Trauma can have a long-term negative impact on a person’s activities and their mental, physical, social, emotional or spiritual well-being. To achieve positive changes, it is important that different specialists who work with individuals who have experienced trauma or are informed about trauma, understand its effects and can apply an empathetic and individualised approach. Developing such an approach is especially important for students in the Social Work study programme, as the professional field of future specialists includes various activities.

On 20–24 May, Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution (HEI) hosted the intensive study week Application of Trauma-Informed Approach in Work with War Refugees of the new Nordplus project Promotion of Transprofessional Trauma-Informed Approach.

Almost 40 guests from Tampere University of Applied Sciences (TAMK UAS) and University College Copenhagen arrived for the intensive study week and 20 students and lecturers from the Faculty of Arts and Education Social Work Department and the Faculty of Medicine Rehabilitation Department at Kauno kolegija HEI participated. The trauma-informed approach focuses on how trauma can affect a person’s life and their response to services that promote life changes, from prevention to treatment. The project’s aim is to familiarise students with this holistic approach and encourage critical thinking, the growth of responsibility and empathy, as well as the ability to work together to achieve positive changes.