290 – Trauma-Informed Therapist

Counselling Transgender People – Why Students Should Have Their Own Insurance

In Episode 290 of the Counselling Tutor Podcast, your hosts Rory Lees-Oakes and Ken Kelly are back with this week’s three topics:

• Firstly in ‘Ethical, Sustainable Practice’, we look at 5 reasons to become a trauma-informed therapist.
• Then in ‘Practice Matters’, Rory speaks with Dorothy Hodgkinson about working with transgender people.
• And lastly in ‘Student Services’, Rory and Ken discuss some of the reasons students should have their own insurance.

5 Reasons to Become a Trauma-Informed Therapist [starts at 02:56 mins]

With trauma coming up more frequently in the therapy room, there has never been a more important time to consider getting that extra bit of training. In this section, Rory and Ken lay out 5 reasons you should consider becoming a trauma-informed therapist:

1. To deepen your understanding of trauma’s impact: By going beyond your core training, you can embrace an advanced understanding of how trauma affects individuals at various levels. This gives an extra understanding of how trauma presents, the physical affects it can have, and how it differs from anxiety.
2. To acquire a specialised skillset and set of techniques: By getting training on how to become a trauma-informed therapist, you  learn how much more there is to trauma, and how to identify it. Allow yourself to make trauma-informed interventions.
3. Ethical and empathic client engagement: The client can only go as far as the counsellor. Seeing from a client’s frame of reference requires empathy; seeing the world as the client sees it. Being able to recognise when a client has slipped back into the past is important in being able to gently bring them back to the here and now.
4. Respond to a critical social need:Trauma is becoming more prevalent, especially in the form of secondary trauma. It is now easier to witness traumatic or triggering events both on the news and through social media.
5. Personal and professional development: Enhance your own self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and resilience. Deepen your understanding of your own reactions and responses to trauma. Be more thoughtful of looking after yourself, maybe having your own therapy.

Counselling Transgender People [starts at 33:14 mins]

In this week’s ‘Practice Matters’, Rory speaks with Dorothy Hodgkinson about working with transgender people.

The key points of this discussion include:

• With a rise in media attention, there has been a rise in hate and hate crime.
• Go and do the research, find out the reality of what this client group is dealing with.
• Educate yourself on what is actually going on, not just what people suggest is going on.
• Use helpful websites such as TransActual and Stonewall.
• Learn the difference between social transition and physical transition.
• A client needs to feel safe and comfortable enough to make these changes.
• Find content that suits you as a practitioner that you’re able to engage with and take on board to give off in sessions with clients.
• Evidence your awareness and your CPD.
• Meet people and engage with the community.
• Recognise that one person is one person – avoid stereotyping and generalisation.
• Increase your awareness and knowledge of the reality of life for transgender individuals.

Why Students Should Have Their Own Insurance [starts at 54:54 mins]

Even as a student, it’s important that you are protecting your practice. In this section, Rory and Ken discuss why you should seriously consider insurance as a student:

• Insurance will protect you from the risk of huge costs if a complaint is made against you.
• Providers will often have cheaper rates for students.
• Insuring your practice is a good habit to get into, you will need to be insured once you finish your training.
• It is wise to plan for the worst outcome.
• Even in practice as a student, or in an agency, it is your You should protect it.
• Complaints are made against you, not your agency. It’s unlikely that they will cover costs for you.
• Insurance agencies can be very helpful if you find yourself in a situation or have any questions.
• You have a choice when picking an insurance provider. Look around at what else they can offer – are there any benefits?

Links and Resources

Counselling Skills Academy

Advanced Certificate in Counselling Supervision

Basic Counselling Skills: A Student Guide

Counsellor CPD

Counselling Study Resource

Counselling Theory in Practice: A Student Guide

Counselling Tutor Shop

Facebook group

Website

Online and Telephone Counselling: A Practitioner’s Guide

Online and Telephone Counselling Course