The Story Isn't Over: Creating Meaning After Trauma
Angel Knoverek | Beginner, General | ★★★★★
Title: The Story Isn’t Over: Creating Meaning After Trauma
Format: On-demand, recorded asynchronous self-paced
Prerequisites: None required
CE Credits: 1.0
Registration Fee: $39 USD
Trauma does not have the final word. For clients who experienced childhood abuse, neglect, or chronic relational harm — what researchers term complex trauma or developmental trauma — the path to healing often requires not just symptom reduction but a fundamental reorganization of the self and one’s relationship to suffering.
Drawing on Viktor Frankl’s logotherapy and Man’s Search for Meaning, participants will explore how the human drive to find purpose can serve as a powerful catalyst for post-traumatic growth. We examine how complex childhood trauma disrupts the developing self’s capacity for meaning, and how clinicians can actively support clients in reconstructing coherent, value-aligned narratives — without bypassing grief, minimizing harm, or imposing meaning.
Three evidence-informed clinical strategies will be taught through case examples and made immediately applicable to practice.
Target Audience:
This course is designed for social workers, counselors, school-based professionals, mental health providers, and human service practitioners.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Differentiate complex/developmental trauma from single‑incident PTSD and describe how chronic childhood trauma disrupts meaning‑making across domains such as safety, worthiness, trust, and hope.
- Apply core principles of logotherapy to adult survivors of childhood trauma by integrating narrative re‑authoring, values‑based exploration, and somatic meaning‑anchoring techniques.
- Implement at least two clinical strategies that support meaning reconstruction, including identity‑level narrative work and post‑traumatic growth–oriented questioning.
- Describe how cultural background, spirituality, and community identity influence meaning‑making and integrate these factors into trauma‑informed assessment and intervention.
- Identify ethical considerations in meaning‑focused trauma therapy, including the risks of imposed meaning and premature reframing, and apply strategies to prevent these clinical pitfalls.
Participants must complete the full registration process. The link is available on this page. Once registered, you’ll receive an email inviting you to join, or login to our course platform where the course will immediately be available to you.
Registration fees include the 1 hour recorded virtual training.
CE Information:
Mindshift Center, provider #2577, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider period: 03/05/2026-3/05/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 1 clinical continuing education credit.
Mindshift Center has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7989. Programs that do not qualify for credit are clearly identified. Mindshift Center is solely responsible for all aspects of the course.
Course completion requirements:
Social workers and counselors must attend the entire course and complete a course evaluation to be eligible for CE credit.
Posttest Requirements for Asynchronous On-Demand Courses:
To successfully complete the course, participants must pass the posttest with 80% in 3 attempts to be earn a certificate. Social workers and counselors must pass the posttest with 80% in 3 attempts to be eligible for CE credit.
How & When the Certificate is Delivered:
Asynchronous On-Demand Courses: Upon successful course completion, including passing the posttest and completing the course evaluation, certificates will be available for immediate download.
Course Interactivity:
On‑demand, recorded, self‑paced courses are delivered asynchronously and do not include real‑time interaction. Learners engage independently through video instruction, reflective prompts, and integrated learning activities designed to support application of concepts. Participants may complete the course at their own pace within the availability period.
Date Recorded: April 2026
System Requirements:
To access digital courses, participants will need a computer or mobile device with the following:
- Operating system: Windows XP or higher, MacOS 9 or higher, iOS, or Android 4.0 or higher
- Internet Browser: Chrome, Firefox 10.0 or higher, Internet Explorer 9.0 or higher, Safari
- Broadband Internet: Cable, high-speed DSL, or other connection capable of streaming video content
Training Includes:
- Cost:
$39 USD
- Instructor:
Angel Knoverek, Ph.D., LCPC, ACS
- Format:
On-demand, asynchronous
- Capacity:
No limit
- Language:
English
- Credits Earned:
1 CE
WHAT IS "THE STORY ISN'T OVER"?
Healing from complex trauma is not only about reducing symptoms. For clients who experienced childhood abuse, neglect, or chronic relational harm, recovery often requires something deeper: a fundamental reorganization of how they understand themselves, their suffering, and their place in the world.
This course draws on Viktor Frankl’s logotherapy and the principles outlined in Man’s Search for Meaning to explore how the human drive toward purpose can become a powerful catalyst for post-traumatic growth. Participants will examine how complex and developmental trauma disrupts a child’s emerging capacity for meaning, and learn three evidence-informed clinical strategies for helping adult survivors reconstruct coherent, value-aligned narratives. The work is taught through case examples and designed for immediate application in practice.
WHO IS THIS COURSE FOR?
This course is designed for mental health and human service professionals working with adult survivors of childhood or chronic trauma. It is appropriate for:
- Licensed counselors and therapists
- Clinical social workers
- School-based mental health professionals
- Supervisors and counselor educators integrating trauma-informed approaches into their work
No prior training in logotherapy or meaning-focused therapy is required. Professionals at any stage of their trauma-informed practice will find this course clinically relevant and immediately applicable.
WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Differentiate complex and developmental trauma from single-incident PTSD and explain how chronic childhood trauma disrupts meaning across domains including safety, worthiness, trust, and hope
- Apply core principles of logotherapy to adult survivors, including narrative re-authoring, values-based exploration, and somatic meaning-anchoring
- Implement at least two clinical strategies that support meaning reconstruction and post-traumatic growth
- Integrate cultural background, spirituality, and community identity into trauma-informed meaning-making work
- Identify ethical risks in meaning-focused therapy, including imposed meaning and premature reframing, and apply strategies to prevent them
Angel Knoverek
Ph.D., LCPC, ACS
Trauma Treatment Educator & Consultant | Counselor Educator | Clinical Supervisor | Group Practice Owner | Curriculum Developer
Dr. Angel Knoverek is a nationally recognized expert in trauma-informed care, with over two decades of experience in clinical practice, education, and systems-level advocacy. As a licensed professional counselor and counselor educator, she has trained thousands of mental health professionals across the country in understanding the nuanced impact of complex trauma.
Dr. Knoverek is the founder and clinical director of a thriving group practice dedicated to serving children, adolescents, and adults affected by relational and developmental trauma. Her work bridges neuroscience, attachment theory, and practical application, making her a sought-after speaker, curriculum developer, and consultant for organizations seeking to implement trauma-responsive strategies.
With a passion for elevating mental health equity, Dr. Knoverek integrates research, lived experience, and clinical wisdom to empower professionals working at the intersection of trauma and healing. Her teaching style is engaging, compassionate, and deeply rooted in real-world relevance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. This course has been approved for 1 CE credit hour through both NBCC and ASWB. Mindshift Center is an NBCC Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7989. Mindshift Center is also approved as an ACE provider by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), provider #2577. Social workers completing this course receive 1 clinical continuing education credit. ACE provider period: 03/05/2026–03/05/2027.
This course is approved for both counselors (NBCC) and social workers (ASWB ACE). Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. We recommend confirming with your licensing board before registering.
You must complete the full course, pass the posttest with a score of 80% or higher (up to 3 attempts), and complete the course evaluation. Your certificate will be available for immediate download once all requirements are met.
You will have access to all course materials for 365 days following the date of purchase.
Yes. This is an on-demand, asynchronous course. There are no scheduled sessions or live components. You can start and stop at any time within the access period.
You will need a computer or mobile device with internet access capable of streaming video. Supported browsers include Chrome, Firefox 10.0+, Internet Explorer 9.0+, and Safari.
You can register by clicking here and following the registration process.
Reach out to us at training@mindshiftcenter.org.
Contact
Cancellations & Refunds:
To cancel, please email training@mindshiftcenter.org. Cancellations must be received 30 days prior to the event date to be eligible for a refund.
ADA Accommodations:
If you need ADA accommodations, please email training@mindshiftcenter.org.
