TRAUMA-INFORMED COUNSELLING: A FOCUS ON ACCEPTANCE AND COMMITMENT THERAPY (ACT) REQUIREMENTS FOR COUNSELLOR-TRAINEES IN NIGERIA TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS

Abstract

Trauma is a hot topic in clinical psychology right now, because it is such a prevalent public health issue. Human difficulties have accumulated, because of the world's modernisation and technological drive, resulting in tragic incidents. The in-school counsellor-trainees require skills and experiences that will aid them in providing 'healing' to such victims, because of its detrimental and painful effect on the victims. To do so, the researchers looked at the nature of trauma, its impact on modern society, and case studies of traumatic situations. The study also modified and described Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), psychotherapy created by Steven C. Hayes in 1982, as a guide for adopting Trauma-informed Counselling. The nature and components of the ACT were
taught, as well as how to effectively apply the tools and cognitive processes of the ACT to help trauma survivors heal and develop their psychological flexibility toward coping. Finally, the researchers want to provide some selected in-school counsellor-trainees in higher institutions, with experiential experience in the integration of the method to Trauma-informed counselling.