2 Hours / 2 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on ACEs, Complex Trauma, and Toxic Stress: Implications for Affect, Behavior, Cognition, and Physical Health is presented by Jerrod Brown, PhD. 

This badge-earning program can be shared digitally on platforms like LinkedIn or your resume and counts towards a certificate. Enroll in this program to earn credit towards the Integrated Behavioral Health Certificate and share your new digital credentials with prospective employers and colleagues.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are traumatic exposures to various forms of neglect and abuse (e.g., emotional, physical, or sexual) or other traumatic experiences (e.g., household dysfunction, parental incarceration, caregiver separation or divorce, etc.) occurring prior to the age of 18. Research has found that when these traumatic experiences are left unaddressed and untreated, they are significant predictors of poor health outcomes throughout the lifespan. 

Developed for professionals, this program explores the impact ACEs, complex trauma, and toxic stress have on clients' affective, behavioral, cognitive, and physical health. Related topics covered during this program will include COVID-19, executive dysfunction, self-regulation deficits, threats to emotional well-being, social skill deficits, digestive health issues, addictive behaviors, prenatal trauma, intergenerational transmission of trauma, betrayal trauma, poverty, food insecurity, epigenetics, community and social trauma, bullying victimization, screen time misuse, sleep disturbances, immune-mediated diseases, inflammation, resilience, and trauma-informed care (TIC) among others. Practical tips, strategies, and solutions will be shared throughout this training with the goal of improving screening, goal planning, and intervention practices. Empirically-based research findings are highlighted throughout this program.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

  • 1 Describe adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), complex trauma, and toxic stress
  • 2 Describe associated risk and contributing factors associated with ACEs, complex trauma, and toxic stress exposures
  • 3 Describe the affective, behavioral, cognitive, and physical health consequences associated with ACEs, complex trauma, and toxic stress
  • 4 Review screening and intervention approaches
  • 5 Acquire an understanding of the existing empirical research on these topics

  • Intended Audience

    This training is designed for mental health professionals—including psychologists, social workers, and counselors—who want to deepen their understanding of how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), complex trauma, and toxic stress affect long-term health and functioning. The program is especially valuable for those practicing or aspiring to practice trauma-informed care, clinical psychology, counseling, behavioral health, or integrated health approaches. It is suitable for professionals working in diverse settings such as mental health clinics, hospitals, schools, community organizations, and private practices.

  • Experience Level

    This training is applicable for all career stages: entry-level, mid-career, and experienced professionals.

    • Suitable for those new to trauma-informed approaches as well as those seeking advanced knowledge and skills

  • Practice Setting

    • Psychologists (clinical, counseling, school, and other specialties)
    • Social workers (clinical, school, community, and other roles)
    • Counselors (mental health, school, rehabilitation, and related fields)
    • Professionals specializing in trauma-informed care, behavioral health, or integrated health
    • Practitioners in mental health clinics, hospitals, schools, community-based organizations, and private practice

Presented By

Jerrod Brown, PhD

Jerrod Brown, PhD, is the Treatment Director for Pathways Counseling Center, Inc., the lead developer of an online Master of Arts degree in Human Services with an emphasis in Forensic Behavioral Health from Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota, the founder and CEO of the American Institute for the Advancement of Forensic Studies (AIAFS), and the Editor-in-Chief of Forensic Scholars Today (FST) and the Journal of Special Populations (JSP).

View More Programs from this Presenter
Jerrod Brown, PhD

Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and complex trauma, and toxic stress.

  • Risk Factors & health consequences

  • Screening and intervention approaches

Earning a Certificate

This is a badge-earning program, which means it will help you earn a certificate that can be showcased on digital platforms like LinkedIn.
View Certificates

CE Sponsorship Information

Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by, recognized by, or maintains sponsorship provider status with the following boards and agencies. We maintain responsibility for all content in our CE/CPD programs. For more information, visit here. 

  1. American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.

  2. Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.

  3. Canadian Psychological Association (CPA): Approved to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.

  4. National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).



Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), SW CPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0356 and the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0073. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6811. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CONCEPT Professional Training, #1480, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. CONCEPT Professional Training maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits.