Trauma-Informed and Decolonial Training & Workshops
At Collective Growth Counselling, we offer interactive, trauma-informed training for non-profit organizations, community organizations, and private companies.
Our workshops combine trauma-informed and decolonial perspectives with practical communication skills that participants can apply in their everyday work.
Through experiential learning, reflection, discussion, and realistic scenarios, we create collaborative learning spaces where participants can strengthen their communication skills, deepen their understanding of trauma, and explore how these principles apply within their own professional environments.
Organizations can choose from our three-level Trauma-Informed Communication Training Series or work with us to develop a Customized Trauma-Informed Workshop based on their team's specific needs.
 
Trauma-Informed Communication Training Series
Our three-level training series progressively develops practical trauma-informed communication skills.
Each level builds on the previous one, allowing participants to move from understanding foundational concepts to applying communication strategies in increasingly complex interactions.


 
Level 1: Foundations of Trauma-Informed Communication Through a Decolonial Lens
In this foundational level, participants begin developing communication skills through a trauma-informed and decolonial lens.
Together, we explore the foundations of safe and respectful communication, including the core principles of trauma-informed practice, intercultural communication, diversity, and the impact of conscious and unconscious biases.
Participants are introduced to the relationship between trauma and communication, gaining an understanding of how past experiences, identity, culture, and power dynamics can influence interactions and perceptions of safety.
We explore how communication can either foster connection and psychological safety or contribute to misunderstanding, disconnection, and escalation. Participants are also introduced to the fundamentals of de-escalation and begin developing practical strategies to support safe and respectful interactions.

Participants learn and practice active listening strategies that foster trust, empathy, understanding, and meaningful connection.
 
Level 2: Developing Trauma-Informed Communication Skills
Building on the foundations established in Level 1, participants deepen their understanding of trauma by exploring its impacts, different types of trauma, and common trauma responses.
This knowledge provides greater insight into why people may respond differently to situations and how trauma can influence communication, relationships, behaviour, and perceptions of safety.
Participants explore how to approach challenging interactions with greater curiosity and awareness, moving away from assumptions and toward understanding what may be influencing another person's response.

Participants develop empathetic communication strategies that promote connection, regulation, and trust.
Through experiential learning and realistic scenarios, participants continue strengthening their de-escalation and trauma-informed communication skills and explore how these strategies can be applied in their everyday work.
 
Level 3: Strengthening Communication & Navigating Challenging Conversations
Level 3 focuses on strengthening participants' ability to navigate more complex or challenging conversations while maintaining connection, clarity, and respect.
Building on active listening and empathy, participants develop additional communication strategies to reduce misunderstandings, validate experiences, and respond effectively when conversations become difficult.
Participants learn how to accurately reflect what another person is communicating without making assumptions or misrepresenting their experience. Particular attention is given to maintaining psychological safety, building rapport, and communicating clearly while navigating disagreement, frustration, or emotionally charged interactions.


Through experiential exercises and realistic workplace scenarios, participants practice checking their understanding, validating concerns without necessarily agreeing, and responding in ways that support connection and reduce unnecessary escalation.
By integrating all these levels, participants leave the series with a comprehensive set of trauma-informed communication skills that can be applied across workplace, organizational, and community settings.
 
Customized Trauma-Informed Workshops
Training Designed Around Your Team
Every organization and team is different.
Workplace culture, team dynamics, responsibilities, organizational structures, and the communities being served all influence what effective training needs to look like.
For organizations seeking training tailored to a particular challenge, learning goal, or workplace context, Collective Growth offers fully customized trauma-informed workshops.

Our Customization Process
Our customization package includes two one-hour consultation meetings with organizational leaders, managers, or key team members.
During these consultations, we work collaboratively to understand:

• Current challenges and areas of concern

• Team dynamics and workplace context

• Learning and development goals

• Communities and populations being served

• Common challenging interactions or situations

• Existing policies, practices, and organizational expectations

• Desired outcomes for the training

Based on these conversations, we develop a comprehensive workshop specifically for your organization.
Whenever appropriate, training incorporates realistic scenarios and experiential activities based on situations participants may encounter in their everyday work.
 
Potential Areas of Focus
Customized workshops may include:

• Communication Skills

• De-escalation & Challenging Interactions

• Power Dynamics & Trauma-Informed Leadership

• Cultural Humility, Intercultural Communication & Bias Awareness

• Boundaries & Sustainable Helping Practices

• Applying Policies While Preserving Dignity

• Building skills for complex interactions

• Mental Wellness strategies
   

 
Learning Through Practice
Our workshops emphasize experiential learning rather than relying solely on presentations or theory.
Whenever appropriate, we incorporate realistic scenarios, group reflection, guided discussions, and practical exercises based on situations participants encounter in their work.
Participants have opportunities to explore different responses, practice communication skills, and consider how trauma-informed principles can be translated into everyday interactions.
Our goal is not to arrive with a predetermined solution. Instead, we work collaboratively with organizations to understand what their teams need and create learning experiences that are relevant, practical, engaging, and responsive to their unique context.
 
Investment
We recognize that non-profit and community organizations often operate within different financial realities than private-sector organizations. Our pricing structure reflects our commitment to making trauma-informed education accessible to community-serving organizations while maintaining sustainable professional rates for our work.

Not For Profit Organizations
 













We don't want budget limitations to automatically become a barrier to accessing meaningful professional development. Tell us what your training budget is, and we'll explore what we can create within it.
This may mean adjusting the length, format, level of customization, or scope of the training while maintaining the quality and integrity of the learning experience.
Our goal is to work collaboratively with organizations to create training that is both meaningful and financially accessible.


Corporate & Private Organizations















Additional fees may apply for travel, specialized materials, or training requirements outside the agreed-upon scope.
 
Our Approach
Collective Growth workshops are designed to be participatory, practical, and experiential.
Rather than focusing exclusively on theory, we create opportunities for participants to reflect, discuss, practice, and apply what they are learning to situations relevant to their work.

Our approach is grounded in:
Trauma-Informed Practice
Decolonial Perspectives
Experiential Learning
Cultural Humility
Psychological Safety
Empathy & Connection
Practical Skill Development

We believe meaningful organizational learning happens when participants feel respected, engaged, and able to connect new knowledge to their own experiences.
Our goal is to provide teams not only with greater understanding, but with practical skills they can carry into their everyday interactions with colleagues, clients, and communities.