Trauma-Informed Practices in Career Development Conversations and Counselling Sessions

Workshop Overview:

Trauma-informed practice is an essential approach in career development counselling, recognising that past and present life experiences can significantly influence an individual's confidence, motivation, decision-making, and ability to engage in career planning. Career practitioners, advisors, and counsellors use this lens to approach clients with empathy, understanding, and sensitivity, acknowledging that behaviours such as uncertainty, withdrawal, or hesitation may reflect protective responses rather than a lack of interest or commitment.

Rather than treating trauma, trauma-informed practice focuses on creating safe, respectful, and empowering environments where clients feel supported and in control of their own journey. By embedding principles of safety, trust, collaboration, choice, and empowerment into career conversations, practitioners can minimise the risk of harm, strengthen the counselling relationship, and help clients build confidence, recognise their strengths, and move forward in ways that feel achievable. This approach promotes more inclusive, meaningful, and effective career development outcomes for diverse client groups.

Topics Covered:

• The Types of Trauma
• The Trauma Response
• Grounding Techniques
• Emotional and Psychological Reactions
• The First Nation/ Indigenous Perspective
• Pendulation
• Positive Cases
• 8 ways and Cultural Understanding
• Role Plays for Trauma-Informed Situations
• The Needs of the Client
• The Window of Tolerance
• Reflective Questions
• Body Language
• Communication Techniques
• Response to Trauma from Practitioner Perspective
• Key Principals of Trauma-Informed Practice

Suitable for:

• These workshops are suitable for all Career Practitioners, Advisors and Employment Services Staff

Duration:

• 2 Day Workshop

Competency Based Learning:

CICA Core Competencies:

• Career development theory (1b)
• Communication and interpersonal skills (3a 3b 3c 3d)
• Ethical practice (4a 4b 4c 4d)
• Diversity and inclusion (5a 5b 5c)
• Professional practice application (7a 7b 7d 7e)

CICA Specialised Competencies:

• Career assessment (S1)
• Career counselling (S2)
• Career development program delivery (S3)
• Diverse clients (S4)
• Research skills (S7)

Upcoming Workshop Dates

Disclaimer:
To ensure the best possible workshop experience, our workshops require a minimum of 10 participants. If the minimum number is not reached, we’ll be in touch to offer you an alternative date or a full refund.

ACCE Members: 

Please ensure that you are logged into the ACCE Member Lounge to receive your Member Price when booking this event

Group Bookings:

Training is conducted nationally to suit you or your industry partners and all training is customised to meet the needs of learners who may have different work experiences, service specialistions, and specific client cohort needs. For groups of 10+ please contact: Kerry Brookes (RTO Manager) on (03) 9433 8076 or email: kerry.brookes@acce.org.au

Booking Queries:

If you would like to be notified about upcoming dates for this workshop or have any questions, please contact our ACCE Training Team on (03) 9433 8016 or support@ceavinstitute.edu.au

ACCE Professional Development:

Please check out our extensive range of professional development events.