Selection of Complex Trauma and Trauma Informed Guidelines

In 2012, Blue Knot Foundation released Practice Guidelines for Treatment of Complex Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care and Service Delivery. These nationally and internationally acclaimed guidelines were a global first in setting the standards for trauma specific and trauma-informed organisational practice.

Both the clinical and organisational guidelines have been updated for counsellors and therapists, and separately for organisations since. However the 2012 guidelines have been of interest to many survivors and those who support them.

Blue Knot’s trauma-specific guidelines have been updated to reflect current best practice. This includes the Practice Guidelines for Clinical Treatment of Complex Trauma and accompanying Complementary Guidelines.

The Complementary Guidelines bring together two related resources in one publication: guidance on how therapy for complex trauma differs from standard counselling approaches, and guidance on the competencies clinicians need when working with complex trauma and dissociation.

While these publications are primarily designed for professionals providing counselling or therapy, they may also be useful for survivors and for those supporting them.

In 2021, Blue Knot developed trauma-informed guidelines specifically for the disability sector.

These resources are designed for a broad audience, including carers, advocates, support workers and organisations. The Plain English Guide is particularly aimed at support workers.