1 Hour / 1 CE

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Trauma and Sleep Disturbances is presented by Jerrod Brown, PhD.

Adequate sleep is the foundation for optimal behavioral, cognitive, emotional, social, and physical health functioning. Several neurobiopsychosocial factors can impact overall sleep health. One such factor that may negatively impact sleep health is trauma. Persons impacted by trauma commonly experience sleep-related disturbances, and such issues are elevated among persons involved in psycholegal settings.

This program focuses on increasing awareness of the impact trauma has on sleep and the implications these topics have on criminal justice, forensic mental health, and legal settings.  This program places special emphasis on implications for interviewing, screening, intake, intervention and discharge planning. Empirically based research findings and case study examples are highlighted throughout this program.

Learning Objectives

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

  • 1 Describe trauma and other related terms
  • 2 Describe common sleep-related disorders
  • 3 Describe screening options to identify sleep disturbances among persons impacted by trauma
  • 4 Describe best practices for minimizing the consequences associated with trauma and sleep disturbances in criminal justice, forensic mental health, and legal settings
  • 5 Describe key research findings, statistics, and concepts associated with trauma and sleep disturbances in psycholegal settings

  • Intended Audience

    This training is for clinicians and allied professionals seeking to understand the impact of trauma on sleep health. They likely specialize in forensic or legal populations, focusing on assessment, intervention, and support for sleep-related disturbances that affect functioning and risk. They typically work with individuals in criminal justice, forensic mental health, or legal settings.

  • Experience Level

    This training is applicable for intermediate to advanced professionals with experience in forensic, legal, or mental health settings, familiar with trauma-informed care and assessment practices.

  • Practice Setting

    • Clinicians, psychologists, social workers, counselors, and allied professionals who work with individuals affected by trauma and sleep disturbances.
    • Criminal justice settings
    • Forensic mental health facilities
    • Correctional institutions
    • Legal clinics
    • Community mental health organizations serving psycholegal populations

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:

  • Explores the role of adequate sleep in behavioral, cognitive, emotional, social, and physical health functioning

  • Examines the relationship between trauma and sleep disturbances, with elevated risks in psycholegal populations

  • Increases awareness of the impact of trauma on sleep within criminal justice, forensic mental health, and legal settings

  • Emphasizes practical implications for interviewing, screening, intake, intervention, and discharge planning

  • Highlights empirically based research findings and case study examples to illustrate concepts

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.