FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Welcome to the FAQs section for Trauma Informed Care. This area is provided to you as a source of information that may be more clarified, related to questions you may have in regards to our certification and our fellowship programs. Information regarding recertification, as well as information about our online continuing education courses, is also provided. We highly recommend that you first thoroughly review all of the information on our website, under the main page for Trauma Informed Care Certification and Fellowship. Access main page. If after reviewing all of the provided information and this FAQs section, any other questions may be addressed by completing our request for information form online here. Thank you for your interest in the American Institute of Health Care Professionals, Inc.
GRIEF COUNSELING BLOG: Please visit our Grief Counseling interactive web blog. Our blog contains articles, news, events and information related the Grief Counseling field.
What Is Certification?
Answer: Certification is a voluntary process provided by via an organization that through its qualified advisory boards develops comprehensive and quality standards for the practice of a type of specialty. The developed standards address high quality requirements for the practice of a certain specialty. The defined standards outline educational and/or practice requirements, any required prerequisites, and the need to adhere to a defined code of ethics for the practice specialty. Certification is different than any type of licensing. Certification is one means by which professionals may be publicly recognized as achieving a high level of education, knowledge base and practice skills for a certain healthcare related specialty. Certification also assists employer organizations and clients in their assessment of appropriate qualifications for candidates seeking positions in organizations and/or involved in private practices. It is commonly held that certification through an organization is fast becoming a “gold standard” for specialty practices. Certification testifies and provides a verification of defined educational requirements, adherence to a solid code of ethics, and in many instances prerequisites of practice experience for the practice in a variety of fields.
What Are The Criteria/standards I Will Need To Meet To Achieve Certification?
Answer: The educational criteria and standards are well and clearly defined within our website. Please access our main page to preview these requirements. Access here.
May I Apply For And Be Conferred Certification In Trauma Informed Care If I Have Been Practicing Trauma Informed Care Counseling In A Clinical Setting Or Private Practice With Out The Need To Meet The Educational Requirements?
Answer: No. The Board that oversees the development and approval of defined criteria and standards for certification will not consider only practice experience as meeting requirements in full. This decision was made as those who are already in counseling practices have varied and different experiences related to trauma informed care and there is no insured uniformity that all who have practiced trauma informed care and or counseling have the same knowledge base and skills attainment. The evaluation of one’s past practice experience in trauma informed care is highly variable and subjective. As such, the Board has developed objective criteria/standards for the conferral of certification. For these reasons, practice experience without the attainment of education will not be considered as fulfilling criteria and standards for our certification.
Over The Years, I Have Completed Many Seminars And Continuing Education Courses Related To Trauma Informed Care and Counseling. Will These Apply Toward The Education Requirements For Certification?
Answer: Please send in any transcript for review to determine if they can be utilized and an AIHCP course waived. You can contact us here.
What Is The Major Practice Focus Of A Trauma Informed Care Specialist?
Answer: With a trauma-informed perspective, a Trauma Informed Care Specialist works to establish an environment where client survivors feel safe in body, spirit and mind, as well as hopeful and empowered. These professionals evaluate for trauma and associated symptoms, perform lack of safety/risk assessments and engage clients in a respectful way so they can make informed choices with respect to their care and ongoing goals.
They work with clients to develop case and care plans which focus on stability, coping skills, and access to appropriate services. They may or may not always be the therapist; and may often work in partnership with mental health clinicians, medical providers, social services and legal advocates to provide integrated care. They help clients and the health care team to track improvements, modify interventions, and make appropriate referrals for any needed specialized care.
They also serve to educate staff and drive organizational change so that practices that may retraumatize people are reduced and practices that promote healing increase. They often participate in creating policies, intake procedures and changes in physical space that promote safety and predictability. They may model and teach grounding, de-escalation, culturally-sympathetic engagement practices so that the entire team is able to respond in ways that honor choice and dignity.
Trauma Informed Care Specialists gather data, assess impact, and promote systems change that will increase awareness of trauma. You’re trying to tease out what’s standing in the way: for example, stigma, access voids or prejudicial policies; and assist in brainstorming potential solutions. They also address staff secondary trauma by focusing on supervision, self-care, and institutional practices that help maintain workforce collective resilience.
This professional role demands active listening, cultural humility, collaborative problem solving and ethical boundary setting. They use evidence-based approaches, never reveal personal information and are strength-centered. By combining individual care with organizational and policy work, they are helping to change services to make them safer, more effective and more aligned with sustaining recovery over the long term.
Where Do Trauma Informed Care Specialists Practice?
Answer: Trauma Informed Care Specialists practice in many varied settings today. The services of these professional specialists are in much demand throughout our country and throughout the world. This was made evident during recent past traumatic national disasters and events which have occurred, and in which there had been identified a serious lack of such services. These professionals are seen in varied practice settings such as ; hospices, acute care and long-term care facilities, for private churches, for public and private social service agencies, in private practices, as trauma informed care educators, and in other similar types of practice settings. Some may also work as volunteers for these types of agencies. They also are in demand as the funeral services industry continues to transform itself in offering After-Care programs. Many are also actively participate in community support groups.
Does The American Academy Institute of Health Care Professionals, Inc., Provide Approvals For Education Programs Whose Graduates Would Qualify For Being Conferred Certification?
Answer: Yes. We do provide a full program approval process for those education facilities and or organizations providing education related to Trauma Informed Care. Applications for program approval are thoroughly reviewed and must adhere to the defined standards and criteria as established by the advisory board. Once a particular education program has been approved it is then posted as an approved program on our website view approved programs. Graduates of programs we have approved may apply for certification.
What Is The Process For Achieving This Certification?
Answer: There is a two-phase process. In order to provide clear and sufficient information on the process we have developed a separate page that defines the process. You may access this information on the certification process at this link: click here.
How Can I Submit An Application?
Answer: Making application is easy. We provide an online application form and a printable application form as well. Those wishing to make application can find these forms at this link. Please note that incomplete applications will not be reviewed. All applications that are submitted must include all required documents and verification as specified for review and consideration of certification conferral. Before making any application, you must meet the defined pre-requisites for a given program and have successfully completed the full continuing education curriculum, or a curriculum from a program that AIHCP, Inc. has officially approved.
After Certification Is There A Recertification Process?
Answer: Yes. The American Institute of Health Care Professionals provides a full program for recertification. Detailed information on the criteria to be recertified, after the four-year initial certification period, is provided on our website. Access here.
I Am Currently Certified By The American Institute of Health Care Professionals, Inc. I Know I Am Required To Achieve Additional Education In Trauma Informed Care In Order To Qualify For Recertification In The Future. Does The AIHCP, Inc., Offer Any Continuing Education Courses That I May Take To Meet My Recertification Requirements?
Answer: Yes, we offer recertification CE courses. You can view them all by category at the following link. Access here.
Are There Any Specialty Certification And Continuing Education Programs Offered By AIHCP, Inc related to Trauma Informed Care?
Answer: Yes. We also offer an additional specialty programs in Trauma Informed Care: SPIRITUAL TRAUMA INFORMED CARE COUNSELOR Certification. You can review at the following link for full information on this Specialty Program. Access here.
Do You Have Any Testimonials From Professionals Who Have Become Certified Through Your Programs?
Answer: Yes. We have a testimonials page on our website that you may view at the following link. Access Here.