Free Tools for Trauma Therapists

EMDR Worksheets, Polyvagal Guides, and Trauma-Informed Resources

A growing library of clinician-ready downloads built by trauma trainers, for trauma trainers. Worksheets, checklists, ebooks, infographics, and toolkits across EMDR, IFS, Polyvagal, Somatic, and beyond. Every resource is free, every resource is built to use in session, and every resource is designed to support your work with real clients in real settings.

Showing 37 resources
10 Trauma-Informed Questions to Uncover the Root of Addiction Worksheet

10 Trauma-Informed Questions to Uncover the Root of Addiction

Addiction is rarely just about substances. These questions will help you find the source.

10 Ways to Integrate the Human-Animal Bond Into EMDR Therapy Guide

10 Ways to Integrate the Human-Animal Bond Into EMDR Therapy

Ten practical strategies for weaving a client's companion animal into EMDR across all eight phases, covering resourcing, polyvagal co-regulation, interweaves, bilateral stimulation, pet loss, and at-home stabilization.

A Infographic

A "Recipe" for Working with Dorsal Dissociation

A four-step framework — psychoeducation, assessment, shared language, and grounding practice — for working with dorsal dissociation in trauma clients.

Addiction Through a Trauma-Informed Lens: A Neurobiology Cheat Sheet Infographic

Addiction Through a Trauma-Informed Lens: A Neurobiology Cheat Sheet

A one-page neurobiology cheat sheet illustrating the trauma-addiction loop and the three brain systems at play: reward (dopamine), threat (amygdala), and regulation (vagus nerve and prefrontal cortex).

Ancestral Genogram Starter for Therapists Worksheet

Ancestral Genogram Starter for Therapists

A therapist-friendly template for mapping three generations of family history with an icon legend and reflection prompts to spot patterns, surface resilience, and invite healing.

Couples EMDR Readiness Assessment Checklist

Couples EMDR Readiness Assessment

Pre-treatment clinical checklist covering exclusion criteria, relational stability, individual readiness, autonomic blueprint, and resourcing status.

Creating a Neuroceptive Menu of Safety for Phase 2 Preparation Guide

Creating a Neuroceptive Menu of Safety for Phase 2 Preparation

A Phase 2 preparation tool based on Porges's concept of neuroception, guiding clients to build a safety menu across exteroception, proprioception, and interoception.

DBT-Informed Session Planner for Trauma Therapists Worksheet

DBT-Informed Session Planner for Trauma Therapists

One-page planner for anchoring sessions with complex or high-risk clients in a single, realistic DBT focus at a time.

Developing a Client's Resourced Part: A Therapist Checklist Checklist

Developing a Client's Resourced Part: A Therapist Checklist

A five-stage checklist for identifying, activating, integrating, and using a client's Resourced Part in EMDR, with concrete prompts and a reflection tracker.

Dissociation-Informed Grounding Exercises Worksheet

Dissociation-Informed Grounding Exercises

Three therapist-friendly grounding practices, orienting, color tracing, and warm light wrap, for gently working with dissociation in session.

Dissociation-Informed Grounding Exercises Worksheet

Dissociation-Informed Grounding Exercises

Three therapist-friendly grounding practices, orienting, color tracing, and warm light wrap, for gently working with dissociation in session.

EFT Tapping Clinical Quick Reference Card Guide

EFT Tapping Clinical Quick Reference Card

A 3-page session-ready reference for trauma therapists: the 9 tapping points and locations, set-up statement structure with clinical examples, and a decision guide for self-regulation vs. processing mode.

EMDR & Emotional Neglect: Quick Case Conceptualization Map Worksheet

EMDR & Emotional Neglect: Quick Case Conceptualization Map

AIP-based case map for identifying feeder networks and selecting targets when memories are vague or clients describe a "good childhood.

EMDR Neurodivergent Client Preparation Checklist Checklist

EMDR Neurodivergent Client Preparation Checklist

Phase 1 & 2 readiness assessment for autistic and ADHD clients, with exclusion screening, presentation profile, and clinical decision framework.

EMDR Readiness Checklist for Eating Disorders & Disordered Eating Checklist

EMDR Readiness Checklist for Eating Disorders & Disordered Eating

A safety-forward 5-section checklist for trauma therapists evaluating EMDR readiness with ED and DE clients. Companion to Susan Yuen's live training.

EMDR Reprocessing Readiness Checklist Checklist

EMDR Reprocessing Readiness Checklist

A 9-item clinician checklist for deciding whether a client is ready to move into EMDR reprocessing with confidence.

IFS-Informed EMDR Worksheet: 5-Step Process to Be With Parts Who Block EMDR Work Worksheet

IFS-Informed EMDR Worksheet: 5-Step Process to Be With Parts Who Block EMDR Work

A 5-step IFS-informed process for meeting parts that block EMDR reprocessing, with therapist-client dialogue examples. Includes a bonus page: Crystal Hines's top 5 ways of enhancing Self-energy.

Is EMDR Certification Right for Me? Worksheet

Is EMDR Certification Right for Me?

A quick 6-question self-assessment for clinicians considering EMDR certification, with tailored recommendations based on your answers.

Language of Sensation Worksheet

Language of Sensation

A three-step somatic exercise for helping clients build the capacity to notice and name comfortable internal sensations using a sensation word sheet.

Mapping Oppression & Liberation: A Therapist's Practice Assessment Worksheet

Mapping Oppression & Liberation: A Therapist's Practice Assessment

A self-examination worksheet for identifying where dominant-culture defaults show up in intake, treatment planning, and referrals — with a commitment framework for change.

Parts Work and OCD Guide

Parts Work and OCD

Clinical guidance on using parts-language with OCD clients, framing OCD as something the self is experiencing rather than an "OCD self."

Phases of EMDR Readiness for Complex PTSD & Dissociation Guide

Phases of EMDR Readiness for Complex PTSD & Dissociation

A 5-level preparation hierarchy for right-sizing EMDR to client capacity when working with complex PTSD and dissociation.

Polyvagal Language for Kids: Translating Big Feelings Guide

Polyvagal Language for Kids: Translating Big Feelings

A child-friendly polyvagal ladder using Playful Puppy, Alert Meerkat, and Turtle in its Shell, with age-tiered scripts for therapists and parents (ages 4-7 and 8-12).

Polyvagal-Informed Couples Therapy: A Therapist's Cheat Sheet Guide

Polyvagal-Informed Couples Therapy: A Therapist's Cheat Sheet

A two-page clinician reference covering polyvagal states in couples, six interventions (state mapping, co-regulation pause, micro-repair scripts), and therapist self-regulation reminders.

Protocol Pearls: EMDR for Complex Grief Guide

Protocol Pearls: EMDR for Complex Grief

A clinician reference sheet for adapting EMDR protocols across complicated, traumatic, ambiguous, disenfranchised, and blocked grief, with presentation-specific language and pro tips.

Spiritual Trauma: What It Is, Signs, and Common Effects Guide

Spiritual Trauma: What It Is, Signs, and Common Effects

A psychoeducational guide introducing spiritual trauma, its common sources (abuse by religious leaders, toxic teachings, conversion therapy, spiritual bypassing), ten signs, and effects on sense of self, relationships, mental health, and spiritual beliefs.

The Anger-Depression-Shame Continuum: A Quick Case Conceptualization Guide for EMDR Therapists Guide

The Anger-Depression-Shame Continuum: A Quick Case Conceptualization Guide for EMDR Therapists

Map where your client sits across the anger, depression, and shame clusters — and what that means for target selection and the 8 phases.

The Dissociation Spectrum Infographic

The Dissociation Spectrum

A one-page visual spectrum mapping dissociation from integrated (zoning out, high concentration) through PTSD, C-PTSD, and depersonalization/derealization to fragmented (DID), with therapist guidance on pacing interventions.

The Essential EMDR Training Guide Guide

The Essential EMDR Training Guide

A plain-language overview of EMDR therapy, the 8 phases, and the path to becoming a certified EMDR therapist. Built for clinicians considering training.

The Spiritual Clinician's Checklist Checklist

The Spiritual Clinician's Checklist

A self-reflection guide for ethical, meaningful integration of spirituality in therapy, with pre-session, in-session, and post-session prompts.

The Trauma Therapy Toolkit Toolkit ★ Featured

The Trauma Therapy Toolkit

A 20-page clinician toolkit covering the three phases of trauma therapy, dissociation screening, somatic body scan, breathwork, vagus nerve toning, parts work, and coregulation.

Therapist Self-Audit: Is My ED Work Truly Trauma-Informed? Worksheet

Therapist Self-Audit: Is My ED Work Truly Trauma-Informed?

A four-section self-audit (foundational beliefs, language, treatment approach, reflection) for clinicians wanting to align their eating disorder work with trauma-informed principles.

Transformative Healing Workbook: A Journey for Trauma Therapists Ebook ★ Featured

Transformative Healing Workbook: A Journey for Trauma Therapists

A 20-page reflection workbook for trauma therapists, purpose prompts, self-care assessment, PTG reflection, vicarious trauma boundaries, goal-setting, and progress tracking.

Trauma-Informed Yoga at Home: A Gentle Guide to Healing Through Movement Guide

Trauma-Informed Yoga at Home: A Gentle Guide to Healing Through Movement

Three accessible yoga practices, legs up the wall, one breath one movement, somatic body scan, plus principles for practicing safely with a trauma history.

Understanding the Nervous System: A Practical Guide to Polyvagal Theory Guide

Understanding the Nervous System: A Practical Guide to Polyvagal Theory

A plain-language intro to Polyvagal Theory. The vagus nerve, neuroception, the three autonomic pathways, and practical ways to tone vagal flexibility.

Vagal Brake Exercises for Stress Reduction Worksheet

Vagal Brake Exercises for Stress Reduction

Five vagus nerve activation techniques — diaphragmatic breathing, audible sighs, humming, cold exposure, gargling — for calming the stress response.

What is an EMDR Consultant? EMDRIA Consultant-in-Training Pathway Guide

What is an EMDR Consultant? EMDRIA Consultant-in-Training Pathway

Overview of the EMDRIA Consultant role, eligibility requirements, step-by-step pathway, and practical tips for practitioners pursuing consultant status.

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Common Questions About TTI's Free Resources

Are these resources really free?+
Yes. Every resource in this library is free to download. We just ask for your name and email so we can send a copy to your inbox and let you know when we publish new tools. You'll never be charged, and you can unsubscribe from emails any time.
Can I use these in session with clients?+
Yes. These resources are designed for licensed clinicians to use directly in session, in consultation, or as supplementary tools for client homework. Each resource is built to be clinically grounded and ready for clinical use.
Can I share these with colleagues or my team?+
Yes, with one ask: please send them to this page rather than forwarding the PDF directly. That way they get the most current version and can opt in to updates if they want. Sharing the URL helps us keep building.
Are these CE-eligible?+
No. These are practice tools and reference materials, not CE-bearing courses. If you're looking for CE credits, browse our course catalog, where every course lists its specific CE approvals.
Can I request a specific resource or topic?+
Absolutely. Many of these tools were created in response to therapist requests. Email us at hello@traumatherapistinstitute.com with what you'd find useful, and we'll add it to our list.
How often are new resources added?+
We add new resources regularly, usually tied to new course releases or trending topics in trauma practice. The fastest way to stay updated is to download anything from this library, you'll be on the list for new resource announcements.