Tian Dayton, PhD, TEP, and TPN.health are collaborating to bring you the Relational Trauma Repair (RTR) Sociometrics Certificate!
The RTR Sociometrics Certificate provides treatment professionals with the necessary skills and instruction to properly facilitate several therapeutic processes outlined in Dr. Dayton’s book, Sociometrics: Embodied, Experiential Processes for Healing Trauma and Addiction. Certificate requirements include live training, readings from Dr. Dayton’s book, instructional videos with step-by-step guidance, clinical tips, and content knowledge tests. Here on TPN.health, you can seamlessly keep track of your progress from start to finish in obtaining your RTR-S certificate.
Relational Trauma Repair- Sociometrics (RTR-S) Overview
Talk alone does not reach the kinds of inner states wherein trauma is held. Research on neurobiology has revealed the importance of an approach to healing trauma that involves the body as well as the mind. Sociometrics are embodied, research-based, experiential processes that are psycho-educational. Created by Tian Dayton, PhD, to fit easily into treatment, outpatient programs, clinics, and one-to-one settings, sociometrics help to take the guesswork out of incorporating psychodrama and sociometry into treatment. They can be easily adapted to be gender and culture sensitive. They give therapists a clearly lined out process that builds momentum for change, teaches the skills of emotional regulation and literacy and makes work more focused and contained.
The RTR Sociometrics Certificate is designed to provide treatment professionals with the necessary skills and instruction to properly facilitate several of the therapeutic processes outlined in Dayton’s latest book, Sociometrics: Embodied, Experiential Processes for Healing Trauma and Addiction. Participants will receive in-depth guidance on how to use basic sociometry and psychodrama techniques, spectrograms, locograms, floor checks, timelines, and experiential letter writing with the clients they serve. Certificate requirements include a combination of in-person and virtual training and a virtual course, which includes readings from Dr. Dayton’s book and the Sociometrics manual, instructional videos with step-by-step guidance, clinical tips, and content knowledge tests. Please note, the RTR-S Certificate Program does not train clinicians to do involved psychodramas. In order to obtain further training in psychodrama, clinicians can log onto the American Society for Psychodrama, Sociometry and Group Psychotherapy (ASGPP.org). Once certification is obtained, certificate holders will need to complete 3 CE hours of renewal training every 3 years to maintain certification. The renewal training will help clinicians stay current on the most up to date research and evidence base.
Meet Tian Dayton PhD, TEP
Tian Dayton, PhD is a Senior Fellow at The Meadows and a nationally renowned speaker, expert, and consultant in trauma, addiction, and psychodrama. Dr. Dayton is the director of The New York Psychodrama Training Institute and author of 15 books including the soon to be released Treating Adult Children of Relational Trauma, Sociometrics, Emotional Sobriety, The ACoA Trauma Syndrome and several others. A board-certified trainer in psychodrama, sociometry and group psychotherapy, she’s spent her decades long career adapting psychodrama and sociometry for work specifically with relational trauma and addictions. Her trademarked processes Relational Trauma Repair/RTR-SOCIOMETRICS are in use nationally and around the world. Dr. Dayton is a fellow of the American Society of Psychodrama, Sociometry and Group Psychotherapy ASGPP, winner of the Lifetime Achievement award, their scholar’s award, the President’s award and former editor in chief of the Journal of Psychodrama, Sociometry and Group Psychotherapy.She is also the winner of The Marty Mann Award, The Mona Mansell Award and The Ackermann Black Award.Dr. Dayton earned her masters in educational psychology, PhD in clinical psychology, served on the faculty at NYU for eight years, and has appeared as a guest expert on NBC, CNN, MSNBC and other major media outlets.
Meet Our Trainers
Are you an RTR-S certified trainer and want your information listed?
Margaret A. O’Hara PhD, LMHC, LPCC, NCC, BC-TMH, CET II, CASAC, ICADC, PPS
Dr. Margaret O’Hara is a counselor educator teaching/developing courses for New York University, Oregon State University, and the California Institute for Human Science. She is certified as a school counselor and licensed as a mental health counselor in New York (LMHC) and California (LPCC) where she has a private practice. As a Board-Certified Tele-mental Health Provider, she provides online counseling in both states. Margaret is a Nationally Certified Counselor, Certified Experiential Therapist II, with state/international certification in substance abuse counseling.
Margaret is Subject Matter Expert and Expert Consultant for the California licensing board. She was President of East End Counseling Association, named 2006 Counselor of the Year. She was Division President of Association of Specialists in Group Work for the NY Counseling Association. Margaret served as President and Ethics Chair of the California Association of Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors. A lifetime member, she remains active on the Ethics Committee.
Margaret is Subject Matter Expert and Expert Consultant for the California licensing board. She was President of East End Counseling Association, named 2006 Counselor of the Year. She was Division President of Association of Specialists in Group Work for the NY Counseling Association. Margaret served as President and Ethics Chair of the California Association of Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors. A lifetime member, she remains active on the Ethics Committee.
Gittel Twersky, LCSW, CASAC
A leading therapist in the Orthodox Jewish Community, Gitty has helped hundreds of men, women and couples struggling with addiction and trauma. As a facilitator at Onsite for over 15 years, and then the founder of Daybreak, Gitty is leading the way in normalizing psychodrama and experiential therapy. Gitty graduated from Fordham School of Social Work.
Joseph Twersky, LCSW, CASAC
Born in a family of renowned changemakers and wisdom sharers dating back 10 generations, Joseph’s innate ability to help people is a natural outgrowth of his upbringing.
His humble mission of bringing people closer to their inner happiness has been the driving force throughout his various positions in the mental health field since 2007. Holding an LCSW, CASAC, and Bachelors degree, Joseph has filled many roles supporting the mental and emotional health of his community including providing counseling, developing support groups, helping people overcome addiction, and providing psychotherapy to adults coping with trauma, anxiety, and social dysfunction, among other struggles.
Joseph recognizes that seeking help is often the greatest challenge for individuals in their journey to self-healing and has tremendous respect for those who take the high road. An avid listener and connector, Joseph conveys an open heart and mind with a firm determination to spark positive change, enlighten and offer hope.
Joseph is a lover of nature and a connector at his core. His hobbies include connecting to others through song and conversation, reading, and diving deep into Jewish history.
‘Every person deserves the gift of hope, the ability to accept themselves fully and to recognize their tremendous potential.’
His humble mission of bringing people closer to their inner happiness has been the driving force throughout his various positions in the mental health field since 2007. Holding an LCSW, CASAC, and Bachelors degree, Joseph has filled many roles supporting the mental and emotional health of his community including providing counseling, developing support groups, helping people overcome addiction, and providing psychotherapy to adults coping with trauma, anxiety, and social dysfunction, among other struggles.
Joseph recognizes that seeking help is often the greatest challenge for individuals in their journey to self-healing and has tremendous respect for those who take the high road. An avid listener and connector, Joseph conveys an open heart and mind with a firm determination to spark positive change, enlighten and offer hope.
Joseph is a lover of nature and a connector at his core. His hobbies include connecting to others through song and conversation, reading, and diving deep into Jewish history.
‘Every person deserves the gift of hope, the ability to accept themselves fully and to recognize their tremendous potential.’
Kera Passante, MS, LPC
Kera is a licensed professional counselor who is passionate about experiential learning. Kera is certified in Experiential and Clinical Adventure Therapy, is a certified trainer in Relational Trauma Repair, and specializes in child and adolescent trauma healing. Kera is also a trauma-informed yoga and meditation teacher and her passion is helping others transform, heal, and grow through therapeutic experiences and integration. Kera has degrees in Philosophy, Psychology, and Counseling and is a person in long term recovery. Kera is the Director of Experiential Therapy and Group Quality at Charlie Health.
Tami-Jo Stevenson
Tami-Jo has worked in the behavioral health field and with individuals in crisis in residential and outpatient settings. Currently, she is the VP of Clinical Services at High Watch Recovery Center in Kent, CT.
She has completed her advanced level of training in Somatic Experience making her an SEP, and is certified as a Level I IFS (Internal Family Systems) therapist. Additionally, she is a certified trainer in Sociometrics and has been training with Tian Dayton for three years in Psychodrama. Tami-Jo has completed 200 hours of specialized trauma training through Spirit to Spirit to become a Certified Trauma Therapist. Other certifications include; Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Suicide Prevention, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention, and as a Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Victim Advocate.At High Watch she utilizes these advanced modalities to help guests work through their trauma and addiction. She believes in the importance of 12-step recovery as well as other evidence-based practice in preventing relapse, which is a central focus of her work.
She is very active as a volunteer and leader in the non-profit behavioral health community and serves on the Board of Directors of the McCall Center for Behavioral Health in Torrington, CT for the last 14 years.
Tami-Jo received her BA in Social Work from Central Connecticut State University. She received a Master’s in Social Work from Fordham University.
She has completed her advanced level of training in Somatic Experience making her an SEP, and is certified as a Level I IFS (Internal Family Systems) therapist. Additionally, she is a certified trainer in Sociometrics and has been training with Tian Dayton for three years in Psychodrama. Tami-Jo has completed 200 hours of specialized trauma training through Spirit to Spirit to become a Certified Trauma Therapist. Other certifications include; Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Suicide Prevention, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention, and as a Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Victim Advocate.At High Watch she utilizes these advanced modalities to help guests work through their trauma and addiction. She believes in the importance of 12-step recovery as well as other evidence-based practice in preventing relapse, which is a central focus of her work.
She is very active as a volunteer and leader in the non-profit behavioral health community and serves on the Board of Directors of the McCall Center for Behavioral Health in Torrington, CT for the last 14 years.
Tami-Jo received her BA in Social Work from Central Connecticut State University. She received a Master’s in Social Work from Fordham University.
Ricki Ellen Gorman MSN, Accredited Journey Life Coach
Ricki has trained in psychodrama and sociometry and brings nearly two decades of experience in her practice. She is a Certified Trainer in Relational Trauma Repair (RTR) Sociometrics. Ricki is an Accredited Journey Practitioner and Life Coach, having delved into The Journey Method since 2006. As a retired Pediatric Nurse and Certified Nurse Midwife, Ricki has cultivated profound connections with her patients and their families, promoting healing across various life stages. She is also actively engaged in 12-step work and hosts a document for Parents in Recovery Meetings.
Ricki offers individual client sessions both in person and through Zoom or phone, alongside in-person and virtual workshops. Integrating guided meditation, experiential modalities, art, and journaling, she facilitates transformative experiences. Notably, Ricki has presented workshops like “Freedom Within: Finding a Deeper Connection to Our Soul,” “From Darkness to Light,” and “Vision Board.”
Beyond her professional endeavors, Ricki indulges her artistic talents, directing art programs and expressing herself through mediums such as the pottery wheel, drawing, collage, needlework, and mixed media. Her passion for photography shines through the captivating images on her website, where she reveals hidden narratives, inviting viewers into her world of visual storytelling.
Ricki’s unwavering dedication inspires transformation, healing, and authentic self-expression, leaving an indelible mark on those whose lives she touches.
Ricki offers individual client sessions both in person and through Zoom or phone, alongside in-person and virtual workshops. Integrating guided meditation, experiential modalities, art, and journaling, she facilitates transformative experiences. Notably, Ricki has presented workshops like “Freedom Within: Finding a Deeper Connection to Our Soul,” “From Darkness to Light,” and “Vision Board.”
Beyond her professional endeavors, Ricki indulges her artistic talents, directing art programs and expressing herself through mediums such as the pottery wheel, drawing, collage, needlework, and mixed media. Her passion for photography shines through the captivating images on her website, where she reveals hidden narratives, inviting viewers into her world of visual storytelling.
Ricki’s unwavering dedication inspires transformation, healing, and authentic self-expression, leaving an indelible mark on those whose lives she touches.
David Moran, LCSW, CCDP, TEP
David has 30 years in Behavioral Health, working as an Administrator, Trainer and Program Developer for Addiction Recovery, Trauma Recovery, Psychodrama, Personal Growth, and self-Care. He is the therapist for therapist. He is a Trainer, Educator and Practitioner (TEP) in psychodrama, sociometry and group psychotherapy. Past President of the ASGPP. He is an adjunct instructor at the Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College. He is Certified in the Sociometrics Relationship Trauma Repair.
Karen Levin Moser, LCSW, PAT
Karen has over 30 years in Behavioral Health serving as manager, supervision, and consultant. Provides counseling services to individuals, families, and groups with a specialty in addictions treatment, Trauma, and relational issues; provide supervision to clinicians focusing on the development of assessment and clinical skills. She is a Certified Practitioner working towards a Trainer, Educator and Practitioner TEP in psychodrama, sociometry and group psychotherapy. She is trained in the Sociometrics Relationship Trauma Repair. She is an Adjunct Instructure at Onsight.
Steps to Obtain the RTR-S Certificate
3 LEVELS OF CERTIFICATION
Pathway to Earning RTR-S Certification for Level I (45 Hours):
Target Audience: Coaches, Peers, Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselorx (CASAC), Certified Addiction Counselors, Social Worker, Mental Health Counselors, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists
- Maintain a current credential or license issued by a state or credentialing authority as a Coach, Peer, Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC), Certified Addiction Counselor, Social Worker, Mental Health Counselor, or Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (Upload proof of your license or certification in the form of a scanned copy of your state license, certification, or online proof of license/certification/education)
- Complete 14 Hour (2 training days) in-person RTR-S Basic Training. (Upload proof of your completed two-day, “RTR Sociometrics” training in the form of a training certificate.)
- Complete 21 Hour, RTR-S Virtual Training Course on TPN.health, which includes six modules of video-guided trainings, readings, and content knowledge post-tests (Will be tracked on TPN.health)
- Complete 10-Hour Virtual live RTR-S Training/Supervision (5 training days) with Tian Dayton on TPN.health (Will be tracked on TPN.health)
What Level I Certificate Holders Can Use:
- Step-in-circles
- Spectrograms
- Locograms
- Floor Checks (avoid the floor checks that require a master level therapist e.g.cPTSD Floor Check)
- Resilience Timeline
- Experiential Letter Writing
Pathway to Earning RTR-S Certification for Level II (66 Hours):
Fulfillment of Level I Requirements +
- Complete 21 hours of additional training with any PAT/TEP/RTR-S approved trainer or global equivalent. Up to 1/3 hours may be obtained virtually. (Upload proof of your training hours in a PDF document. Please compile all completed certificates into one PDF file.)
What Level II Certificate Holders Can Use:
- Step-in-circles
- Spectrograms
- Locograms
- All Floor Checks
- Experiential Letter Writing
- Attachment Timelines/on paper and for group process
- Resilience Timeline/on paper and for group process
- Social Atoms/On paper with Empty Chair/One or Two-person role play
- Empty Chair/One or Two-person role play
Pathway to Earning RTR-S Certification III (Level Three, 90 Hours):
Fulfillment of Level I and Level II Requirements +
- Complete 24 hour Sculpting the Social Atom Training
- Book- The living stage 90 pages- (39,144 words)
- In-person Sculpting the Social Atom Training
What Level III Certificate Holders Can Use:
- Step-in-circles
- Spectrograms
- Locograms
- All Floor Checks
- Experiential Letter Writing
- Attachment Timelines:/on paper, for group process and simple role play
- Resilience Timeline/on paper, for group process and simple role play
- Empty Chair/One or Two-Person Role PlayPerson Role Play
- Social Atoms/Simple Sculpture
After completing level III, participants will have the tools to host their own 2-day basic RTR-S training, with support from Dr. Dayton and TPN.health.
Benefits of Obtaining a Certificate in RTR Sociometrics
Relational trauma can lead to disconnections within the self and compromised intimacy with others. It can be challenging to work with the fallout of adult relational trauma without getting lost in the weeds. There can be so much emotional, psychological, physiological and behavioral fallout from growing up with trauma, that it can be difficult to know how to approach working with it. Sociometrics take the guesswork out of incorporating experiential work into programming and practice. RTR-S offers a user-friendly protocol for adding experiential/embodied work to treatment programs, IOPs, clinics and one-on-one settings. Using a combination of experiential, embodied processes and paper and pencil exercises to describe, explore, process and repair the wide-ranging effects of adult relational trauma. RTR-S helps to create a manageable approach to exploring how wounds from the past may be playing out in the present.
In groups, sociometrics activate the social engagement system in service of healing. They get clients out of their chairs and on their feet, grounded in the room and connecting with each other. Floor checks, for example, give participants practice in tuning in on themselves and connecting in new, more satisfying ways. Floor checks help clients to connect with their own inner world, and translate those feelings/thoughts into language so that they can be elevated to a conscious level and shared with others, clients then listen as others do the same. They build the skills of emotional literacy and personal and social intelligence. They connect group members with each other in meaningful ways. Healing is always occurring through the alchemy of co-regulation, as Dr. Stephen Porges puts it, “good self-regulation grows out of successful co-regulation” thus floor checks grow the skills of self-regulation through repeated, successful experiential and embodied experiences of co-regulation. There are several experiential, embodied therapeutic processes outlined in this manual; such as:
- Floor Checks
- Step-in-Circles
- Locograms
- Spectrograms
- Experiential Letter Writing
- Timelines
- Social Atoms
Please note, this list represents an overall view but does not represent an order in which these processes need to be done. The model can be used exclusively or a la carte, where it can be integrated into other approaches where an experiential or embodied approach will be useful in bringing clarity, depth, order and healing. The beauty of RTR-S is that it is fluid and adaptable.
In group work, for example, step-in-circles and logograms make good ice-breakers. Spectrograms allow clients to become aware of feeling regulation, they can also serve as a measure of comfort with treatment that can be used as a barometer throughout treatment. Floor checks serve as your core of group treatment offering both education and therapy. Experiential letter writing and small role plays can be a follow up for work done through floor checks. Timelines and social atoms can be done on paper and shared in or sub-groups (in-person or virtual) as a complete exercise in and of itself, and/or each process can also be made experiential for the group. It can be followed up by small, empty or two chair role plays to embody talking to a person or part of self that got warmed-up through the process.
In one-to-one therapy what works best is empty chair role plays interwoven into the normal talk therapy process wherever they might allow for a more embodied experience of the material being explored by the client. Timelines and social atoms are also useful in one-to-one as a paper- and-pencil activity in and of themselves that can be shared with the therapist, or they can be followed up with empty chair role plays.
Through the three levels of the RTR-S certificate program, participants will learn how to use these exercises with clients. After completing level III, they’ll have the skills and knowledge to host their own 2-day basic RTR-S training, with support from Dr. Dayton and TPN.health.
How to Upload and Track Certificate Completion
Please see the links below for more detail:
Follow the RTR-S Profile on TPN.health!
Follow our organization’s profile and gain access to the following benefits:
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- Our community board, which is a space for sharing experiences, implementing RTR-S, exchanging tips, and gaining inspiration from both
personal and professional insights. - Find local RTR-S in-person training opportunities.
- Connecting & engaging with our trainers.
- Ability to bring educators to your organization.
- Once certified, host an RTR-S training.
- Our community board, which is a space for sharing experiences, implementing RTR-S, exchanging tips, and gaining inspiration from both
Host a Training at Your Own Facility or Space
- Host a small group, 2-day RTR-S in-person training for your clinical team.
- Bring an RTR-S trainer to your symposium, conference, or collaborate with Dr. Dayton and TPN.health to host a community-based RTR-S event!
RTR-S Level III Trainers: Host a Training with TPN.health
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- Host your own in-person 2-day trainings with comprehensive support from the TPN.health team.
- Assistance with marketing, accreditation, customer support, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. Will RTR-S train me to do psychodrama?
No, RTR-S is based on the theory and practice of sociometry and Dr. Dayton’s floor checks. Psychodrama is the role play part of JL Moreno’s triadic system psychodrama/sociometry and group psychotherapy. RTR-S includes empty chair and experiential letter writing which is a form of role play derived from psychodrama but not full psychodrama.
Q. Can I use RTR-S in one-to-one therapy?
Yes, the timelines, social atoms, experiential letter writing and empty chair role plays,are all usable in one-to-one work.
Q. Can I use RTR-S for virtual work?
Yes, RTR-S converts nicely to virtual work. Especially usable for virtual work are timelines and social atoms and very simple role plays.
Q. Is RTR-S the same as what people call experiential therapy?
No. RTR-S is based on the theoretical framework of JL Moreno’s triadic system of psychodrama, sociometry and group psychotherapy. Experiential therapy, as it is often used, does not have an overarching theoretical framework. It tends to be a “one off” approach with each process being singular. It tends to be goal oriented and have specific expectations in that the therapist has outcomes in mind for the client and may push for those outcomes or state them explicitly. Experiential therapy does not tend to allow for the autonomy of the client, rather the therapist is the driver of the action.
Q. Can sociometrics like spectrograms, locograms, step-in-circles and floor checks be adapted for use in a variety of populations?
Yes, they can be adapted for specific populations by changing the material on floor cards in floor checks and the criterion questions or prompts that are asked of the population working.