Health Education & Training Institute

As helpers, we may understand the concept of trauma-informed care, but what does it truly look like in practice? In this training, we invite participants to examine how systems of oppression intersect with individual experiences of trauma. By meeting those we serve empathetically, not just at the personal level, but also through a macro lens, helpers will deepen their capacity to show up for those they serve in more meaningful and effective ways. This session encourages helpers to reflect on how they can become even more compassionate by understanding the full context of a person’s life and recognizing both the harm and the resilience shaped by broader social forces.

This workshop invites participants to explore how adopting an approach rooted in prejudice reduction,  marked by empathy, respect, acceptance, and collaboration, can strengthen their relationships with clients and foster better life outcomes. Participants will engage in learning how to honor the diverse experiences, values, and perspectives of those they serve, recognizing the strengths inherent in every individual.

Through reflective discussions, case studies, and interactive activities, this session will focus on the importance of understanding power dynamics, acknowledging our own biases, and centering the voices of our clients in the helping process. By cultivating a mindset of openness and lifelong learning, providers can more effectively collaborate with clients, respecting their autonomy and empowering them to lead their own journeys toward healing and growth.

By the end of the workshop, participants will have practical tools for engaging clients in ways that are responsive, empathetic, and respectful, helping them to recognize and build upon the strengths and resilience that each individual brings to the table. This approach promotes a path toward more equitable, client-centered outcomes.

Learning Objectives:

• Define the core principles of prejudice reduction and explain how they intersect with the practice of motivational interviewing.

• Identify personal and systemic biases and reflect on how these may influence interactions with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds.

• Describe how power dynamics can impact the helping relationship, and apply strategies to mitigate these dynamics in client engagement.

• Demonstrate culturally responsive motivational interviewing techniques through role plays, case study analysis, or interactive activities.

• Apply a strengths-based and client-centered approach to real-world scenarios, centering client autonomy and lived experience in decision-making.

• Commit to at least one ongoing personal or professional practice that supports cultural humility and lifelong learning.

• Apply principles of motivational interviewing to build more empathetic, respectful, and collaborative relationships with clients from diverse backgrounds.

•  Analyze and reflect on power dynamics and personal biases to better center the voices of the individuals we serve and support their autonomy in the helping process.

• Utilize practical tools and strategies for engaging that recognize and build upon individual strengths and resilience.​