Our Program
Welcome! We are now accepting applications for our 2025-26 therapist training cohort.
The JTSN program provides free, evidence-based training on journalist occupational culture and mental health needs to already-experienced trauma therapists. Our next training starts December 5, 2025. Scroll to learn more about the program, or click here to apply to join our learning and referral community.
(Please note, this program is currently only operating in the U.S.)
Our therapist training program consists of three elements:
Training
Referrals
Community
Tanisha Thelemaque, Ph.D., JTSN training graduate
“This program provided me with invaluable clinical tools... As an early career psychologist, the support from the other providers allowed me to feel like a held member of a compassionate network of trusted and knowledgeable psychologists. I now feel comfortable speaking professionally to the unique experiences of journalists, while recognizing that I have much to learn. This was 100% worthwhile and I would recommend the program to anyone who wants to grow as a therapist and gain life-long connections.”
Madeleine Goodkind, Ph.D., JTSN training graduate
“Participating in this program was incredibly rewarding -- learning about working with the journalism community, hearing directly from journalists in the field, expanding my professional community, and of course working with the client who was connected with me. My client felt grateful to be accepted into this program and as a result worked hard in therapy. This program is an awesome marriage of two groups of professionals who believe strongly in the work they do.”
Training
Core webinar training
Membership in the Journalist Trauma Support Network (JTSN) begins with the core training: a two-day, live interactive CE webinar on journalism profession, culture, and trauma, delivered by staff journalists and psychologists at the Global Center for Journalism and Trauma.
Participating therapists will learn about:
The culture of professional journalism
Types of stress and trauma that journalists encounter through their work, as well as resilience factors
Key considerations in assessment and treatment of journalists
Data security for telehealth with journalist clients
Tips for growing your journalist-focused practice
Data security consultation
JTSN has partnered with security experts at the Freedom of the Press Foundation to ensure free consultation for any trainee who has a client with heightened digital security concerns.
Continuous learning
After completion of the core webinar training, learning continues through:
A go-at-your-own-pace curriculum of subject articles and short educational videos, delivered to your email
Referrals
Referrals and Fair Compensation
JTSN members can count on:
Timely referrals of journalist through our trusted referral partner, the International Women’s Media Foundation*
Timely, fair compensation for therapy hours with training cases
Listing in the JTSN National Therapist Directory (optional) upon completion of training requirements
*IWMF serves all genders
Community
Expert and Peer Support
To support our trainees and build our clinical community, JTSN provides:
Free online Learning and Support Groups for the first six months of practice, facilitated by a Global Center staff psychologist
Individual consultation when you need a little more time and attention on a training case
Virtual and in-person reunions and free CE offerings
A continuing education newsletter updates to keep you in the loop
Therapist Qualifications
Therapists interested in applying for JTSN training and membership must have the following background requirements:
A license to practice in a mental health field (e.g., clinical psychology, counseling psychology, clinical social work)
At least 5 years of relevant training and clinical experience treating trauma-related disorders
A current psychotherapy practice license in good standing
NO history of disciplinary action taken against you by a professional licensing board
Ability and willingness to practice time-limited therapy
An already-existing practice with the appropriate liability insurance
Competence in teletherapy (i.e., adequate past training, experience and technical preparedness to confidently use telehealth technology)
Trainee Commitments
Trainees become full JTSN members (with a certificate of training and a listing in the National Therapist Directory) once they have completed:
1. Training: Two-day live webinar on journalism profession, culture, occupational hazards, and clinical implications on December 5, 2025 (12-4 ET / 9-1 PT) and December 12, 2025 (12-5 ET / 9-2 PT). Participants will earn 9 CEs accepted by APA, NY State DoE, and most other licensing bodies. Additional 1 hour training on protocol for handling case referrals and reporting outcome and quality assurance data (scheduled flexibly).
2. Data security measures: Implementation of simple data security improvements within two weeks after the training, with detailed instructions from the Freedom of the Press Foundation.
3. Referrals: Trainees must be available to receive a journalist referral within one month of the initial training. Members will be expected to carry a minimum of one and maximum of two (budget allowing) journalist cases, for up to 20 sessions or six months (whichever comes first). Members must dedicate at least one practice slot to a journalist client for a minimum of six months.
4. Data Reporting: Trainees must report essential data for quality assurance/program improvement purposes. JTSN will provide training and documents for including data reporting in your informed consent for therapy procedure.
5. Peer Learning and Support Groups: Core group members must participate in a minimum of 4 out of 5 monthly Learning and Support Groups offered during the training period (January - June 2026), and present at one group meeting.
2025-2026 Program Schedule
Participation begins with a required two-part live training webinar from Dec 5 & 12, 2025 (9 CE hours). In the two weeks following the training you will complete a training evaluation (15 minutes), and follow instructions to update your telehealth technology settings to make them secure (up to 1-2 hours if you need our assistance). The following week you will complete an additional 1-hour training on protocol for handling case referrals and reporting data in the program.
Starting in January 2022 pilot therapists will begin to receive journalist referrals through JTSN. We ask that you schedule at least one, but no more than two, journalist clients at any given time (for more information see Referrals).
You will also be required to participate in 4 out of 5 monthly 90-minute Peer Learning and Support Group (offered from January – June 2026), and present a case at one group meeting. Finally, you will report basic quality assurance data to the JTSN Program Director.
After completing all above requirements in good standing, you will receive JTSN membership and (optional) listing in our National Therapist Directory.
In total, you can expect to spend approximately 7-14 hours per month to your JTSN work during the 7-month program period, based on the following sample schedules:
1 Journalist Case
Weekly therapy + documentation = 5 hours
Monthly Consultation Group = 1.5 hours
Data reporting = 0.5 hours
Total: 8 hours/month
2 Journalist Cases
Weekly therapy + documentation = 10 hours
Monthly Consultation Group = 1.5 hours
Data reporting = 0.5 hours
Total: 14 hours/month