Cands is a licensed counselor and yoga therapist that specializes in trauma and mental health. She has supported many individuals and group therapy programs focused on the recovery from psychological trauma, and the physical health challenges that appear to co-occur with post-traumatic stress. Cands has also just completed her Masters thesis within this focus area. This means that not only are you receiving training direct from Cands, based on many hours of personal experience and training, but training that is also based on current, world-class academic research in this field. 

Cands is a licensed counselor and yoga therapist that specializes in trauma and mental health. She has supported many individuals and group therapy programs focused on the recovery from psychological trauma, and the physical health challenges that appear to co-occur with post-traumatic stress. Cands has also just completed her Masters thesis within this focus area. This means that not only are you receiving training direct from Cands, based on many hours of personal experience and training, but training that is also based on current, world-class academic research in this field. 

Our advanced course in trauma counseling is conducted online and can be attended from anywhere you choose. Accessibility is important to us. It is a 30 hour, self-paced program, with 5 months to complete. 

This course is for you if:

• You have some knowledge and practice of trauma counseling and would like to deepen this.
• You believe in a trauma counseling practice that is aligned to best-in-class research and proven practice.
• You care about trauma work that is inclusive, progressive and holistic.
• You would like to receive training that is rooted in the South African and broader African context OR that provides good examples of working in resource-constrained, high-trauma settings.
• You would like to confidently offer deepened trauma counseling to trauma survivors.
• You would like to be eligible to be a probono or paid facilitator on our group support programs.
• We would recommend first completing our Short Course in Trauma Counseling, but this is not a prerequsite to join us.

As a licensed counselor and yoga therapist that specialises in trauma and mental health, with a strong public health background, it’s important to me that this Advanced Course in Trauma Counseling is evidence-based, experiential, accessible and rooted in local context.

Evidence-based

This training progam is and will continue to be informed by current and world-class academic research in trauma, trauma recovery and somatic approaches to trauma. We pride ourselves on providing training that points to methods proven in research and clinical trials to be safe and effective for trauma survivors. We ensure we do no harm in this way.

Experiential

It is hard, if not impossible, to counsel from a place of little lived experience. It is for this reason that this training program also has a strong component of self-reflection, and practical hours training (including trauma counseling practice). This is a training program that will teach you about yourself too, and promote your own personal growth. From this foundation, you are able to deepen the effective trauma counseling you provide.

Accessible

We appreciate the difficulty some trainees may face in traveling to and attending training, both in terms of cost and personal care responsibilities. For this reason our training is conducted entirely online and is self-paced. We have ensured the quality and integrity of the training while simultaneously keeping it at a level of financial and time investment that is accessible. You have 5 months to complete. Scholarships are also available periodically, please ensure you are following us on Instagram and are on our mailing list to be notified of these. 

Rooted in local context

It is no surprise that many of us in South Africa and globally, are exposed to very high levels of trauma. In this training, we are sensitive to the local context of our clients and their communities. We take international, world-class research and understand it through a local lens. This ensures effectiveness in our individual contexts, for our clients.

As a licensed counselor and yoga therapist that specialises in trauma and mental health, with a strong public health background, it’s important to me that this Advanced Course in Trauma Counseling is evidence-based, experiential, accessible and rooted in local context.

Evidence-based

This training progam is and will continue to be informed by current and world-class academic research in trauma, trauma recovery and somatic approaches to trauma. We pride ourselves on providing training that points to methods proven in research and clinical trials to be safe and effective for trauma survivors. We ensure we do no harm in this way.

Experiential

It is hard, if not impossible, to counsel from a place of little lived experience. It is for this reason that this training program also has a strong component of self-reflection, and practical hours training (including trauma counseling practice). This is a training program that will teach you about yourself too, and promote your own personal growth. From this foundation, you are able to deepen the effective trauma counseling you provide.

Accessible

We appreciate the difficulty some trainees may face in traveling to and attending training, both in terms of cost and personal care responsibilities. For this reason our training is conducted entirely online and is self-paced. We have ensured the quality and integrity of the training while simultaneously keeping it at a level of financial and time investment that is accessible. You have 5 months to complete. Scholarships are also available periodically, please ensure you are following us on Instagram and are on our mailing list to be notified of these. 

Rooted in local context

It is no surprise that many of us in South Africa and globally, are exposed to very high levels of trauma. In this training, we are sensitive to the local context of our clients and their communities. We take international, world-class research and understand it through a local lens. This ensures effectiveness in our individual contexts, for our clients.

• Enrolment: Upon enrolling and completing payment, you will receive a personal details form and liability waiver.
• Prep week: Once this has been completed, you will receive your first manual insert. This contains all your preparatory material and your reading for week 1.
• Week 1 – 6: The first Friday thereafter you will receive access to your first module to watch, related homework to complete and your next set of reading material. Each Friday for 6 weeks you will receive the same as the above (module to watch, homework to complete and next set of reading material).
• Week 7 – 8: Once the homework related to the above 6 weeks has been completed, you will receive the details of your final homework assignment.
• You will have 5 months to complete all of the the above, from the date of your enrolment / payment.
• Consulting with Cands: The second Thursday of each month at 2pm – 3:30pm SAST is a consulting session with Cands. You can attend this to discuss any of the training material in-depth should you wish, it is not compulsory. To ensure you extract the most value from this, booking in advance with your questions you’d like to discuss is required to attend. 
• The 30 hours are made up as follows: 12 hours theory training (video modules are accessible for full duration of 4 months), 12 hours of homework training (1 – 2 hours of homework per/week for the first 4 weeks), 4 hours practical training, 2 hours final assignment (final written and practical homework assignment, you will receive feedback within 6 weeks of submission).
• All components need to be completed within 5 months of enrolment / payment for you to graduate succesfully.

Training Program Schedule

• Enrolment: Upon enrolling and completing payment, you will receive a personal details form and liability waiver.
• Prep week: Once this has been completed, you will receive your first manual insert. This contains all your preparatory material and your reading for week 1.
• Week 1 – 6: The first Friday thereafter you will receive access to your first module to watch, related homework to complete and your next set of reading material. Each Friday for 6 weeks you will receive the same as the above (module to watch, homework to complete and next set of reading material).
• Week 7 – 8: Once the homework related to the above 6 weeks has been completed, you will receive the details of your final homework assignment.
• You will have 5 months to complete all of the the above, from the date of your enrolment / payment.
• Consulting with Cands: The second Thursday of each month at 2pm – 3:30pm SAST is a consulting session with Cands. You can attend this to discuss any of the training material in-depth should you wish, it is not compulsory. To ensure you extract the most value from this, booking in advance with your questions you’d like to discuss is required to attend. 
• The 30 hours are made up as follows: 12 hours theory training (video modules are accessible for full duration of 4 months), 12 hours of homework training (1 – 2 hours of homework per/week for the first 4 weeks), 4 hours practical training, 2 hours final assignment (final written and practical homework assignment, you will receive feedback within 6 weeks of submission).
• All components need to be completed within 5 months of enrolment / payment for you to graduate succesfully.