The Trauma Informed Professional

What is a Trauma Informed Professional?

Our world, our culture, our society, and our connections to each other have been changing rapidly. And along with these many changes came profound changes in how women are cared for during their pregnancies, births, and postpartum. In fact, it was just a few generations ago that women welcomed their babies at home amongst loved ones, their own surroundings, and probably a midwife or a family doctor. High death rates were never associated with home birth, but that’s not the story that we’ve been told.

Now most women birth in complex institutions where policy and protocol will dictate what happens to her. She is frequently separated from her loved ones, told to trust complete strangers, and technology reigns supreme and has replaced human connection.

Not only has human physiology not adapted to these changes as more women are birthing under powerful drugs, but how we care for women hasn’t kept up with the need to understand the technology that’s used.

The cost of this shift to a technocratic model has been high. Care providers are skilled in providing medications, interventions, surgery, technology, and life-saving procedures when needed, but their education hasn’t included the same skills development in the human and relational aspect of birth. Around the world women report very high rates of abuse, mistreatment, and trauma. About 1 in 3 or even 1 in 2 mothers experiences the births of their babies as traumatic and about 1 in 8 develop postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder. Suicide is now a leading cause of death in the first year after a baby is born.

The need for trauma informed care is dire.

What is trauma informed care?

Trauma informed care is simply a learned skillset of attitudes, communication, and behaviours that is as life-saving as hand washing in preventing death from infection.

Back in the 1800’s when Ignaz Semmelweis instituted hand washing at the maternity hospital in Hungary, maternal mortality decreased dramatically, up to 90% in some wards. Of course, he was ridiculed by the established elite and lost his position and died in an insane asylum.

Today, trauma informed care is likewise dismissed by the entrenched maternity services industry. Just as in Semmelweis’ day when the establishment didn’t believe ‘gentlemen’, that is, physicians, could carry germs, today’s establishment doesn’t believe that their services are causing harm, although trauma from childbirth can have dire and long-lasting consequences, including death.

Today, there is as much resistance to learning the skills of trauma-informed care as there was to hand washing back in Semmelweis’ day. And it’s just as critical to the survival of healthy families as hand washing was to the life of the birthing mother.

Trauma informed care is a universal precaution and should be mandatory for anyone who works with birthing clients.

Just saying one is trauma informed doesn’t make it so! Practitioners who participate in services that deliver high rates of psychological, emotional, spiritual, and relational trauma don’t understand the impact of how they interact with clients and don’t have the education to not harm their clients or to call themselves ‘trauma informed’.

At its core, trauma informed care:

1. Realises that trauma impacts an individual, loved ones, and a community in multiple ways. It can induce a physical injury deep within the brain in the limbic system, meaning that memory, emotions, and arousal are impacted. It can change how they view themselves and the world around them. It can impact loved ones and change a community. And it can contribute to health changes that may be immediate or unfold over time.

2. Recognises the signs and symptoms of trauma in individuals, loved ones, communities, and themselves. The symptoms of trauma are the result of changes within the brain, changes in health, and changes in perception due to the experience of a traumatic event. Trauma creates an epigenetic imprint and can run through families and through entire communities such as those who were victims of colonisation, mandates and lockdowns, war, or displacement.

3. Responds with compassionate practices that understand that the individual has learned many survival and coping strategies over the years. Coping and survival strategies may appear “mal-adaptive” to the untrained eye. However, they represent the survivor’s resilience. Trauma-informed care builds on existing resilience to increase hope and wellness.

4. Prevents re-traumatisation through attention to cues and survival strategies; it knows the impact of secondary wounding and develops a thoughtful vocabulary to avoid it. It knows that many routines are triggering for survivors and develops new skills to deliver care that preserves the survivor’s dignity and honour.

What is trauma?

Trauma is the result of events where the person feels threat of physical or psychological harm or neglect in the presence of helplessness that overwhelms their coping strategies. ~ Robert Scaer M.D

While trauma can be felt in every area of the sufferer’s life, it is primarily a brain injury. Structures deep within the limbic system are altered in both structure and function in response to a traumatising event. These alterations impact cognition, emotions, memory, arousal, and filter down into every part of the person’s life. Trauma can be felt in the body, in the mind, in the soul, and in the community.

Only the individual who experiences the event can determine if it was traumatic or not. They are the only one who knows if their coping strategies were overwhelmed through a filter of helplessness. They are the only ones who have experienced previous events that stretched and exhausted their coping strategies and resilience to the breaking point. What might seem as a textbook, non-eventful birth to the practitioner might be entirely life-altering to the one who experienced it. We cannot rely on observers or other participants to determine what the sufferer experienced.

A traumatic event might have happened just once, like witnessing a crime or living through a natural disaster. Or it may span over time, like childhood abuse or domestic violence. Sadly, sexual violence is one of the greatest contributors to trauma in women and gender-marginalised persons. The experience of routine care in childbirth can be overwhelmingly triggering for a survivor when they are expected to submit to tests, examinations, or procedures involving their sexuality.

Helplessness is experienced if the traumatising force - or person - has power over them. The experience may break their trust in themselves and others. It may leave them questioning the benevolence of systems that are meant to serve them, such as medical systems.

Trauma can leave long-lasting effects. It's not unusual for the survivor of trauma to have trouble sleeping, to always be 'on guard', to have trouble trusting others, to feel angry or sad or numb, and to have some health problems such as increased pain, headaches, digestive issues or obstetrical issues. Trauma can contribute to worsening health over time, relationship breakdowns, and an epigenetic imprint on children who may also experience compromised health.

Fortunately, the brain is plastic, meaning changeable, and trauma can heal with the right strategies.

Trauma informed principles

Trauma-informed care is build around a set of principles. These principles guide the attitude, behaviour, communication, and interactions of the one serving or interacting with other people, whether it’s a client, a loved one, a friend, or just another human sharing this planet.

These principles are based around:

1. Safety - rather than marketing the illusion of safety, trauma informed care actually prioritises the physical, emotional, psychological, spiritual, and relational safety of all participants. This comes through attention to attitudes, verbal and written communication, body language, active listening, and understanding the unique physical needs of someone battling with trauma.

2. Trustworthiness and transparency - trust is not a right that is bestowed upon someone because they have a title. Trust is dynamic process that grows in an environment of honesty, integrity, transparency, and dignity where all participants behave in a trustworthy manner. We say what we mean and we walk our talk.

3. Peers - everyone needs their ‘people’. Our growth has humans comes with having both a like-minded and supportive community, and being challenged to grow, expand, learn, and heal. Experts are great for input, but the true expert on our own lives is us. Trauma-informed care does not request anyone else’s autonomy to be handed over ‘for their own good’ or because someone else is an ‘expert’.

4. Collaboration and mutuality - with trauma informed care, we really are in this together. It’s a mutual relationship where we work together to achieve a common goal - a gentle arrival for every baby from a healthy, non-traumatised, empowered mother. Supporters, mentors, loved ones, and practitioners benefit from the same collaboration and team approach as they seek to heal from past traumas and grow in wellness.

5. Empowerment, voice and choice - no one is ‘empowering’ the pregnant or birthing mother as no one has any power to bestow upon her. Instead, empowerment is a journey of self-actualisation where we step into the unknown, make mistakes, get back up, learn from our experiences and from others, grow, and develop self-awareness, self-knowledge, deeper insights, more compassion, and boundaries that really work. Trauma informed care partners in this journey of self-discovery, validating each other’s voice, and ensuring there are choices that meet everyone’s needs as best as possible.

6. Cultural and history- no one arrives in a vacuum. We are all the product of our culture and our history, both our personal history and the history of those who came before us. Trauma informed care seeks to better understand each person’s cultural and historical background and how it influences current life choices and goals for the future. It rejoices in our similarities and celebrates our differences.

Who needs to be trauma informed?

Everyone!

Although the course is called The Trauma Informed Professional, it’s really made for everyone:

• mothers and fathers whose babies arrived in a traumatic birth

• grandmothers and grandfathers and loved ones

• pastors

• advocates

• life coaches, librarians

• physiotherapists, chiropractors, naturopaths, osteopaths, massage therapists, acupuncturists

• dieticians, nutritionists

• social workers, therapists, counsellors, human resources

• teachers, professors

• doulas, childbirth educators

• midwives, nurses, physicians, PSWs, traditional birth companions

• administrators

If this sounds like you, The Trauma Informed Professional course is right for you.

The Trauma Informed Professional Course

Trauma informed care is a learned skillset that includes attitudes, communication, and behaviours that not only prevents and heals trauma in the recipient of this care, but also in the one who provides it.

Trauma informed care is a universal precaution that can be as life-saving as CPR. It prevents trauma and can help break through past trauma, generational cycles of trauma, historical and cultural trauma, and facilitate resilience-based healing that not only equips parents for the journey ahead but also helps embark them on a healing path that can change the epigenetics of them and their children. It's one of the most basic skills needed for maternity care and one of the most neglected.

What makes this course different?

Fully Online

The course is hosted in a private proprietary network that is free from observation and censorship. You can access the course through the website on your computer or by accessing it through an app on your devices. You can study anywhere, anytime.

Comprehensive

This course takes a deep dive into the causes and the solutions of birth-related trauma offering 65 professional education hours. You’ll learn from 93 topics taught over 9 learning modules backed by over 400 academic references.

In addition to extensive fully researched content, there are 

• monthly live tutorials hosted right in the course

• monthly live study halls where participants connect on zoom to discuss tutorials, course content, and experiences in trauma-informed care

• 40 additional learning videos and podcasts

• 50 additional online reading resources

• downloads for your personal and professional use

• 16 self-care breaks

• 25 opportunities for reflection and professional growth

• 15 exercises to build your resources library for use with clients

You'll learn the different categories of trauma along with the signs and symptoms that your client or loved one may be suffering. You'll learn why 'mal-adaptive' behaviours are actually 'adaptive' behaviours and how to approach your client or loved one from a resilience-based perspective that affirms their coping strategies and builds on their ability to navigate and survive with growing wellness.

You'll learn what defines a traumatic birth and those specific elements that contribute to it so you know exactly what you're looking for, what you're avoiding, and how you'll be approaching your clients.

You'll learn specific trauma-informed practices that not only protect your client, but protect YOU. You will experience greater clinical accuracy, greater client participation in their health programme, and greater job satisfaction with less burnout.

You will be introduced to several evidence-based healing modalities that can help you to recover from primary or secondary trauma, as well as to help guide your clients or loved ones onto a more effective path of recovery.

Research-Based

Fortunately, we don’t need to guess about birth-related trauma and trauma-informed care. There is a tremendous amount of research that has informed and shaped this course. This course is backed by over 400 academic references that come from multiple disciplines, including:

• medical, nursing, and midwifery research

• psychology

• sociology

• nutrition science

• military research

• genetics and epigenetics

• epidemeology

• complementary and alternative medicine

Collaborative

The course is offered in a sensitive and collaborative learning environment. Participants are invited to ask questions, share reflections, post their assignments for others to learn from, debrief experiences together, and engage in healing and wellness challenges. It’s a journey of learning new skills, letting go of old perspectives, and finding a new supportive community that cares about your success and wellbeing.

Self-Paced

You can get started as soon as you register! Log in, set up your profile, perhaps introduce yourself, and get started. From there, it’s up to you how many hours a week you have to devote to this learning. You can go full-on, take a break, pace yourself, or work with a study-buddy. You’ll have access to course calendars that meet your completion goals to help you stay on track.

All throughout the course there are numerous opportunities to connect with fellow learners to ask questions, share new insights, offer tips that are working for you, and support one another. We have specific topics devoted to nurses, midwives, doulas, and complementary health professionals. You'll find sections where you can unpack a traumatic experience, look for support or mentoring through a challenging situation, or share what's working for you as you recover from primary or vicarious trauma.

This is a research based approach to understanding the causes and cures for birth-related trauma wrapped inside a collaborative, interactive, and supportive community that cares about you and getting you the results you need.

Course Syllabus

DEFINING A TRAUMATIC BIRTH EXPERIENCE

Content Caution
Course Goals
Language
Keeping a Reflective Journal
Preparing a Resources Folder
Historical Perspective
Trauma: A Matter of Perception

POSTPARTUM POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

Trauma and the DSM-V
Symptoms of Trauma
Triggers
Partner Trauma
Defining the Mother's Experience
Secondary Wounding
Screening Tools

EFFECTS OF TRAUMA

Loss of Identity
Loss of Skills
Loss of Trust
Relationship Problems and Effects on Partners
Child Abuse and Neglect
Breastfeeding Failure or Success
Loss of Sexual Interest
Sleep Disturbances
Health Problems
Changes in Brain Structure and Function
Future Obstetric Problems
Suicide

RISK FACTORS FOR TRAUMA

Being Female
A Mother with PTSD
Lacking a Support System
Cross Cultural Considerations
Adverse Childhood Experiences
Experiencing Intense or Long-Lasting Trauma
History of Abuse
Birth Anxiety
Other Medical Conditions
Nutritional Deficits

FACILITY-BASED ABUSE AND OBSTETRIC VIOLENCE

Defining Obstetric Violence
Identifying Obstetric Violence
Medicalisation of Birth
Racism in Health Care Services
Informed Consent
Expecting a Negative Experience
Issues in Obstetric Violence
Trauma in Care Providers
Roadblocks to Change
Moral Courage
Agents of Change

NUTRITION FOR THE TRAUMA-INJURED BRAIN

Fats
Carbohydrates
Proteins
Vitamins and Minerals
Gut Flora
Food Security and Social Disparities

HEALING STRATEGIES

Options Available
Peer Support
Trauma Narratives and Narrative Therapy
Identifying Triggers
Redefining Boundaries
Oxytocin
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Cross Cultural Considerations
Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy
Improving Sleep
Yoga
Art Therapy
Music Therapy
Prayer and Meditation
Emerging From the Darkness

TRAUMA INFORMED FOR THE PROFESSIONAL

Trauma Basics
Trauma Informed Principles
Applying Trauma Informed Principles in the Labour Ward
Safety
The Birth Plan
Arrival at the Delivery Ward
Consent & Declining Care
Trustworthiness & Transparency
Peer Support & Mutual Self-Help
Collaboration & Mutuality
Empowerment, Voice, & Choice
Cultural, Historical & Gender Issues
Physician Burnout
Midwife Burnout
Nurse Burnout
Organisational Strategies to Reduce Burnout
Doula Burnout
Resilience Training
Providing Empathetic Care
Trauma-Informed NICU
The Trauma-Informed Doula

BIRTHING AFTER TRAUMA

Unassisted Childbirth
Post-Traumatic Growth Through Childbirth
Preparing for Birth - The Reality
Conclusion

FAQs

How long is the course?

This course provides 65 professional education hours. Investing 5-10 hours a week on course content and assignments, you can expect to complete this course in 2-4 months. It’s entirely self-paced and up to you how much time you have to invest and when you would like to complete it.

How much does it cost?

The cost includes everything with no additional or hidden fees:

• $788 CAD

• $625 USD

• $856 AUD

• €550 EURO

*Note: This course is included in the Traditional Birth Companion course at no additional cost

Are there any prerequisites?

There are no prerequisites. This course was written with the birth professional in mind. It may include technical language unfamiliar to the lay person but will not detract from the overall content and importance of this information. Any time you need help with a topic, just ask! It’s a collaborative learning environment where we’re all here to see each other succeed.

What if I decide this course isn’t for me?

You can request a refund within 24 hours of registration. You will be removed from the course and your investment will be refunded less a $50 USD administrative fee. After 24 hours there is no refund. The course cannot be transferred to another person.

Will I get a certificate?

Yes. You’ll need to meet the course requirements for completion and when you’re ready, you can submit a request for a Certificate of Completion along with your final graduation assignment. Your final submission will be reviewed and if successful, you’ll be granted your Certificate and a badge you can display on your websites and other branding.

What are the requirements for completion?

You’ll need to read through all the information as well as additional videos and links. It’s suggested that you participate in some of the discussions after assignments or post some of your completed assignments to get the most out of your learning experience.

When you are ready, there is a Graduation Assignment to download and complete. This assignment consists of 4 questions that require thoughtful and reflective answers. Your answers will demonstrate your understanding of the course material and the skills you have developed as a result.

Can I count the course hours towards my Continuing Professional Development requirements?

This course comprises 85 (60 minute) continuing professional development hours (CPD), sometimes called 'points', 'credits', or ‘CEU’s’. Most midwifery, doula, and other professions' governing colleges or registration boards do not require that these hours be accredited by any particular organisation. Rather, the professional is required to record these educational hours and be able to provide proof of enrolment and completion. Please check with your profession's governing body in your country for information specific to you.

Where is the course hosted?

The course is hosted in a private network The Harrigan Hive. This network is free to join and hosts conversations about birth and trauma-informed care. The course is private and only accessible to those who have registered for the course or have been accepted into the Traditional Birth Companion course.

I’m not in North America, is this for me?

Yes! This course was written from an international perspective and has been taught to students on 4 continents (so far). It draws from research conducted in multiple countries, and considers cultural influences, disparities based on ethnicity, religion, and economics, and how the export of European-centric obstetrics has impacted birth outcomes worldwide.

How do I get started?

Click on the link below and get started today!