Trauma can be a daunting subject, and it can be challenging to support clients who have experienced trauma. The fear of retraumatization can prevent providers from feeling comfortable engaging in trauma discussions or in knowing how best to respond when listening to a client’s trauma history in real time. Trauma informed care seeks to address the signs, symptoms, and risks of trauma by providing guidelines to providers.

This training provides an overview of how trauma is defined and understood according to the latest research, as well as what trauma informed care entails. The specific ways trauma can manifest, such as changes in behavior, emotions, and social implications, will be included, along with case examples to illustrate these manifestations. Building on that foundation, techniques like safety planning, containment, person-centered care, and somatic approaches will be explored.

Coping skills for different manifestations of trauma symptoms will be presented, including deep breathing, grounding, and mindfulness techniques with opportunities for experiential learning. Attendees will additionally have opportunities to practice responding to traumatic content through case examples and role plays, further connecting theory to practice.

Please note that you are not required to attend Trauma and Its Aftermath: New Thinking About Trauma Informed Care (Trauma 1) prior to this training, as it is not a prerequisite.