Trauma-Informed Care
“Trauma is not what happens to us, but what happens inside of us as a result of what happened to us.” Gabor Mate
You’ve probably heard a lot of talk about being trauma-informed. It’s a term that’s being embraced by professionals, clinicians and organisations that are actively seeking out ways to ensure their practices and services fit the label.
London Counselling and Consultancy provide several trauma-informed training courses and workshops. We provide a psychoeducational therapeutic course for individuals interested in understanding trauma and its impacts, as well as a Trauma-Informed Care training course for professionals to become better trauma-informed in the workplace and in their practices.
“It is not the traumatic events that haunt survivors for decades afterwards. It is the impact or legacy of those events in the form of emotional, body and behavioural memories”. Janina Fisher, PhD
Trauma-Informed Care Training for Professionals and Organisations
London Counselling and Consultancy’s Trauma-Informed Care Training aims to help staff and services understand the impact of all forms of trauma on people and respond sensitively. It supports staff to ensure they ‘do no harm’ through care delivery that, without thought or intention, could re-traumatise individuals. It is suitable for all staff (both clinical and non-clinical) working with people who may have a trauma history. The training may be more relevant to certain roles than others, but it is important that the whole organisation is trauma-informed, regardless of the direct or indirect contact they have with clients and service users.
All staff can play a part in ensuring people affected by trauma (and their families) feel safe and seen, understanding what it means to work in a trauma-informed way. The training will aid the workforce to strengthen trauma-informed practice and policy throughout the organisation and enable them to support and engage with service users impacted by trauma effectively. This means they will be better equipped to support them at an understandably difficult and stressful time. The training aims for you to:
Understand what trauma is, the key symptoms and how it develops
Gain knowledge and understanding of the different types of trauma, including developmental, attachment, complex trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences.
Recognise and understand the impact of trauma and how experiences may present during work-related situations
Understand the impact of trauma on the ‘mind’ and ‘body’, including the physiological and psychological effects
Gain an understanding of what PTSD and C-PTSD are and how they develop
Gain an understanding of Polyvagal Theory and how trauma impacts the nervous system and the brain
Understand the links between trauma and addiction, including substance misuse, gambling and other process and behavioural addictions
Understand Trauma-Informed Practice and care, and how to respond more effectively to support people
Know how to work in a trauma-informed, safe manner and know when to support or when to refer on
Respond to disclosures effectively and tailor care to the needs of service users, so that services do not re-traumatise individuals
Know how to recognise and respond to trauma in your roles and how Trauma-Informed Practice can increase job satisfaction, motivation and resilience
Best support staff working directly with service users and clients, acknowledging the effects of vicarious trauma. Recognising that staff may have their own experiences of trauma, which could impact their capacity to deliver Trauma-Informed Care
Ensure your organisation incorporates Trauma-Informed Practice (TIP) with suggested guidelines and checklists for implementing TIP through your organisation.
Trauma-Informed Practice aims to increase practitioners’, employees’ and professionals' knowledge and understanding of how trauma can negatively impact individuals and communities, and their ability to feel safe or develop trusting relationships with health care providers, services and their staff.
Who is the training for?
This training is suitable for all staff (both clinical and non-clinical) working with people who may have a trauma history. This includes directors, managers, staff, medical practitioners, volunteers and other staff of treatment centres, behavioural addiction and substance misuse services and charities, counselling/psychotherapy and coaching services, housing associations, homeless services and charities, prisons and young offenders institutions, schools, pupil referral units, universities and all other educational organisations that are working with clients, service users, residents and students that may have experienced or been impacted by trauma or have a trauma history.
How is the training delivered?
The training is tailored to support the requirements of the organisation participating. We understand that it isn't always possible to take all staff and volunteers off the timetable and their duties to attend training and still run a treatment centre or service. Therefore, the training can be facilitated to suit your requirements. It can be delivered as a two-day in-house or online training run over two consecutive days, or the two days can be spread out weekly or delivered over four half-day sessions. This is recommended for directors and managers where adequate time can be built in to discuss your policies and procedures and explore how to implement them within the organisation and effectively work with and support your staff.
The training can also be delivered as a nine-week online course. Each session will be between sixty and ninety minutes and consists of nine modules. This is recommended for key workers, recovery workers, counsellors, housing officers, prison officers, teachers, etc., who have a caseload or work a shift pattern. The nine modules consist of:
Module 1: What is Trauma?
Module 2: Trauma and Mental Health
Module 3: The Effects of Trauma
Module 4: Trauma and the Brain
Module 5: Trauma and the Nervous System
Module 6: Polyvagal Theory
Module 7: Trauma and Addiction
Module 8: Trauma-Informed Practice
Module 9: Case Studies
The training is engaging, interactive and includes exercises, discussions, break-out groups and case studies. All organisations taking part in the trauma-informed care training will receive an 85-page trauma-informed care toolkit, and all staff attending the training will receive a trauma training workbook designed to enhance their awareness, understanding, and learning capabilities. It tests their knowledge of the course information and, in the toolkit, does this module-by-module. All attendees will receive a Certificate of Attendance upon completion.
The training is facilitated by Laura Smart, MBACP, MNCPS Accr. who has over fifteen years of experience as a counsellor and consultant; writing, developing and facilitating training programs for professionals, adults and young people from a multitude of organisations, educational settings, criminal justice institutions, substance misuse treatment centres and services and non-profit/charitable organisations.
To register your interest in the trauma-informed care training or to find out more, please contact us here
Trauma-Informed Therapeutic Course for Individuals
The Trauma-Informed Therapeutic Programme is a 12-week course designed to help individuals understand trauma and its effects. This is an online course facilitated weekly via twelve online psychoeducational sessions. The sessions will enhance your knowledge and understanding of what trauma is and the effects and consequences on your physical, mental, spiritual and emotional health, as well as your relationships and other affected areas (bio-psycho-social).
We explore the neurobiological aspects of trauma on the brain, polyvagal theory, the nervous system and how it has become dysregulated and techniques to reset and regulate. We also explore stress responses, mental patterns and defence mechanisms that have formed as a result. These include maladaptive stress responses and unhealthy behaviours such as substance misuse, addictions, process addictions, people addictions, self-harm, dissociation and eating disorders, to name a few.
The outcomes of the programme are to:
Understand what trauma is, the key symptoms and how it develops
Gain knowledge and understanding of the different types of trauma, including developmental, attachment, complex trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
Gain an awareness of your ACE Score by completing the questionnaire, and how that may be impacting you today.
Recognise and understand the impact of trauma and how it presents itself in your daily life through your stress responses, actions and thought patterns.
Understand the impact of trauma on the ‘mind’ and ‘body’, including the physiological and psychological effects
Develop an understanding of the neurobiology of trauma and how it alters brain function and structure, neuroplasticity and dissociation.
Gain an understanding of what PTSD and C-PTSD are, the differences between the two and how they develop
Gain an understanding of Polyvagal Theory and how trauma impacts the nervous system, the body’s command centre.
Understand the role of the vagus nerve and how to track and soothe it once activated
Understand the links between trauma and addiction, including substance misuse, gambling and other process and behavioural addictions
It’s an in-depth programme that aims to educate you regarding trauma and its effects fully and teaches you to begin to regulate your nervous system, which is vital for trauma processing and recovery. The twelve sessions are an hour each and are conducted weekly. This is a psychoeducational and therapeutic programme which is helpful before embarking on trauma recovery work. It lays the foundations for trauma healing and aims to be the first step on your trauma healing journey to understand your embodied experience, help stabilise, regulate and ground your nervous system via breathwork, mindfulness techniques, somatic practices and distress tolerance skills.
The twelve sessions are 60 minutes long and are conducted weekly. This is a psychoeducational and therapeutic programme which is helpful to complete before embarking on trauma recovery work, healing and processing trauma.
To register your interest in the trauma-informed therapeutic programme or to find out more, please contact us here
From Survival to Safety Group: An invitation to explore trauma, the nervous system, and your path to healing.
Join our comprehensive 8-week ‘From Survival to Safety’ online group designed to foster healing and self-discovery with expert guidance and a supportive community.
8-week structured online program to enhance mental well-being.
Expert-led sessions focusing on therapeutic and psychoeducational components.
Build connections and acquire tools for personal growth
Participate in a supportive community that encourages growth and resilience, empowering you to tackle life’s challenges of a dysregulated nervous system with renewed confidence.
From Survival to Safety: An invitation to explore trauma, the nervous system, and your path to healing.
The sessions will enhance your knowledge and understanding of what trauma is, and the effects and consequences on your physical, mental, and emotional health, as well as your relationships and other affected areas (bio-psycho-social).
We explore the neurobiological aspects of trauma on the brain and the nervous system, and how it has become dysregulated, alongside techniques to repattern, reset and regulate. We also explore stress responses, mental patterns and defence mechanisms that have formed as a result. These include maladaptive stress responses and unhealthy behaviours such as substance misuse, addictions, process addictions, people addictions, self-harm, dissociation and eating disorders, to name a few.
Programme Outcomes
1. Exploring and Understanding Trauma
Creating a Shared Language: Together, we will explore what trauma is, how it develops, and the common ways it can show up in a person's life.
Honouring Your History: We will introduce the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) framework. You will have the option to explore your own score at your own pace, helping to connect the dots between past experiences and how you feel today.
Recognising Your Survival Strategies: We will help you make sense of how trauma might be influencing your current daily life, including your automatic stress responses, daily actions, and thought patterns—validating these as ways you have learned to cope.
2. Connecting Mind, Body, and Brain
The Mind-Body Connection: We will look at the psychological and physical impacts of trauma, helping you understand how your mind and body work together to keep you safe.
Demystifying the Brain: We will explore how trauma can naturally reshape brain function and structure. We will also dive into neuroplasticity (the brain's amazing ability to heal and adapt) and understand dissociation as a protective coping mechanism.
Befriending Your Nervous System: You will gain insight into your nervous system—your body’s natural command centre—and see how it responds to perceived threats.
3. Tools for Regulation and Healing
Working with the nervous system and Vagus Nerve: We will explore the role of the vagus nerve and offer practical ways to track your internal states and gently invite self-regulation and comfort when you feel overwhelmed.
Building Your Personal Toolkit: You will be invited to explore a variety of mindfulness, somatic (body-based) practices and distress-tolerance skills, allowing you to choose the strategies that feel safest and most helpful to you.
Understanding Coping and Addiction: We will compassionately look at the links between trauma and addictive behaviours (such as substance use, gambling, or other behavioural patterns), reframing them not as failures, but as deeply ingrained attempts to soothe pain.
The eight sessions are each an hour long and are conducted weekly. This is a psychoeducational and therapeutic group programme which is helpful before embarking on trauma recovery work.
To register your interest in the next ‘From Survival to Safety’ group, contact us here
Trauma-informed Psychoeducation Course for individuals (12 weeks)
A 12-session online psychoeducational and therapeutic course to understand trauma and its effects. This psychoeducational group will enhance your knowledge and understanding of what trauma is, and the effects and consequences on your physical, mental, spiritual and emotional health, as well as your relationships and other affected areas (bio-psycho-social).
We explore the neurobiological aspects of trauma on the brain, polyvagal theory, the nervous system and how it has become dysregulated and techniques to reset and regulate. We also explore stress responses, mental patterns and defence mechanisms that have formed as a result. These include maladaptive stress responses and unhealthy behaviours such as substance misuse, addictions, process addictions, people addictions, self-harm, dissociation and eating disorders, to name a few.
The outcomes of the programme are to:
Understand what trauma is, the key symptoms and how it develops
Gain knowledge and understanding of the different types of trauma, including developmental, attachment, complex trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
Gain an awareness of your ACE Score by completing the questionnaire, and how that may be impacting you today.
Recognise and understand the impact of trauma and how it presents itself in your daily life through your stress responses, actions and thought patterns.
Understand the impact of trauma on the ‘mind’ and ‘body’, including the physiological and psychological effects
Develop an understanding of the neurobiology of trauma and how it alters brain function and structure, neuroplasticity and dissociation.
Gain an understanding of what PTSD and C-PTSD are, the differences between the two and how they develop
Gain an understanding of Polyvagal Theory and how trauma impacts the nervous system, the body’s command centre.
Learn to track your nervous system and understand what state you are in at any time, and how to up-regulate and down-regulate accordingly
Understand the role of the vagus nerve and how to track and soothe it once activated
Learn DBT distress tolerance skills to manage nervous system activation and interpersonal effectiveness skills to communicate effectively when triggered
Understand the links between trauma and addiction, including substance misuse, gambling and other process and behavioural addictions
It’s an in-depth group programme that aims to educate regarding trauma and its effects and teaches you to begin to track and regulate your nervous system, which is vital for trauma processing and recovery. This group helps lay the foundations for trauma healing and trauma recovery work. It aims to be the first step on your trauma healing journey and lays the foundations to understand your embodied experience, help stabilise and ground you via psychoeducation, nervous system tracking and regulation, breathwork and somatic practices and distress tolerance skills.
The twelve sessions are 90 minutes long and are conducted weekly. This is a psychoeducational and therapeutic programme which is helpful to complete before embarking on trauma recovery work, healing and processing trauma.
To purchase the trauma-informed psychoeducational programme, click here
Individual Online Programmes
I provide online packages, courses, and training programmes ranging from 8-12 sessions, accessible wherever you are in the World.
I have over a decade of experience working in rehabs, treatment centres, day programmes and drug and alcohol services. These programmes and courses draw on a range of skills and experience I have gained throughout my career. I appreciate that not everyone has the opportunity to enter residential treatment, so these programmes are designed to help you from the comfort of your home.
These online programmes combine many of the bio-psycho-social workshops, teachings, psycho-education and exercises you would partake in during a 28-day stay in rehab. The online programmes are conducted via Zoom or Google Meet. Each session is an hour long and is accompanied by a workbook to be completed during the sessions and as homework to enhance your knowledge and awareness.
Alcohol Addiction Rehab Programme (12 sessions) Book Now >
Cocaine Addiction Rehab Programme (12 sessions) Book Now >
Anger Management Programme (8 sessions) Book Now >
Managing Stress & Anxiety Programme (8 sessions) Book Now >
Reclaiming and Healing your Inner Child (12 sessions) Book Now >
Emotional Regulation Skills Programme (8 sessions) Book Now >
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Skills Training (8 sessions) Book Now >
Rehab and Treatment Aftercare Programme (8 sessions) Book Now >
Problem Gambling and Gambling Harm Programme (12 sessions) Book Now >
Trauma-Informed Therapeutic Programme (12 sessions) Book Now >
Tailor made workshops and training’s to meet your requirements
Workshops and training can be tailored to meet the needs of young people, adults, and professionals. Contact us to enquire regarding other workshops and trainings available face to face and online, including:
Trauma-Informed Care Training for Professionals and Organisations
Trauma Awareness Training for Professionals
Self-care and stress management: understanding the nervous system and Polyvagal theory
Trauma-Informed Approach to Digital Harms
Understanding and Effectively Managing Anxiety
What is Addiction: Exploring Substance Misuse, Behavioural and Process Addictions and Love and People Addictions.
Introduction to Identifying and Reclaiming Your Inner Child
Anger Management: Exploring beneath the anger to effectively manage and take back control
Emotional Regulation Skills for Enhancing Resilience
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Skills for Addictions
Relapse Prevention and Maintaining Recovery from all Addictions (substance, process and love)
Peer mentoring training programme for young people, adults and professionals.
Emotional Regulation: Developing emotional regulation and resilience skills training
Introduction to the 12 Steps of Recovery: A solution for all addictions
Understanding Gambling: Its Roots, Lies, Hooks and Gambling-Related Harms