Trauma doesn’t just live in our stories—it’s stored in our bodies as unresolved survival energy. Kate Williams’ Foundation Certificate in Somatic Trauma Theory and Skills offers transformative insights into this physical dimension of trauma healing that we’re genuinely excited to share with you.
The course begins by establishing a crucial distinction between everyday stress and trauma. While stress typically resolves after the threat passes, trauma involves survival responses—fight, flight, or freeze—that remain incomplete, trapping energy within the body. This unmetabolized energy keeps the nervous system perpetually on edge, creating a profound disconnect from bodily sensations and safety.
At the heart of Williams’ approach is the Window of Tolerance—that sweet spot where clients can engage effectively with therapy. Outside this window, whether in hyperarousal (anxiety, racing thoughts) or hypoarousal (numbness, shutdown), meaningful processing simply can’t happen. The course offers an impressive toolkit of somatic exercises to help clients regulate: orienting to the room, havening touch techniques, body tapping, grounding through the feet, and targeted breathing patterns that directly engage the vagus nerve to signal safety to the brain.
We were particularly struck by Williams’ work on boundaries and embodiment. Trauma fundamentally disrupts our sense of self and ability to maintain healthy limits. The “finding the no” exercise, where clients physically push away while verbalizing boundaries, creates what she calls an “act of triumph”—allowing the body to reclaim agency that wasn’t possible during trauma. Similarly, the boundary circle exercise helps clients reconnect with core identity separate from others’ needs or expectations.
The therapeutic relationship takes on specific dimensions in trauma work. Unlike conventional therapy that might prioritize insight, trauma processing focuses first on regulation and safety. The therapist creates a container for the body to complete interrupted survival responses—which might look like shaking, pushing movements, or spontaneous releases. Through techniques like titration and deliberate sensory breaks, clients can process difficult material without overwhelming their systems.
Begin Your Journey Toward Trauma-Informed Certification
This Foundation Certificate is your first step toward Kate Williams’ Level 5 Award in Trauma-Informed Therapy. Because when we truly understand that trauma lives in the body, we unlock unprecedented potential for healing.
This course forms the CPD component of your Foundation Certificate. Once you have completed the course, you can apply to Temenos to convert your CPD certificate into a Foundation Certificate.
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Explore more learning opportunities with Kate Williams HERE
Need help accessing the course Foundation Certificate in Somatic Trauma Theory and Skills? Email the Onlinevents support team at he**@************co.uk
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
After completing the course, you can apply for the Foundation Certificate in Psychotherapeutic Practice from Temenos. This requires a separate application and a £97 payment to Temenos, not included in the course fee. Full details will be provided upon completion.
You can access and complete this course with a £9.99/month Onlinevents Library subscription, which gives you full access to the course for as long as you need. Learn at your own pace and cancel the subscription at any time. Alternatively, you can choose a one-time payment of £99.99 to purchase lifetime access to the course.
Course Content
Presenter
Kate Williams has been in therapeutic practice since 2009 with a background in counselling in further education. She currently runs a busy private practice, works with NHS clients and enjoys running workshops for onlinevents and staff wellbeing workshops for NHS Hull & Humberside.
Kate is centre manager for the Bedfordshire Centre for Therapeutic Studies where she teaches on the CPCAB L5 in Somatic Trauma Therapy course & L2 Award in Breathwork Coaching as well as the Level 4 in Therapeutic Counselling.
Kate has a passion for bringing the body into her practice supporting clients to release the trauma that is held within their bodies. Kate is know for her relaxed teaching style, experiential somatic practices and skill of bringing theory to life and making it applicable.
