As part of its Organizational Development & Capacity Building efforts, the Asylum Seekers and Refugees Solidarity Association (ARSA) hosted Zeynep İlkkurşun from Koç University for a comprehensive training on “Trauma-Informed Service & Basic Aid Skills.”

The session provided ARSA staff with essential knowledge and practical tools to better understand the impact of trauma on individuals, especially refugees and asylum seekers, and to integrate trauma-informed principles into their daily work.

 

Key Topics Covered

  • What is Psychological Trauma?: definition, causes, and common effects
  • Triple Trauma Paradigm: pre-migration, in-transit, and post-migration traumas
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): symptoms and responses (fight, flight, freeze)
  • Trauma-Informed Approach: principles of safety, transparency, participation, cultural sensitivity, and empowerment
  • Basic Aid Skills: confidentiality, empathy, non-verbal communication, validation, and respecting values
  • Self-Care: strategies for staff working with trauma-affected populations

 

This training marked an important step in strengthening ARSA’s capacity to deliver safe, inclusive, and empowering services to communities affected by displacement and trauma.