Trauma-informed Design Credentialing Program
Trauma-informed Design is a practice, in which the primary goal is achieving a sense of safety for all users of the built environment and all participants of the design process. As with all practices, TiD requires practitioners to understand the concepts and theories relating to it, and to apply them to projects with fidelity.
TiD re-envisions the role of the designer and how the design process is conducted, with a goal of eliminating or minimizing all stressors and potential harms identified throughout the process, whether or not they are
directly related to design. This means that TiD practitioners actively advocate for change when they identify client policies or practices that do not align with the principles of trauma-informed care or design and work to ensure all participants feel safe and supported throughout the design process. These are fundamental features of TiD; if overlooked or not done well, practitioners can cause harm to those involved.
TiD Credentialing provides you the skills to:
Create spaces that that promote safety, resilience, and healing
Market your services confidently as you knowledgably converse about trauma, its impacts, and how the built environment can help
Protect against unintentional harm in your practice
Participating in the TiD Credentialing program will connect you to others doing this work.
The practice of TiD is hard. Practitioners enter this line of work because they want to make a positive difference in the lives of others. The work can be very rewarding, but it opens practitioners up to the stories of people who have experienced all sorts of hurt, violence, and harm. Over time, it can take a toll.
By participating in the credentialing program, practitioners connect with others in this area of practice. The program incorporates intentional activities that foster interactions and relationship-building among participants, to help build a community of support for practitioners.
How does the program work?
Trauma-informed Design Credentialing Course
The first step is to take the base-level credentialing course. This course is an intensive emersion into the TiD Framework and how to apply it to real-world projects. Participants will receive a copy of Trauma-informed Design: A Framework for Designers, Architects, and Other Practitioners upon enrollment.
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Level: Beginner
Duration: 16 weeks
Instructors: Janet Roche and Christine Cowart
Participants: Up to 20
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This is an interactive class experience. Participants will engage with assigned partners as well as in online forums with other practitioners throughout the course. Instructors provide consistent feedback by engaging in online discussions, holding office hours, and providing detailed feedback on all graded assignments and projects. The course includes pre-scheduled synchronous video conferencing sessions, in which participants will be asked to share their work for real-time feedback from other course participants and instructor coaching.
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Upon successful completion of the course, participants will be awarded the Bronze-level TiD credential.
Stay current and gain additional skills
As TiD is a rapidly growing and evolving practice, it's essential to stay current. Every two years, credentialed TiD practitioners either complete a minimum requirement of continuing education units (CEUs) or successfully present a real-world TiD project to ensure they are up-to-date with the latest research and resources and can apply TiD with fidelity. Courses span a wide variety of topics, providing interesting and relevant opportunities for all participants.
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Achieve higher credential levels
There are four levels of TiD credentials: bronze, silver, gold, and platinum.
Complete CEUs or successfully present real-world TiD projects to achieve higher credential levels.
Quotes from Previous Participants
The instructors seemed very committed to our growth, jumping into every single discussion post each week with extra thoughts and ideas. It made the whole learning experience feel more interactive and meaningful.
The class taught me how to apply the principles of Trauma-Informed Care to design spaces that prioritize stress reduction and overall well-being. It shifted my perspective, helping me see how thoughtful design can create environments that promote healing and provide a sense of security for those who need it most.
Both instructors are great, encouraging, while also providing constructive feedback. Much appreciated. They are also really good at diplomatically responding in the discussions when student comments or understanding need correction. It was nice to get real feedback.