BUILD YOUR CLINICAL SKILLS IN REFUGEE TRAUMA ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT
How do you provide effective trauma therapy when a client’s experiences of torture, persecution and forced displacement intersect with culture, family, resettlement and ongoing stressors?
Working therapeutically with people from refugee backgrounds requires more than applying standard trauma treatment approaches. Experiences of torture, war, persecution and displacement can have complex effects on the nervous system, memory, relationships, identity and sense of safety. Recovery also takes place within the realities of resettlement, cultural transition, family and community.
Drawing on close to 40 years of STARTTS’ clinical experience and contemporary trauma research, this specialist workshop provides clinicians with a practical framework for the assessment and treatment of torture and refugee trauma.
Participants will strengthen their skills in clinical assessment, formulation and treatment planning while exploring culturally responsive, trauma-informed approaches that integrate psychological, physiological, social and cultural dimensions of recovery.
WHY THIS WORKSHOP MATTERS
People from refugee backgrounds may present with post-traumatic stress symptoms and other trauma-related symptoms, but symptoms alone rarely tell the whole story.
Experiences before, during and after displacement can interact with ongoing resettlement challenges, family separation, cultural transition, loss, disrupted social networks and uncertainty about the future. Torture and organised violence may also profoundly affect trust, relationships, identity, memory, emotional regulation and the nervous system.
Effective clinical practice therefore requires clinicians to look beyond diagnosis and understand the person within their broader cultural, social, political, family and resettlement context.
This workshop will help you develop a comprehensive approach to refugee trauma assessment and treatment, from engagement and formulation through to phased trauma treatment, outcome measurement and ending therapy.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
Understand Torture, Refugee Trauma and Resettlement
Explore the experiences of persecution, torture, organised violence, forced displacement and resettlement, and consider how these experiences shape psychological wellbeing and recovery.
Recognise the Clinical Impacts of Refugee Trauma
Deepen your understanding of the biopsychosocial impacts of torture and refugee trauma, including effects on the nervous system, memory, emotional regulation, relationships, identity and functioning.
Engage Effectively Across Culture
Develop strategies for building safety, trust and therapeutic engagement across language and culture while recognising different understandings of trauma, mental health, healing and help-seeking.
Conduct Comprehensive Refugee Trauma Assessments
Strengthen your ability to assess trauma-related difficulties within the broader context of the client’s refugee experience, culture, family relationships, strengths, resources and current resettlement environment.
Develop Effective Case Formulations and Treatment Plans
Learn how to bring together trauma history, presenting difficulties, cultural and contextual factors, strengths and recovery goals to develop meaningful clinical formulations and individualised treatment plans.
Apply a Phased Approach to Trauma Treatment
Explore trauma treatment strategies that integrate body- and mind-based approaches, with attention to safety and stabilisation, trauma processing, recovery and reconnection.
Use Psychoeducation to Support Recovery
Develop practical approaches to helping clients understand trauma responses and build knowledge, skills and confidence in managing the impacts of traumatic experiences.
Work with Family, Community and Other Professionals
Consider how family, community and collectivist perspectives can contribute to recovery, and explore collaborative approaches to working with other services and professionals to support clinical outcomes.
Evaluate Progress and End Treatment Well
Explore approaches to measuring clinical outcomes, reviewing progress and preparing clients for the ending of therapy in ways that consolidate gains and support ongoing recovery.
Sustain Yourself in Refugee Trauma Work
Consider the impact of working with people who have experienced severe trauma and identify strategies for maintaining professional boundaries, reflective practice and sustainable clinical practice.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
This is a specialist clinical workshop for qualified clinicians working therapeutically with people from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds, including:
- Psychologists
- Social workers
- Counsellors and psychotherapists
- Psychiatrists and psychiatry registrars
- Mental health clinicians
- Other appropriately qualified professionals providing therapeutic interventions to people affected by torture and refugee trauma
This workshop is particularly valuable for clinicians seeking to strengthen their knowledge and practical skills in refugee trauma assessment, case formulation and trauma treatment within culturally diverse and resettlement contexts.
FORMAT AND INCLUSIONS
- Online and in-person delivery
- Facilitated by an experienced trauma-informed practitioner
- Includes interactive activities, real-life scenarios, and skill practice
- Receive a certificate of completion
- Receive a PDF of the workshop slides
BRING THIS WORKSHOP TO YOUR TEAM
Would your team benefit from tailored, trauma-informed training? This workshop is available as an online and in-person in-house session (in-person available in Sydney only), customised to meet the specific needs of your staff, clients, or community. Visit our Request Training page for details on pricing, availability, and how to book.
Plan ahead: Due to high demand, we recommend submitting your request at least 6–8 weeks in advance to secure your preferred date. Empower your team with the confidence, skills, and cultural sensitivity to support refugee and asylum seeker communities effectively.
CONTACT US
stts-training@health.nsw.gov.au
(02) 9646 6700 Ask for the Training Administration Officer