Trauma Counselling Skills
Every day in South African hospitals, people arrive carrying more than physical injury. They have survived violent crime, sexual assault, the sudden loss of a loved one, the long weight of poverty and illness. They need someone who can sit with them: not to fix, not to preach, but to be present and to understand what is happening in their body, their mind, and their spirit.
This course equips you to be that person.
Over approximately 18 hours of learning, Trauma Counselling Skills takes you from the foundations of good counselling through to the realities of bedside ministry in a public hospital. You will learn how trauma changes the brain and body, how to listen and respond with genuine empathy, and how to offer spiritual and pastoral support to people in crisis. The course holds Western trauma frameworks and African Indigenous Knowledge Systems side by side, because care in South Africa has to make room for both.
What you will learn
- The essential qualities of a trauma-informed caregiver, and the difference between caring for someone and carrying them
- Person-centred counselling skills drawn from Carl Rogers: active listening, attending, and empathy
- How trauma affects the nervous system, the brain, and behaviour
- How to define and understand crisis, PTSD, complex trauma, and continuous traumatic stress
- The SAMHSA trauma-informed care framework and its six principles
- The South African trauma landscape, including intergenerational trauma, gender-based violence, and continuous traumatic stress
- Spiritual and pastoral support, including lament, soul injury, and engaging with religion as both resource and risk
- Defusing, debriefing, and Psychological First Aid
- How to recognise the limits of your role and when to refer
- How to recognise compassion fatigue and burnout in yourself, and build a personal self-care plan
Who it is for
Pastoral caregivers, chaplains, and HospiVision volunteers. Community health workers and social auxiliaries. Anyone whose work brings them into contact with people in crisis.
How it works
The course is delivered online through Google Classroom. It is made up of eight sections, each pairing a written manual with a video lecture, followed by a short quiz and a practical activity. You move through the material at your own pace.
Certification
On completing all sections, quizzes, and the final assessment, you receive a HospiVision certificate of completion. Those who also complete the optional written essay can earn a certificate from the University of Pretoria.
18 CPSC CPD Points
A note on content
Some of this material is difficult. We discuss sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, community violence, and death. A strong reaction to trauma material does not make you a bad caregiver. It makes you human.
Course Duration
This course comprises approximately 18 hours of study across eight sections, including video lectures, curated further reading from peer-reviewed and academic sources, a quiz after each section, and a final essay (for the UP certificate option only).
You can work through the material at your own pace.
Online Delivery
This is a fully online short course delivered via Google Classroom. Study from the comfort of your home. Once you're enrolled, we'll email you an invitation to join the classroom within 2 working days. If it hasn't arrived, please check your spam folder.
Course Structure
Read each section's manual and watch its video. Complete the reflection exercises and activities. Pass the quizzes to progress through the course. If you selected the UP certificate option, submit a final essay.
Course Options
Option 1: R1,100. Includes the HospiVision Certificate of Attendance.
Option 2: R2,100. Includes the HospiVision Certificate AND the University of Pretoria (UP) Certificate of Attendance.
Important Certification Details
To receive the UP certificate, you must successfully complete the required essay. UP certificates are released annually. The cutoff date for the current cycle is October 2026, and certificates for this cycle will be released by March 2027.
Financial Support
Funding is available. The Diaconia bursary and the John Templeton Foundation Scholarship both cover the R1,100 course fee (HospiVision Certificate). They do not cover the additional cost of the UP certificate.
⚠ Please note: if you are accepted for a bursary or scholarship, you must complete your selected course on Google Classroom within 6 weeks. If not, your place will be forfeited, as we have a limited number of bursaries and scholarships available.
Diaconia Bursary: You qualify if you are a member of the Dutch Reformed Church, Calvin Protestant Church, or United Reformed Church.
John Templeton Foundation Scholarship: If you are not a member of the above churches, you may apply for this scholarship.
How to apply for a bursary or scholarship:
- Complete the application form.
- Select the relevant bursary or scholarship option from the "Application type" dropdown at the top of this page and place your order, using the same email address you used on the form.
- We'll review your application and email you the outcome. If it's approved, your Google Classroom invitation will follow.
Enrolment Process
All online short courses must be purchased directly through our website.
EFT (Bank Transfer): Select "EFT" at checkout. Your course access will be activated once funds have cleared.
Refund Policy
Unfortunately, we cannot offer refunds for courses not attended, but we can provide a credit note valid for 12 months. You may use it for any of our short courses or transfer it to someone else.
Placing an order for a bursary or scholarship option doesn't guarantee a place. Your enrolment is confirmed once your application has been approved.
