0645 - Culturally Safe and Trauma-Informed Practice in Diverse Communities
Course Description
Hours: 12
This interactive workshop offers a blend of foundational knowledge and practical, real-world strategies to support culturally safe, trauma-informed care across diverse settings. Grounded in a human-centered and relational approach, the training focuses on building meaningful connection, responsiveness and trust in therapeutic and helping relationships.
Participants will explore how cultural humility deepens engagement, while gaining a stronger understanding of how historical, systemic and migration-related experiences shape mental health and help-seeking for Indigenous, immigrant, newcomer and BIPOC communities. The workshop emphasizes moving beyond theory into practice, supporting participants to reflect on their own roles, identities and approaches within their work.
Learning is brought to life through a mix of large and small group discussions, reflective activities and real-life case examples. Facilitators integrate both professional and lived experiences to support practical skill-building and meaningful application.
By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:
- Differentiate between cultural humility and cultural competence, and apply these concepts in everyday practice.
- Understand trauma through systemic, historical and migration-related lenses, and how this impacts engagement and care.
- Recognize how trauma may be expressed differently across cultures, including somatic experiences, silence, anger and mistrust.
- Strengthen engagement by reframing behaviours (e.g. “resistance”) through a trauma-informed and culturally responsive lens.
- Apply practical language shifts and relational strategies that foster safety, trust and connection.
- Integrate culturally responsive, real-world tools and approaches into their work with diverse populations.
- Reflect on their own identities, assumptions and positioning within helping relationships.
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