Strong Star Training Initiative

What Strong Star Training Initiative does

Strong Star Training Initiative (SSTI) is a non-profit training initiative operated by the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio that delivers competency-based training in evidence-based PTSD treatments and suicide prevention to mental health clinicians. Its Learning Community model — combining live virtual foundational workshops, weekly expert case consultation, skills labs, assessment webinars, and ongoing consultation — trains providers in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE), Written Exposure Therapy (WET), and suicide prevention interventions (CRP, LMS, BCBT-SP). SSTI awards a Provider Status credential to clinicians demonstrating treatment proficiency, and maintains a searchable Provider Status Network directory of trained providers.

The platform is anchored by a Provider Portal hosted on Salesforce Experience Cloud that delivers on-demand training videos, therapy demonstrations, assessment tools, therapist guides, psychotherapy templates, symptom outcome graphs, fidelity checklists, and case tracking, supported by Zoom for synchronous delivery and Wordly for multilingual captioning in international programs. Cumulative metrics include 6,000+ clinicians trained, 48,000+ treatment sessions delivered, 78,000+ professional development hours, and reach across all 50 US states and 10+ countries (including Ukraine, Israel, Turkey, Jordan, Syria, Colombia, Canada, England, Australia, China, Germany, and the Netherlands). Patient outcomes are documented under the RE-AIM framework: 32.51-point PTSD symptom severity reduction and 8.73-point depression symptom reduction in completers, with 94% treatment completion among initiators.

Revenue is generated through three streams: foundation and federal grants (Bob Woodruff Foundation, Gavin Farrell Foundation, USAA Foundation, Face the Fight, National Institute of Mental Health, Department of Defense, Cohen Veterans Network, Reach Resilience); Learning Community registration fees of $350 for clinicians and $50 for students plus advanced skills workshops ($0-$150); and Provider Portal subscriptions at $100/year per therapy type (Basic) or $125/year for full access (Full Access), with a complimentary Community tier bundled with Learning Community enrollment. The face-to-fight initiative — a USAA-led coalition of 50+ members — distributes free suicide-prevention training at national scale. SSTI is led by Program Director Dr. Katy Dondanville with four additional directors covering behavioral health training, culturally responsive training, research and innovation, and strategy and evaluation.

Name

Strong Star Training Initiative

Legal name

STRONG STAR Training Initiative (University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio)

Website

https://strongstartraining.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Strong Star Training Initiative, a UT Health San Antonio non-profit, delivers competency-based virtual training in evidence-based PTSD treatments (CPT, PE, WET) and suicide prevention to mental health clinicians, with 6,000+ providers trained across all 50 US states and 10+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health Professional Training and Education

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Rehabilitation Support (PT/OT Aide) (EDAOAJAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Recreation Therapy, Stress Management & Mindfulness Programs (EDALAFAO)

Keywords

• PTSD clinician training
• Evidence-based psychotherapy
• Suicide prevention training
• Mental health professional education
• Veteran mental health services

Headquarters

HQ city

San Antonio

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Government Grants: Primary funding from foundations and government agencies including Bob Woodruff Foundation, Gavin Farrell Foundation, Face the Fight, USAA Foundation, National Institute of Mental Health, Department of Defense, Humana Foundation, Reach Resilience, NCCTP, and Cohen Veterans Network. This supports free suicide prevention trainings and subsidized Learning Communities.
2. Training Registration Fees: Learning Community registration fees of $350 for clinicians, $50 for students. Additional fees for advanced skills workshops ranging $0-$150.
3. Provider Portal Subscriptions: Annual subscription access to the Provider Portal with Basic Plan at $100 per therapy type or Full Access Plan at $125 for all training content.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Strong Star Training Initiative delivers competency-based training in evidence-based PTSD treatments (Cognitive Processing Therapy, Prolonged Exposure, Written Exposure Therapy) and suicide prevention (Crisis Response Planning, Lethal Means Safety, Brief Cognitive Behavioral Treatment) to mental health clinicians through live virtual Learning Communities, weekly expert consultation, skills labs, and a web-based Provider Portal that supports case tracking, outcome monitoring, and ongoing resource access. All training is designed to expand community-based access to evidence-based mental health care for veterans and trauma-exposed populations.

Product overview

The STRONG STAR Training Initiative is a comprehensive training platform and network operated by UT Health San Antonio that offers competency-based training in evidence-based PTSD treatments and suicide prevention. The core offering consists of PTSD Learning Communities that train mental health clinicians in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE), and Written Exposure Therapy (WET). The platform is anchored by a web-based Provider Portal that provides ongoing case tracking, training resources, and consultation support. The ecosystem also includes suicide prevention training (Crisis Response Planning, Lethal Means Safety, Brief Cognitive Behavioral Treatment), Advanced Skills Workshops, Culturally Responsive Trauma Therapy training, an International Training Program for clinicians in conflict zones, and a Provider Status Network connecting patients with trained clinicians nationwide. All services are designed to increase access to quality mental health care, particularly for veterans and trauma-exposed populations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Face the Fight: A coalition dedicated to raising awareness and support for veteran suicide prevention. SSTI serves as scientific advisors and provides trainings including Crisis Response Planning, Lethal Means Safety, and Brief Cognitive Behavioral Treatment for Suicide Prevention.

Products and services

• PTSD Learning Communities Comprehensive competency-based training program for mental health clinicians in evidence-based PTSD treatments (CPT, PE, WET); includes 2-day foundational workshop, assessment webinar, skills labs, weekly expert consultation calls, implementation resources, CE credits, and 1-year Provider Portal access. Priced at $350 for clinicians and $50 for students.
• Provider Portal Centralized web-based training platform (hosted on Salesforce Experience Cloud) providing on-demand training videos, therapy demonstration videos, assessment tools, therapist guides, psychotherapy templates, case tracking, fidelity checklists, note templates, symptom outcome graphs, and a community platform for clinician collaboration. Basic Plan at $100/year per therapy type; Full Access Plan at $125/year; Community Plan free with Learning Community enrollment.
• Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) Training Evidence-based PTSD treatment training that helps clients reframe unhelpful trauma-related thoughts to foster recovery and a return to meaningful living. Delivered via 2-day foundational workshop, assessment webinar, skills labs, and weekly expert consultation as part of the Learning Community model.
• Prolonged Exposure (PE) Therapy Training Gold-standard evidence-based PTSD treatment training that helps patients safely confront trauma-related memories and situations to reduce distress, shift beliefs, and reclaim their lives. Includes full Learning Community support (workshop, consultation, skills labs, Provider Portal).
• Written Exposure Therapy (WET) Training Brief evidence-based PTSD treatment training using guided written narratives to process trauma and reduce symptoms in just five sessions. Designed for efficient implementation with full Learning Community support.
• Suicide Prevention Training Evidence-based suicide prevention workshops including Crisis Response Planning (CRP) for self-guided crisis strategies, Lethal Means Safety (LMS) for voluntary secure storage of firearms, and Brief Cognitive Behavioral Treatment for Suicide Prevention (BCBT). Provided free of charge to clinicians and community allies through the Face the Fight initiative.
• Advanced Skills Workshops Specialized workshops for clinicians who have completed foundational evidence-based PTSD treatment training, covering advanced techniques including Building Connections During CPT, Adapting CPT for Clients with ASD, grief and PTSD treatment, motivational interviewing, and provider burnout prevention. Priced from $0 to $150 depending on the workshop.
• Culturally Responsive Trauma Therapy Training Training and consultation services for mental health professionals on cultural and identity issues affecting PTSD treatment. Includes implementation workshops, biweekly consultation groups, and a Racial Healing Reading Group. Culturally Responsive Training workshop priced at $50 (3 CE credits).
• International Training Program Training and resources for mental health clinicians in conflict-affected regions including Ukraine, Turkey, Israel, and Syria. Features weekly virtual training sessions with international experts, translation services via Wordly (Arabic, Hebrew, French, Spanish, Turkish, Ukrainian), and psychosocial support resources. Delivered in partnership with local institutions (SAMS, UNBROKEN Center Ukraine, Israeli Ministry of Health, Koc University).
• Provider Status Network Online searchable directory of clinicians who have completed Learning Community training and achieved Provider Status in evidence-based PTSD treatments. Network spans all 50 US states and multiple countries, enabling patients and referrers to find certified clinicians.
• Student CPT Workshop Two-day virtual workshop in Cognitive Processing Therapy designed for graduate students, interns, residents, and postdocs in mental health-related fields. Offered at a reduced rate of $50 and includes Provider Portal access.
• PTSD Care Navigator Training Free introductory webinar training for non-clinical mental health agency support staff including case managers, administrative staff, and support teams to better understand trauma exposure, PTSD screening, and evidence-based treatments. 432 PTSD Care Navigators trained in 2025.
• Face the Fight Coalition Training Social impact initiative led by USAA in partnership with STRONG STAR Training Initiative, dedicated to reducing veteran suicide through coalition building, grants, and evidence-based training programs including CRP, LMS, and BCBT. SSTI serves as scientific advisor and provides all coalition training content.

Quantifiable outcome

• Clients treated by trained providers see a 25-point drop in PCL-5 scores (clinically meaningful PTSD symptom reduction)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Face the FightcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial impact initiative led by USAA with goal to cut veteran suicide rate in half by 2030. SSTI serves as scientific advisor and provides suicide prevention trainings (CRP, LMS, BCBT). Coalition has expanded to 50+ members.
• Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to deliver CPT training to Syrian mental health providers. Led by Dr. John Moring and Dr. Dina Abdelrahman with culturally-adapted Arabic training materials and interpreter support. 21 providers completed training with 19 earning CPT Provider Status.
• UNBROKEN Center (Ukraine)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to deliver suicide prevention training at 3-day seminar in Ukraine. Dr. David Rozek led training equipping Ukrainian clinicians with evidence-based tools to recognize and respond to suicide risk.
• Dr. Danny Derby at The Israeli Center for Cognitive Behavioral TherapymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration since 2021 with Israeli Center for CBT, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and Israeli Ministry of Health to develop long-term plan for evidence-based PTSD treatment access in Israeli public sector. 2-year CPT training program launched January 2024.
• Dr. Ceren Acartürk at Koc University (Turkey)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership beginning 2023 to conduct CPT training in Turkey for clinicians treating PTSD following earthquakes, and in Jordan for clinicians supporting Syrian refugees.
• Dr. Israel Liberzon (Texas A&M)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in October 2023 to conduct Prolonged Exposure Therapy training for PTSD for Ukrainian mental health clinicians.
• Cohen Veterans NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization working to improve mental health services for veterans and military families.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=1lUdZ_Kg1Hs
• Xx.com/STRONGSTARTrain

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Strong Star Training Initiative