Working with Trauma

Working with Trauma

This comprehensive CPD training is designed for qualified counsellors and psychotherapists across all modalities. This six-day course, totalling 33 CPD hours, will take place on Saturdays throughout Autumn 2025.

Increasingly, trauma plays a significant role in the lives of our clients, whether historical or ongoing, individual or systemic. Yet many initial counselling and psychotherapy trainings do not explore trauma in sufficient depth. This course is designed to address that gap, offering practitioners a structured and supportive environment in which to deepen their understanding and enhance their clinical skills.

Whether you work within an organisation or in private practice, this course will enable you to:

• Develop a robust understanding of trauma and complex trauma
• Strengthen your skills and confidence in working with adult clients
• Cultivate personal resilience and strategies for maintaining emotional safety in your practice

The course offers space for group discussion, reflection, clinical case sharing (anonymised), and the integration of new ideas into your existing work.

Dates:

Saturday 20th September 2025
Saturday 11th October 2025
Saturday 25th October 2025
Saturday 8th November 2025
Saturday 29th November 2025
Saturday 6th December 2025

Time: 10am to 4pm

Location: Basingstoke Counselling Service

Cost:  £845 early bird rate if booked by 14th July 2025
£945 thereafter

Payment by instalments can be arranged; please email events@basingstokecounselling.org.uk for more information.

Attendance is limited to 14 participants and therefore, early application is advised.

Course Outline:

Day 1: Setting the Scene

• Course aims and intentions
• Definitions of trauma and complex trauma
• Self-care and vicarious trauma

Day 2: Getting Started

• Assessment, pacing, and therapeutic endings
• The somatic impact of trauma
• Manifestations in the therapeutic space
• Disconnection and dissociation
• Introduction to other ways of working: eg grounding, IFS, EMDR and yoga-based approaches

Day 3: Working with Developmental & Transgenerational Trauma

• Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
• Intergenerational trauma in family systems

Day 4: Working with Relational Trauma, Coercive Control & Domestic Violence

• Exploring the pervasive nature of relational trauma

Day 5: Working with Survivors of Sexual Abuse & Incest

• Silence, disbelief, and the challenges of disclosure
• The therapeutic implications of not being seen or heard

Day 6: Working with Complex Trauma & Course Review

• Integration of learning
• Reflections and next steps

Important Note:

Given the sensitive nature of this training, participants are expected to take responsibility for their own emotional wellbeing. We strongly recommend ongoing personal therapy and clinical supervision throughout the course to support your processing of any personal or professional material that may arise.

Course Leader:

Chloë West is a senior psychodynamic psychotherapist, clinical supervisor, and trainer with extensive experience across a range of mental health settings. She has held the position of Clinical Lead at a high-demand counselling service, where she provided clinical oversight and strategic leadership to the counselling team. Chloë currently works across three counselling charities and in private practice, offering psychotherapeutic support to individuals with complex presentations.

Her training includes postgraduate and advanced clinical studies at Birkbeck College, WPF Therapy, the Guild of Psychotherapists, and the Tavistock & Portman NHS Foundation Trust. She has recently rejoined the Tavistock Trauma Unit, where she continues to combine clinical work with ongoing professional development in trauma-focused care.

Chloë is recognised for her reflective, evidence-informed facilitation style and her commitment to developing clinical thinking in practitioners at all stages of their careers.

Cancellation Policy

Please note that in order to receive the discounted rate due to the membership of BCS, you must be a member for the duration of the course. Full course fees will be payable if you leave the organisation during the course.

If changes in government guidelines mean the course can no longer take place in person, this course will move online and no refund will be offered.

In the unlikely event that unforeseen circumstances arise and BCS has to cancel this course a full refund will be given. In the event of cancellation by the participant, BCS reserves the right to charge a cancellation fee as indicated by the table below. All requests for cancellations must be received in writing, with changes becoming effective on the date written confirmation is received.

Please ensure you meet the entry requirements prior to booking your place. If candidates do not meet the entry requirements they will be unable to attend the course and their withdrawal will be treated as a cancellation and subject to the above cancellation policy