Ethics of Trauma-Informed Care (2HR)

No matter what the presenting issue might be, the majority of our clients have a trauma history, which we must take into consideration to serve them best.

In this workshop, we will explore the ethical considerations inherent in trauma-informed care, a framework that recognizes and responds to the pervasive impact of trauma on individuals. Participants will gain insights into the core principles of trauma-informed practice, including safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration, and empowerment.

This workshop will also address the ethical challenges of maintaining professional boundaries while fostering a therapeutic alliance rooted in empathy and understanding. Participants will explore strategies for managing countertransference and maintaining self-care to prevent burnout, which is particularly important in trauma-focused work. By the end of the workshop, you will have a deeper understanding of integrating ethical considerations into their trauma-informed practice, ultimately enhancing their ability to support and empower clients on their healing journeys.

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

• Describe the components of an ethical trauma-informed practice
• Recognize how to best serve their clients who have a trauma history
• Formulate a plan to ensure that clients feel safe during the therapy session
• Apply a series of steps to minimize client triggering during session

Social workers completing this course receive 2 Ethics asynchronous continuing education credits.

For other board approvals, this course qualifies for 2 hours of Ethics continuing education training.

Course Instructor: Dreya Blume is a licensed clinical social worker, with her MSW from Radford University and an MA in anthropology from the University of Hawaii.