Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

Our Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

The Complex Trauma Training Center (CTTC) is committed to creating a training environment and learning community that supports diversity, fosters inclusion and promotes belonging.

​​Diversity, inclusion and belonging (DIB) are part of our core values at CTTC. We have been mindfully cultivating these foundational principles into all our programs to assure that DIB values are not something separate from who we are, but define every aspect of our Training Center.

At CTTC, we focus on creating learning environments that facilitate connection through our shared humanity while creating space for each participant’s own individual and cultural experience. We hold the intention of meeting every participant with the spirit of cultural humility, which includes learning, accountability and growth in response to oversights, mistakes and/or conflict. We strive to meet each other with curiosity and acceptance so that difference can support connection. 

We see ourselves as part of the worldwide emerging trauma-informed movement and view this as an opportunity to learn from each other as part of the gift of a more interconnected planet. Our anti-bias efforts are an expression of our trauma-responsive orientation and commitment.  We are committed to our ongoing learning, development, and building relationships with individuals and organizations that are aligned with our mission for supporting mental health professionals in their work with healing complex trauma.

As a diverse group of individuals that make up the Complex Trauma Training Center and its global community, we are committed to ongoing self-reflection; facilitating discussions around anti-bias and DIB amongst our staff, training teams, and community; seeking specialized training for all members of CTTC; pursuing our own studies; refining and evolving our own programs; engaging other organizations, associations, and key partners in dialogue; and holding regular meetings for our Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DIB) committee. 

We commit to:

• Safe learning environment – We understand that particularly for participants of color and from other minority groups, being in a training and training community where the majority of participants represent the dominant culture can lead to concerns around safety, being seen, heard, valued, and feeling like one can belong. We focus on creating learning environments and a training community that facilitates connection through our shared humanity while creating space for each participant’s own individual and cultural experience.

• Cultural Humility – We hold the intention of meeting every training participant – and everyone in our international community – with the spirit of cultural humility, which includes learning, accountability, and growth in response to oversights, mistakes, and/or errors. We strive to meet each other with curiosity and acceptance so that differences can support connection.

• Global Lens – We are committed to holding a global lens in recognition that our professional community extends well beyond just the United States, and we strive not to be American-centric in our ideas and approaches to DIB. 

• • In holding a global awareness, we are open to learning from all our international community members and partnerships about other perspectives, about what we don’t know, and about how we can create even more optimal learning environments and supportive community relationships. 

• Accessibility through scholarship and community partnerships – It is a core value at CTTC to serve underserved and marginalized communities by providing opportunities for the training of helping professionals who work with and come from these communities. 

• • We aim to collaborate with helping professionals from all backgrounds in order to collectively work toward the healing of complex, cultural and intergenerational trauma patterns.

• Ongoing DIB Committee – We are dedicated to our own internal learning as a trauma-informed training Institute, as well as learning in collaboration with others and training on DIB.

• • As part of our holding regular meetings for our Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DIB) committee, we will be addressing, adjusting and evolving all aspects of CTTC from a standpoint of reflection, learning, and growth.  

For NARM Training Participants and Global Community Members:

If you experience culturally insensitive behavior from any place within CTTC, including faculty, training team or staff, please contact us as soon as possible. We ask that you bring this to us directly, as it is our intention to stay in relationship with you, learn from these experiences, and collaborate on finding solutions and repair. We recognize that in some cases speaking directly to us about your experience can be difficult.  We are open to receiving feedback through whatever communication channel feels most useful. 

• Here are a few options if the issues demand immediate attention:
  • Speak privately to your Training Assistant
  • Request to speak privately to the Lead Training Assistant of your training 
  • Request to speak privately to the Lead Trainer of your training 
  • Confidentially contact our Training Manager at: admin@complextraumatrainingcenter.com 
• Here are a few options if the issues do not demand immediate attention:
  • Report your concerns on your training evaluation form, which allows you to submit feedback anonymously if you prefer
  • Set up time to talk with our Training Manager: admin@complextraumatrainingcenter.com