There's something that keeps showing up in many therapists' sessions.
I call it the COW.
Or... if you want the fancy version: The "Crisis of the Week."
And here's the thing, you know exactly how this goes:
Your client walks in and you're ready to do the deeper work... the work that actually helps them move forward.
But then?
They start talking about their boss. Or their partner. Or the person who cut them off in traffic on the way here. And instead of guiding them back to what really matters... you follow them into it.
You spend 50 minutes listening, empathizing, circling around the same story. And by the end of the session, you're wondering... did we actually do anything here?
Or did I just witness another round of expensive venting?
The client feels "heard"... but their nervous system hasn't shifted. They're still stuck. You're still stuck. And next week? Another COW.
Here's what I've learned...
The problem isn't your skills.
You've got the ingredients... the training, the tools, the knowledge. But without a clear structure for how to put it all together, it just stays scattered. And the session feels more like a mess than a meal.
You don't need more certifications. You need a map.
What you'll learn:
- How to set treatment targets that actually stick
- The "Sandwich" method for structuring sessions
- When to move to the next phase (and how to know you're ready)
- How to hold two goals at once — symptom relief (like anxiety) AND the deeper developmental wound (like fear of abandonment)
- The specific language to help your clients notice and track the shifts
So you walk into sessions with clarity, no longer second-guessing every move.
That's why I teach what I call the "Session Sandwich."
The Top Bread (The Container):
You don’t go deep until you’ve built the Container. If your client isn’t regulated and doesn’t understand how to actually use therapy, your interventions don’t have anywhere to land.
The Meat (The Procedural Response):
This is where you work with the unconscious, automatic patterns driving the behavior. You’re not just managing symptoms… you’re helping them shift the response itself.
The Bottom Bread (The Integration):
You close the session so the client feels grounded and can notice the shifts happening in their own body. Without this, they leave feeling blown open and overwhelmed.
I’ll be showing how to gently guide clients back to what matters… so you can stop following them into the woods and start actually helping them heal.
Feedback from Live Participants!
"Those sentences to lead the session and take the client beyond the story are GOLD.
I now have more tools and knowledge to plan and lead my sessions so much more. This session was so valuable".
Delphine Birckel
"I learned to differentiate shock from developmental trauma and understand the importance of titration in treatment, helping me guide clients more effectively."
-Kaitlyn Schwab, LMFT
Sign up now if you're ready to solidify your practice & improve your clinical outcomes!
Step up your practice and make a real difference as you master the art of tailoring interventions to each unique clinical presentation.
This course is filled with case studies, interactive discussions, and practical exercises that bridge theory with real-world application.
Whether you're a seasoned therapist or stepping up your clinical game, this class will help you shift your session focus, and improve your clinical outcomes.
You'll be able to discern, prioritize and treat both, the crisis of the week, shock trauma and/or developmental trauma
Curriculum
"So helpful to be reminded that clients sometimes need 6–12 months in the Container stage. I walked away realizing I intuitively knew this work—but now it’s structured into a skillset I can apply immediately."
-Catherine Lucey, MFT
"I learned the importance of solid closure in every session really stood out.
I now feel clear, confident, and prepared in planning, mapping, and tracking my clients’ progress."
-Janae Reinhardt, LCSW
Curriculum
Let's get to know each other!
I’m Esther Goldstein, LCSW — trauma educator,Author, EMDR consultant, and founder of Integrative Psychotherapy NY.
I’m also a mom, a hot-yoga lover, and a fellow human who’s spent the past 15 years immersed in the art and science of healing.
After teaching and supervising clinicians worldwide, I’ve seen that the most impactful therapists blend advanced skill with attuned presence — knowing not just what to do, but how and when to do it.
My work focuses on helping seasoned therapists refine mastery, deepen confidence, and expand clinical precision —
so your sessions feel clear, connected, and truly transformative.
It’s an honor to support you in doing such powerful, necessary work. 💛
Instructing a course such as "Advanced Treatment Planning for Complex & Developmental Trauma" allows me to share expansive insights and nuanced strategies that I have gleaned from both leading a group therapy practice and nurturing the professional growth of therapists worldwide. My aim is to empower you with more than just tools; I seek to cultivate in you a confident understanding of the transformative power of skilled intervention. Together, we will navigate the intricacies of trauma, fostering an environment where healing is not only possible but deeply rooted in a collective commitment to betterment.