The Advanced Professional Certificate in Trauma-Informed & Culturally Sensitive Counselling Skills
(Awareness Level) develops safe, non-clinical helping skills for working with people who may have
experienced adversity, loss, discrimination, violence, migration or other potentially traumatic events.
The programme introduces trauma-informed principles and culturally responsive practice at
awareness level, helping participants to:

• Recognise possible signs of trauma and distress,
• Respond with empathy and psychological safety,
• Avoid re-traumatisation in everyday interactions, and
• Adapt their communication to diverse cultural, religious and social backgrounds.

It does not train participants to diagnose, treat or provide therapy for trauma. Instead, it supports
them to work more safely within their existing roles, while knowing when to refer to mental-health
or specialist services.