Bridging Theory to Practice: A Deliberate Practice Certificate Series
Faculty: Peter Awad, MS
Peter Awad is the Director of Internships for Sentio University and Clinic Director for the Sentio Counseling Center. He holds a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from California State University, Long Beach. He is Egyptian-American and has extensive research experience working with veterans, first responders, and individuals at risk of suicide. He also worked with professional athletes as a psychometrist at the Sports Concussion Institute. Peter is passionate about mindfulness and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
Close the Clinical Readiness Gap
Do you feel unprepared to help some of your clients? You are not alone! While academic coursework provides the essential conceptual knowledge for psychotherapy, it often doesn’t provide the procedural skill required to navigate high-stakes clinical moments.
You can read about a technique in a textbook, but that rarely prepares you for the physiological and emotional pressure of a real session. When emotions run high, a client becomes argumentative, or a crisis emerges, your "knowing" must become "doing." Many trainees and AMFTs feel paralyzed or overwhelmed during these challenging encounters.
Research shows that excellence does not come from a book, but rather is a craft developed through deliberate practice. The Sentio Deliberate Practice Certificate Series provides a supplemental "clinical gym"—a low-stakes space to build the muscle memory you need to remain grounded and effective when the pressure is on.
A Multimodal Toolkit for High-Stakes Moments
Rather than focusing on a single theory, this series distills the most critical interventions from major evidence-based models into repeatable, practical skills. In each session, you will rehearse key skills from:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Motivational Interviewing (MI)
Multicultural Therapy
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
Relational & Alliance-Based Models
We focus specifically on the "low-frequency, high-stakes" moments that books can't fully prepare you for, such as navigating high-arousal emotion, managing client hostility, bridging the gap with unresponsive clients, self-harm/suicide, and repairing alliance ruptures in real-time.
Earn Your Certificate of Clinical Skill Rehearsal
In today’s competitive clinical landscape, employers and supervisors are looking for more than just a degree—they are looking for clinical readiness. Upon completion of six workshops in this series, participants will receive a Certificate of Completion in Clinical Skill Rehearsal. This certificate serves as a professional signal on your resume or CV, demonstrating to future employers, clinical directors, and supervisors that you are:
Serious about clinical mastery and proactive about your professional development.
Trained in the "how" of therapy, having moved beyond theory into active procedural rehearsal.
Prepared for the realities of the room, with documented experience in managing high-stakes clinical challenges.
Learn how to Use AI for Clinical Skill Development
Each workshop provides instructions and handouts for how you can use AI to continue your clinical skill development.
Who Should Attend?
Graduate Students: Current students in any mental health program seeking a resume-building credential and additional clinical preparation.
Pre-Licensed & Licensed Clinicians: AMFTs, APCCs, ASWs, and licensed professionals looking to sharpen specific skills and add a specialized certificate to their portfolio.
Undergraduates: Accepted on a case-by-case basis with faculty pre-approval.
Investment
Cost: $10 per session ($60 for the full certificate series)
Format: Six 2-hour experiential workshops in Zoom meetings
Outcome: Certificate of Completion for your resume
Stop studying the map and start driving. Join us to build the practical skills—and the professional credentials—that turn clinical theory into life-changing practice.