Is Carolyn’s training suitable for survivors who are not therapists?

Although Carolyn’s training is principally aimed at counsellors and psychotherapists, and written with them in mind, it is also perfectly accessible to and suitable for survivors – after all, Carolyn is a survivor herself. Some of the discussion focuses on the specifics of psychotherapy rather than being aimed primarily at a survivor audience, but the overall content is extremely helpful for survivors and perfectly understandable by them. Carolyn’s approach is to make the complex simple and to ensure that the voice and perspective of a survivor is front and centre for those working with trauma. She speaks in a very human, compassionate way, rather than in a clinical/academic way, and feels very strongly that trauma survivors need to be equipped with the psychoeducation to pursue and take charge of their own recovery. Her training therefore does just that.

The courses most suitable for survivors, which could be used as a starting point, are ‘Dissociation and DID: The Fundamentals’, ‘Trauma and the Body’ and ‘Mental Health and the Body: Treating Trauma’.

An alternative option, which also gives an insight into Carolyn’s style and approach, is to read her blogs and listen to her podcast. If these are helpful, then a good next step would the online training.

Survivors should of course take care when engaging with content as it could be triggering.