HOPE & HEALING
TRAUMA TRAINING
Beyond Trauma-Informed
“You can only take someone as far as you yourself are willing to go” Dan Allender
Many trainings are described as trauma-informed. This training goes further.
Written and shaped by women who have experienced exploitation and have done the long work of healing from its harm and fragmentation, this training offers a perspective that cannot be learned from a textbook alone. It helps professionals recognize the places where even well-intentioned services can misunderstand survivors—and where those serving this population need to become better informed.
Kate Ouimette-Wedell, founder of Cherished, has spent thousands of hours studying trauma, story, recovery, and the complexities of healing. But she has also walked the terrain herself.
When navigating difficult terrain, knowledge matters—but so does having a guide who knows the way.
This training brings both: professional learning and the hard-earned wisdom of lived experience.
You don’t just need a map. Sometimes you need a Sherpa.
“Beneath the ways she learned to survive is a woman still becoming, still discovering who she was always meant to be.”
BOUNDARIES
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AFFECT REGULATION
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HEALING
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ATTACHMENT
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BOUNDARIES ✳︎ AFFECT REGULATION ✳︎ HEALING ✳︎ ATTACHMENT ✳︎
What we cover
Cherished Mission and Approach
Create a kind and safe community
Support healing, dignity, and empowerment
Trauma-informed and relationship-centered approach
Understanding Trauma
What trauma does; Brain & Body
CPTSD vs PTSD
How trauma can affect thoughts, emotions, behavior, and relationships
Common trauma responses
Why safety and trust matter in healing
Attachment Styles
How your story shows up
What healthy, supportive relating looks like
How survivors may experience connection differently
Respect, consistency, patience, and non-judgment
Building trust slowly and safely
Safe People
What makes someone a safe person
Qualities of safe relationships
How to recognize red flags
Why safe people are important in recovery
Boundaries
What boundaries are
Why boundaries support healing
How to respect and communicate boundaries
Boundaries in friendships, caregiving, and support settings
Motivational Interviewing
Asking the right questions
Helping the client find her own solution
Collaboration vs confrontation
Survivor* Overcomer* Leader
What a survivor/overcomer/leader feels
What a survivor/overcomer/leader needs
Stages of Change
pre contemplation
maintenance
why she relapses
Triggers and Emotional Safety
What triggers are
How triggers can show up
Ways to respond with care
Creating environments that feel predictable and safe
Understanding Affect Regulation
Simple grounding tools
Ways to calm the body and mind
Coping strategies for overwhelming moments
Supporting nervous system regulation
Support Groups and Therapy
What support group should look like
Therapy for residents
What survivors can expect from these supports
The role of community in healing
Residential Homes
Model
Stable environment for healing and work
Practical and emotional support while rebuilding life
Practical Support for Survivors
Safety planning
Emotional support
Housing support
Help with daily stability and next steps
Case Studies
You are the client
Steps for the Advocate
“Escape and Healing are far from the same thing”
Kate Ouimette WedellGet In Touch
If you're interested in training your team this curriculum was written by survivors for service providers and those who want to better serve survivors of Human Trafficking, exploitation & sexual abuse. Please complete the form with a few details about yourself/ staff. We'll review your message and get back to you within 48 hours.