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How do you find a trauma counsellor who actually understands trauma—and won't cause more harm than healing? In this episode, I share my own painful experiences with unhelpful therapists, break down the essential traits of effective trauma counselling, and give you nine critical questions to ask before choosing a counsellor so you can find the right support for your unique healing journey.

What You'll Learn

• The five essential traits of a good trauma counsellor: trauma-informed practice, specialized training, healthy therapeutic relationships, psychoeducation, and collaborative assessment
• Why traditional talk therapy often fails trauma survivors—and what trauma-informed practice actually looks like in action
• Red flags to watch for: pity instead of empathy, pathologizing language, lack of boundary work, judgment, and power-over dynamics
• How trauma counsellors should handle power imbalances, privilege, and systemic oppression in the therapeutic relationship
• Why specialized training in EMDR, somatic approaches, parts work, and dissociation matters—and how counsellors should integrate these modalities
• The importance of psychoeducation about trauma: window of tolerance, polyvagal theory, structural dissociation, and nervous system regulation
• The difference between assessment (collaborative exploration) and diagnosis (fitting criteria)—and why collaborative assessment empowers your healing
• Why trauma counsellors need to do their own healing work—and how it affects the quality of care you receive
• Nine essential questions to ask during a free consultation to evaluate if a counsellor is the right fit for your needs

Who This Is For
This episode is for adults seeking trauma counselling who want to make informed choices about their therapeutic support—especially if you've had negative experiences with past therapists, feel confused about what effective trauma counselling should look like, or belong to marginalized communities and need a counsellor who understands systemic oppression and can navigate power and privilege healthily. It's also for anyone who wants to know exactly what questions to ask before committing to working with a trauma counsellor.

Additional resources

• Healing trauma: A step-by-step guide to reclaim your life: https://brighthorizontherapies.com/blog/healing-trauma/
• Benefits of trauma counselling: https://brighthorizontherapies.com/blog/why-is-trauma-counselling-important-empowering-recovery

If you’d like to explore more, here are some ways to connect:

• Discover more about my work: https://brighthorizontherapies.com/
• Follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brighthorizontherapies/
• Send me a message: [email protected]

Trauma Demystified is not intended to replace professional guidance, support, medical treatment, or therapy. Please feel free to consult your physician or a mental health professional for any questions about mental health symptoms.

Bright Horizon Therapies is located in the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta, which includes the Blackfoot Confederacy, the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda. This land is also home to Métis Nation of Alberta, Region III. I acknowledge the traditional caregivers of the land and the importance of a commitment to the continued decolonization of my work.