CAN YOU BE CERTIFIED IN TRAUMA INFORMED CARE

I personally, and professionally, do not believe that one can "get certified in trauma informed care." Rather, that we can get certified in a trauma informed program. Trauma informed care is an intentional approach that requires practice, continued education and ongoing accountability. It is a personal and professional responsibility to uphold and doesn't stand on its own, in a training or piece of paper.

I know that this is a seemingly unpopular opinion, but it is one I stand by and will defend for the sake of the patients and providers who have built the framework of T.I.C. so that it could evolve into the practices and approach that is relied on today.

My position on "Being Trauma Informed" comes first and foremost from my background as a life-long patient, then as an advocate, and lastly as a trauma educator. When I share about T.I.C. and express the need for some caution around understanding the correlation of what it means to have this role in relation to leaning on a formal certification, it is because the origins of TIC have gotten watered down for relevance, which is now starting to cloud things as trauma informed care becomes more and more mainstreamed.

Yes, a certification can be beneficial to have. it can be a great step among many, on the way to have more awareness, build our tool kit and continue to become more informed. It must be recognized that our work does not stop there. The diverse landscape of trauma work is always changing and goes beyond any course, certification, or in-service.

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When community leaders, coaches, consultants, clinicians, and service providers who say they are trauma informed start to trim these up to suit their business, risk increases for them, and their clients.

WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE?

We might experience unpredictability in our own behavior as we try to adapt or mitigate. (Our own humanity at work) in an effort to course correct or maintain control can create turbulence. One of the ways this shows up is when a shift in business practices is made to accommodate how to stop something that is not comfortable, including somatic sensations and feelings that we do not like to experience or are not ready to face and do the work around rather than address what needs to be addressed.

Some examples of how these shifts might show up:

1. Struggling to Regulate/Unable to Manage Our Own Dysregulation: After having a challenging client experience, deciding to only work with easy, agreeable, "Dreamboat" clients.

2. The Power Move: Only responding in a trauma informed way to comments if they are agreeable, or from people who beneficial to be connected with in some way, and do not challenge ones perceived authority or position.

3. Removal of a Threat: If a challenge of authority is perceived to exist, proceed to block, remove, or talk down to followers or group members in an effort to maintain positioning.

4. Focal Position: Removing group members who have more needs because they remove the focus from what the group administrator (group owner) would prefer. Their needs have still not been met after several attempts to get support.

Perhaps people start noticing patterns and start to feel a sense of confusion or hesitation when they once felt good being in a shared space or working together. Client retention may decline as trust decreases. My personal observations are that the clients and/or group members who are the most challenging are the ones who need more support or share a solid and valuable contributions in group spaces that happen to get a lot of attention are often the most but are the quickest to be disqualified and removed. They do not make the "golden list" which gets adjusted and modified continually to make working with clients and managing one's audience effortless and less "work."

Six Principles of Trauma Informed Care

1. Safety

2. Trustworthiness and Transparency

3. Peer Support

4. Collaboration and Mutuality

5. Empowerment, Voice and Choice

6. Cultural, Historical, and Gender Issues

These principles can empower folks within the context of communities and the environments in which they participate and collaborate in, including online groups. They are all critical points in creating a highly valuable, affirming experience.

The framework of trauma informed care gets dismantled when you pick pieces out of it that are easy and preferable to apply and uphold when you are working with people in order to maintain your comfort, reach your personal and professional objectives, or to secure your brand or positioning.

While I do agree it needs to be updated, it should not be pieced out based on what is most aligned with a particular agenda or niche to attract the most business, engagement, likes, or followers. This breaks down the integrity and purpose trauma informed care, and takes away from the input of the patients and survivors who helped to shape it. It would be better we adapt rather than dismantle. I think this is the best way to honor the history of this work and what has been put into it.

If you are going to say that you are trauma informed, how will you uphold the principles of trauma informed care? Can you hold yourself to a higher standard, be mindful of ethical considerations, and maintain a high level of personal and professional responsibility and ownership? Will you be able to self-monitor objectively and without personal, peer led, or organizational based bias?

These are things to ask yourself before venturing deeply down this path.

I have recommendations for certification courses on trauma sensitive and trauma informed practice you if you are interested in taking them. As with any certification, the piece of paper that comes with it does not make us accountable and it does not do the work for us.

That comes from us, and our commitment to being who we say we are.

This page was updated on June 23rd 2025