In today’s fast-paced world, trauma is a common experience for many individuals, particularly those seeking help from mental health professionals, social workers, and other helping professionals. The ability to respond to trauma effectively is crucial for those in caregiving roles, as it can significantly impact their clients’ healing and recovery. One way to ensure the highest quality of care is through trauma-informed care, an approach that helps professionals understand and address the effects of trauma on individuals.
Trauma-informed care is an approach to caregiving that recognises the widespread impact of trauma on individuals. It goes beyond simply addressing the visible effects of trauma and seeks to understand the profound ways in which trauma shapes a person’s life, behaviour, and responses. By adopting trauma-informed practices, professionals ensure that their care, interactions, and interventions do not inadvertently retraumatise individuals and instead help them to feel safe, respected, and supported.
Helping professionals play a vital role in supporting individuals through challenging life circumstances. When working with clients who have experienced trauma, whether it’s due to abuse, neglect, loss, or other significant events, the impact of trauma can affect their emotional, physical, and psychological well-being. Without an understanding of trauma, professionals may inadvertently trigger negative responses in their clients or fail to provide the necessary support for their healing.
Trauma-informed care is an essential skill for anyone in the helping professions. The OSHAA 30-Hours Trauma Informed Care for Helping Professionals course provides an in-depth understanding of trauma and offers practical strategies for professionals to support their clients effectively. By enhancing your knowledge of trauma and adopting a trauma-informed approach, you can provide more compassionate, effective care that prioritises the safety, dignity, and well-being of those you serve. Whether you’re new to the field or looking to enhance your skills, this course will equip you with the tools you need to make a positive impact in your professional practice.
OSHAA 30-Hours Trauma Informed Care for Helping Professionals
Study Units
Learning Outcomes
Introduction to Trauma and its Impact (3 Hours)
- Define trauma and its different types, including physical, emotional, and psychological trauma.
- Understand the profound impact trauma has on individuals’ mental, emotional, and physical health.
- Recognise how trauma influences behaviour, perception, and interpersonal relationships.
Principles of Trauma-Informed Care (4 Hours)
- Identify and explain the key principles of trauma-informed care: safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration, and empowerment.
- Learn how to integrate these principles into professional practice to foster a supportive and non-retraumatising environment.
- Understand how applying trauma-informed care promotes healing, recovery, and resilience in clients.
Recognising Trauma Symptoms and Responses (5 Hours)
- Identify the common symptoms and responses to trauma, including hypervigilance, dissociation, emotional dysregulation, and avoidance behaviours.
- Understand how trauma symptoms can present in various contexts and affect an individual’s functioning.
- Develop skills to recognise and respond appropriately to trauma-related behaviours, ensuring effective support.
Building Trust and Safety with Clients (4 Hours)
- Learn the importance of establishing a foundation of trust and safety when working with trauma survivors.
- Identify strategies to create and maintain a safe, respectful, and non-judgmental environment for clients.
- Develop skills to build strong, empathetic relationships that empower clients to engage in the healing process.
Trauma-Informed Communication (4 Hours)
- Master effective communication strategies for working with trauma survivors, emphasising empathy, validation, and active listening.
- Understand the importance of using language that is non-threatening, non-judgemental, and trauma-sensitive.
- Learn how to facilitate open, supportive conversations that promote trust and client engagement in the therapeutic process.
Self-Care for Helping Professionals (3 Hours)
- Recognise the emotional challenges of working with trauma survivors and understand the importance of self-care.
- Develop practical self-care strategies to prevent burnout, compassion fatigue, and emotional exhaustion.
- Learn how to establish boundaries and seek professional support when needed to maintain personal and professional well-being.
Ethical and Cultural Considerations in Trauma-Informed Care (4 Hours)
- Understand the ethical responsibilities of helping professionals when providing trauma-informed care.
- Recognise the importance of cultural competence in understanding and addressing the trauma experienced by individuals from diverse backgrounds.
- Learn to adapt trauma-informed care practices to be sensitive to cultural differences and uphold ethical principles.
Crisis Intervention and Support for Trauma Survivors (3 Hours)
- Learn effective crisis intervention strategies to provide immediate support to trauma survivors.
- Understand the importance of stabilising and assessing the needs of individuals in crisis.
- Develop skills to offer appropriate interventions, connect clients with resources, and support long-term recovery.
- Enhanced Understanding of Trauma
Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the various forms of trauma, its long-term effects on individuals, and how trauma can manifest in different behaviours and responses. - Improved Client Interaction
Through the application of trauma-informed care principles, participants will be better equipped to create safe, supportive environments that promote healing and trust with trauma survivors. - Practical Skills for Trauma-Informed Care
The course provides practical tools and strategies to recognise trauma symptoms, communicate effectively with clients, and establish rapport in ways that respect and empower individuals affected by trauma. - Stronger Client Relationships
By focusing on building trust and safety, participants will learn to develop strong, empathetic, and trauma-sensitive relationships, which are vital for encouraging positive client outcomes. - Self-Care Strategies for Helping Professionals
Participants will learn self-care techniques, helping them manage the emotional and psychological challenges of working with trauma survivors, and prevent burnout or compassion fatigue. - Ethical and Cultural Competence
The course offers an exploration of ethical and cultural considerations in trauma care, allowing participants to offer sensitive, respectful, and culturally competent care to a diverse range of clients. - Crisis Intervention Skills
Participants will learn how to effectively intervene in crisis situations, providing immediate support to individuals in distress while ensuring a long-term recovery path. - Enhanced Career Opportunities
With an increasing demand for trauma-informed care across various sectors, completing this course will enhance a professional’s qualifications and provide opportunities for career advancement in fields such as mental health, social work, healthcare, and education. - Improved Professional Practice
Helping professionals will be able to incorporate trauma-informed care into their everyday practice, improving service delivery and client satisfaction, while also fostering a more supportive workplace environment. - Certification of Completion
Upon completion, participants will receive an OSHAA certification, demonstrating their expertise in trauma-informed care and their commitment to providing the highest standards of care to clients who have experienced trauma.
The OSHAA 30-Hours Trauma Informed Care for Helping Professionals course is ideal for a wide range of professionals who work with individuals affected by trauma. This includes:
- Social Workers: Those looking to enhance their ability to work with trauma survivors in a supportive and understanding manner.
- Mental Health Professionals: Psychologists, counsellors, and therapists who wish to incorporate trauma-informed practices into their therapeutic approaches.
- Healthcare Workers: Nurses, doctors, and other healthcare providers seeking to improve their interactions with patients who have experienced trauma.
- Teachers and Educators: Educators who work with children or adults who may have experienced trauma and need tools to provide a safe and supportive learning environment.
- First Responders: Paramedics, police officers, and other emergency personnel who frequently interact with individuals in crisis or after traumatic events.
- Non-Profit Workers: Professionals working in organisations that support survivors of trauma, such as domestic violence shelters, refugee services, and crisis intervention centres.
- Managers and Supervisors: Those in leadership roles who oversee teams working with trauma survivors and want to foster a trauma-sensitive workplace culture.
- Anyone Interested in Working with Trauma Survivors: Individuals who are new to the field or anyone interested in enhancing their knowledge of trauma-informed care to support others effectively.
This course is designed for individuals who want to develop their skills in trauma-informed care, improve their client relationships, and provide compassionate and ethical support to individuals who have experienced trauma.
