0645 - Culturally Safe and Trauma-Informed Practice in Diverse Communities
Course Description
Hours: 12
This workshop offers participants a blend of foundational knowledge and practical skills to support culturally safe, trauma-informed care with an in-depth understanding of how to provide trauma-informed, culturally safe and evidence-based support in diverse settings.
Participants will explore how cultural humility can deepen connection, while gaining an understanding of how historical, systemic and migration-related experiences shape the mental health of immigrant and BIPOC communities. Together, we’ll look at ways to adapt familiar therapeutic approaches in ways that honour culture, context and lived experience.
The workshop emphasizes a human-centered approach -- fostering genuine connection, presence and responsiveness in the therapeutic relationship. To deepen learning, facilitators will share both personal and professional case studies and experiences to provide real-life strategies and tools that can be used in practice.
What Participants Will Learn
By the end of the session, participants will be able to:
- Understand the difference between cultural humility and cultural competence, and how to apply cultural adaptations in practice.
- Examine trauma through a systemic, historical and migration-related lens, including its impact on access to care and client engagement.
- Explore trauma-informed strategies when working with Indigenous, immigrant, newcomer and BIPOC populations.
- Apply two-eyed seeing to bridge Western clinical models with Indigenous and community-based knowledge.
- Use case studies and personal narratives to deepen understanding and real-world application.
- Implement hands-on tools and culturally adapted interventions (e.g., ACT, DBT, CBT) in therapy and crisis support.
Notes
Time Zone: All listed class times are held in ET (Ontario, Canada)
For more information contact the Faculty of Social Work Professional Development office:
Email: fswprofessionaldevelopment@wlu.ca
Phone: 548-889-5128
Cancellations and Transfers
Be sure to carefully review our cancellation and transfer information before registering.
Website: wlu.ca/fswpd
Applies Towards the Following Certificates
- Trauma Certificate : Trauma Certificate