—supporting emotional clarity, trauma attunement, and embodied learning.
Collaborative, Peer-Based Learning
Train alongside a cohort of nurses and allied professionals committed to trauma recovery. Deepen your skills through shared insights, community dialogue, and reflective co-learning.
In just 12 Months, start your new career as a Certified Trauma Recovery Specialist.
Meet Your Instructors—Global Experts Bringing Depth, Insight, and Practical Experience
Faculty, Becoming Institute | Registered Psychotherapist | Creative Healer Advocate for LGBTQ+ and BIPOC mental health, integrating evidence-based therapy with art, mindfulness, and somatic care to foster resilience and belonging
Founder, Becoming Institute | Creator of the Becoming Method™ Thought Leader in Trauma Recovery and Holistic Mental Health. Internationally recognized for transforming psychotherapy through a powerful blend of science, spirituality, and social justice
Faculty, Becoming Institute | Registered Psychotherapist | Somatic Coach & Relational Healer | Trauma-Responsive Educator Blending science and soul to nurture connection, clarity, and embodied presence
Faculty, Becoming Institute | Registered Psychotherapist | Founder, Karkiu Psychotherapy | Clinician and educator guided by trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and feminist frameworks—committed to building authentic, secure relationships
Faculty, Becoming Institute | Co-Founder, Winrose Oasis Counselling Trauma-informed therapist and clinical leader integrating cultural humility, community care, and intergenerational healing across psychotherapy, supervision, and education
Faculty, Becoming Institute | Executive Director, Manitoba Alliance of Health Regulatory Colleges Social work leader and educator integrating equity, business strategy, and trauma-informed care to advance healing, empowerment, and systems change across sectors
Faculty, Becoming Institute | Co-Founder, Winrose Oasis Counselling Culturally rooted therapist and wellness advocate blending clinical practice with spiritual healing to support intergenerational trauma recovery, emotional wellness, and community resilience
Faculty, Becoming Institute | Clinical & Counselling Psychologist Integrative psychologist with 15+ years of global clinical experience, blending evidence-based therapies with relational and systemic care to support individual, couple, and family healing
This isn’t just training—it’s transformation.
🌱 Move Beyond Symptom Management
Ground your work in evidence-based trauma recovery—not just talk therapy. Learn to guide clients through emotional, somatic, and relational healing at the root.
🛠 Expand Your Treatment Toolkit
Gain structured tools in assessment, session flow, and follow-up—alongside somatic, mindfulness, and nervous system regulation techniques that align with CRPO and CNO standards.
📊 Improve Client Outcomes with Confidence
Use the Becoming Method® to create trauma-informed care plans, navigate complex trauma responses, and support sustainable breakthroughs for diverse client needs.
🧭 Practice with Ethical Clarity
Integrate Safe and Effective Use of Self (SEUS) principles and apply clear therapeutic boundaries, documentation practices, and cultural safety in real-world clinical settings.
🧠 Trauma Relief That Goes Beyond Coping
Guide clients through emotional and somatic breakthroughs using structured interventions designed to resolve—not just manage—trauma symptoms.
🪞 Release from Shame, Fear & False Narratives
Help clients uncover the root of long-held beliefs and emotional pain, so they can reclaim agency, self-worth, and a new personal truth.
🧭 Reconnection with Identity, Intuition & Meaning
Facilitate lasting transformation by supporting clients in rebuilding their sense of self, strengthening inner resilience, and rediscovering purpose.
🔗 Safer, More Regulated Therapeutic Relationships
Create a space of trust and co-regulation by grounding your sessions in emotional attunement, cultural humility, and the Safe and Effective Use of Self (SEUS).
🔥 Reconnect with Your Purpose
Rediscover why you chose this path—and reignite your passion for care, healing, and meaningful connection through the lens of trauma recovery.
🤝 Join a Mission-Driven Community
Surround yourself with a growing network of nurses, psychotherapists, and healing professionals dedicated to embodied care, equity, and collective transformation.
🛡️ Build Emotional Strength and Sustainability
Strengthen your capacity to hold space for others without losing yourself in the process. Learn practices that support nervous system regulation, boundaries, and emotional recovery.
🌍 Expand Your Scope and Influence
Position yourself as a trauma-informed leader—whether you’re starting a private practice, mentoring peers, or embedding change within clinical and community systems.
To get started, you’ll need to:
✅ Be a Registered Nurse in good standing with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO)
✅ Complete the Becoming Method® Intensive (3-Day Foundational Training)
✅ Apply and be accepted into the RN–Psychotherapist Credentialing Pathway
Once accepted, you’ll move through a structured process designed to equip you with the skills, supervision, and clinical experience required to deliver psychotherapy with confidence—and in alignment with current CNO and CRPO expectations.
Yes—if you are registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) and you determine that you have the knowledge, skill, and judgment to practice psychotherapy. According to the CNO’s psychotherapy practice standard, RNs can independently assess their readiness to perform the controlled act of psychotherapy.
This program provides the education and supervised practice to help you meet that threshold and operate safely within your scope. You may also choose to pursue dual registration with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO), depending on your career goals.
This program is designed specifically for nurses who are passionate about mental health and ready to take the next step in their practice. It’s ideal for:
If you’re ready to develop the knowledge, skill, and insight to practice psychotherapy safely and effectively, this program is built for you.
You’ll be equipped to deliver trauma-informed psychotherapy and recovery-focused care using the Becoming Method®—a structured, evidence-informed approach grounded in deep healing and emotional regulation.
Graduates are prepared to:
Whether you’re stepping into a new role or deepening an existing one, this program empowers you to serve with clinical skill, ethical clarity, and emotional presence.
The RN–Psychotherapist Credentialing Program is offered in three progressive levels, allowing you to build competence step by step:
Level 1: A 3-day intensive training that introduces you to the Becoming Method® alongside a cohort of like-minded nurses
Level 2: A 16-week training experience that includes four advanced trauma recovery courses and a 1,000-hour supervised practicum
Level 3 (Optional): An 8–12 month early career placement where you receive mentorship, coaching, and clinical supervision while working in a full-time mental health role. During this phase, you may also complete additional electives from the 12-Month Trauma Recovery Certificate Program
Those who complete the full course load (Levels 1–3 with electives) may use the title Certified Trauma Recovery Specialist.
You can move through the program at your own pace or as part of a structured cohort, depending on your career goals and availability.
The full RN–Psychotherapist Credentialing Program costs $9,995, which includes all required coursework, a 1,000-hour supervised practicum, and access to early career placement support.
Courses can also be taken individually at $1,249 each, offering flexibility for nurses who wish to progress gradually.
If you choose to complete the full 12-Month Trauma Recovery Certificate Program, which includes additional electives, the total cost is $16,500. Graduates of the full certificate earn the designation Certified Trauma Recovery Specialist.
Funding Opportunities:
We are actively building employer partnerships to ensure smooth transitions into funded roles and long-term career growth.
Yes. Job placement is guaranteed for nurses who require support transitioning into the field.
Graduates who are not already employed in psychotherapy or mental health roles will be connected to an early career placement with a mental health, addiction, or community-based organization. These placements are aligned with your scope, training, and long-term goals, and include mentorship, supervision, and professional coaching.
If you are already employed in a relevant role or plan to establish a private practice, the program fully supports you in applying what you’ve learned within your existing context. You’ll still gain access to faculty mentorship, peer support, and business readiness resources to help you thrive.
This program is not officially endorsed by the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) or the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO)—nor does it require formal approval to operate.
Instead, it is strategically aligned with both regulators’ published practice standards. Nurses in Ontario are legally permitted to practice psychotherapy if they possess the knowledge, skill, and judgment to do so safely and ethically under the CNO’s Psychotherapy Practice Standard.
What makes this program unique is that it was created by nurses, for nurses—eliminating the need to leave the profession or invest years in training designed for other disciplines. It offers a clear, structured, and regulatory-aligned pathway for nurses who want to integrate psychotherapy into their practice or pursue dual registration with CRPO.
We are actively engaging with regulators across Canada to ensure long-term clarity, collaboration, and recognition as this training model grows.
Next Cohort: Aug. 22- Dec. 12
Use code EARLYBIRD149 to get early bird discount
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Introduction to Psychotherapy
Mindful Fitness: SelfHealing Practices for Psychotherapists
Forgiveness & Holistic Trauma Recovery
Ubuntu: African & Indigenous Ways of Knowing & Being
Introduction to Psychotherapy
Mindful Fitness: SelfHealing Practices for Psychotherapists
Forgiveness & Holistic Trauma Recovery
Ubuntu: African & Indigenous Ways of Knowing & Being
Every contribution makes a difference! Your support helps provide scholarships, resources, and opportunities for students to succeed. Together, we can transform lives and create a future of healing and empowerment.
Dr. Joan Samuels-Dennis,
Dean, School of Psychotherapeutic Innovations
Becoming Institute Inc
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