Work

Revised trauma competencies for education and training: Consensus updates and highlights.

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Although the scientific literature on traumatic stress is large and growing, most psychologists have only a cursory knowledge of this science. Most have no formal training in, nor apply evidence-based psychosocial treatments for, trauma-related disorders. Sixty experts took part in the 2013 New Haven Trauma Competencies consensus conference and developed a comprehensive model of trauma-focused, empirically informed competencies (knowledge, skills, and attitudes), which were approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) as part of their official education and training in 2015. This article represents a consensus revision to those competencies that were approved by the APA in 2025. This model contains broad foundational and functional competencies in the areas of trauma-focused and trauma-informed scientific knowledge, psychosocial assessment, psychosocial interventions, professionalism, and relational and systems competencies, as well as 11 cross-cutting competencies. These updated trauma competencies can provide the basis for future training of a trauma-informed mental health workforce. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

Source: Psychological Trauma Theory Research Practice and Policy

DOI: 10.1037/tra0002069

Authors: Joan M. Cook, New Haven Trauma Competency Group, Elana Newman

Institutions: Yale University, University of Tulsa

Language: English

Topic: Counseling Practices and Supervision

Subfield: Social Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Funder: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality