Trauma-Informed Care in Everyday Clinical Practice (3 CEUs)

CLINICAL SKILLS & INTERVENTIONS

Trauma-Informed Care in Everyday Clinical Practice

Overview:

Trauma affects far more than a person's memories of difficult experiences. It can shape how individuals think, feel, relate to others, regulate emotions, respond to stress, and navigate the world around them. Clients may present with anxiety, depression, emotional dysregulation, relationship difficulties, substance use, chronic health concerns, or behavioral challenges without recognizing the role trauma has played in their development and functioning. Without a trauma-informed framework, clinicians may inadvertently focus solely on symptoms while overlooking the underlying experiences that contribute to distress and increase the risk of retraumatization.

In this presentation, Dr. Zairys Feliz, Ph.D., LCSW, will guide participants in understanding and applying trauma-informed care principles across clinical settings. Attendees will explore the impact of trauma on the brain, body, nervous system, emotions, behavior, and interpersonal functioning while examining how trauma influences client presentation and treatment engagement. Emphasis will be placed on implementing the core principles of trauma-informed care, including safety, trustworthiness, transparency, choice, collaboration, empowerment, and cultural responsiveness.

Participants will learn practical strategies for recognizing trauma-related symptoms, creating emotionally safe therapeutic environments, and integrating evidence-informed interventions into clinical practice. The training will review trauma-informed applications of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), EMDR-informed concepts, grounding techniques, mindfulness practices, and somatic approaches. Ethical considerations, trauma-informed documentation, clinician self-care, and systems-level advocacy will also be explored to support comprehensive and sustainable trauma-responsive practice.

Objectives:

1. Define trauma-informed care and describe its core principles, including safety, trustworthiness, transparency, choice, collaboration, empowerment, and cultural responsiveness.

2. Explain the impact of trauma on the brain, body, nervous system, emotional regulation, behavior, and interpersonal functioning.

3. Identify common emotional, cognitive, behavioral, physical, and relational signs and symptoms associated with trauma exposure.

4. Apply trauma-informed strategies to create therapeutic environments that promote safety, trust, collaboration, client empowerment, and cultural humility.

5. Integrate evidence-informed trauma interventions, including grounding techniques, mindfulness practices, CBT, DBT skills, EMDR-informed concepts, and somatic approaches into clinical work.

6. Evaluate ethical considerations, documentation practices, clinician self-care strategies, and systems-level approaches that support trauma-informed and trauma-responsive care.

Scope and Limitations Disclosure

This course provides licensed mental health professionals with an overview of trauma-informed care and its application in everyday clinical practice. Participants will learn to recognize trauma responses and integrate foundational trauma-informed principles into their work with clients. While evidence-based strategies are introduced, this training does not provide certification in trauma-specific treatment modalities (e.g., EMDR, TF-CBT) and is not a substitute for advanced clinical training in trauma-focused interventions. Attendees are expected to apply the material within their professional scope of practice, ethical guidelines, and licensure requirements.

Financial and Commercial Disclosure

The presenter has no relevant financial relationships or conflicts of interest to disclose. Any references to therapeutic models, interventions, or resources are provided solely for educational purposes. Participants are not required to purchase any additional materials to complete this course.

Refund Policy – Pre-Recorded (Self-Study) CE Courses

All purchases of pre-recorded (self-study) CE courses are subject to this refund policy. By enrolling, you agree to these terms. Participants who have not accessed any portion of the course may request a full refund within 7 days of purchase. Once a course has been accessed, streamed, or downloaded, refunds are no longer available due to immediate access to course materials. Refunds will also not be issued to participants who do not complete the course, fail the required post-test, or do not meet participation requirements, as certificates are only awarded upon successful completion. If you experience verified technical issues that prevent access, we will make reasonable efforts to resolve the problem; if it cannot be resolved, a full or partial refund may be issued. If you believe the course did not meet its stated learning objectives, you may submit a written complaint within 7 days of completion for review, and a partial or full refund may be granted at our discretion. All course purchases are non-transferable and may not be shared, resold, or assigned to another individual.