Addressing and Healing Cultural Trauma

In this course, core clinical mental health counselling faculty Dr. Shama Panjwani (Ph.D. in Counsellor Education and Supervision with specialisation in cross-cultural psychology and leadership, NCC, CCMHC, LPC, and approved clinical supervisor), introduces a clinically grounded framework for understanding cultural trauma and applying wellness as an intervention. The course clarifies trauma concepts and trauma responses, then links cultural identity, systemic oppression, and intersectionality to the ways trauma presents across diverse populations. Clinicians are guided to use a whole-person, mind-body-spirit approach that integrates culturally sound modalities (including narrative and somatic-informed practices) alongside evidence-based care, with explicit attention to barriers like access, stigma, and safety that shape real-world implementation.