RECENT TRAINING IN PERSON TAURANGA 

The most recent training event I did was in August 2025 for Grief Support in Tauranga Bay of Plenty. The topic was 'Inviting conversations about spirituality in health and social care interactions'. I have a book on this topic coming out soon that myself and my colleague Dominic Chilvers who leads the Social Work training Program at Ara University in Christchurch have just completed. One of the key features is the spiritual river model (c).

The basis of the way that spirituality is defined in this training is 'relational consciousness' (see my articles in tee research section for more information). 

Online Trauma-Informed Mindfulness Training

The free video below is a sample of the videos that are available in the full Practitioner Training Course in Trauma Informed Mindfulness. In addition to step-by-step videos explaining the whole model, there is a companion workbook available as a downloadable pdf. Chapter by chapter the student workbook is available alongside the videos for each lesson, and the Power Point slides that go with each lesson. ONLY $13.99

The full TIM Practitioner Training course is currently available through Udemy. Click on the image below to go to the Udemy enrolment page.

I have been teaching and training front line emergency services, health and social care workers, community organisations and university students for many years, and am happy to discuss your training requirements with you. This could be a one-hour professional development presentation or workshop, or a whole day tailored to your organisation's needs. My specialist area is holistic Trauma-responsive care and risk management.

PAST TRAINING

If you are interested in more information about any of these topics and want to book some training for your organisation or discuss your requirements further, please email with a short message.

COURSE 2:  Trauma Models

This training was a continuation from course 1 with the aim to advance participants with how to effectively implement trauma models into their practice so they can safely support clients with trauma. The training covered:

  • Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)

CBT comprises a relationship between Thoughts, Emotions, Somatic responses, and Behaviours that occur in response to an activating or triggering event. Delegates learned the difference between prolonged exposure CBT, which involves first person recounting of the trauma event, and using the four components of pure CBT as separate resources to aid emotion regulation, and to challenge avoidance and negative thinking. 

  • Trauma Tapping Technique (TTT)

Originally devised as a somatic approach to supporting psychological healing of child soldiers in Africa, TTT can be easily adapted for any clinical setting. TTT can be practitioner-led in a one-to-one or group setting and can also be taught to clients as a self-help tool. With a strong evidence base, this approach is simple and effective.

  • Dialectic Behaviour Therapy (DBT)

Originally devised to support people with Borderline Personality Disorder, DBT comprises three components: Skills, Risk Diaries, and Behaviour Chain Analysis. Delegates were introduced to the four skill sets, Emotion Regulation, Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, and Interpersonal Effectiveness. Delegates learned how to develop a risk diary, and how to engage clients in a Behaviour Chain Analysis. 
 
Supporting resources were provided for each model. 
​

Introduction to Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) 

In a series of mini-workshops featuring Dr Nikki Kiyimba, each session focused on a different aspect of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), making them ideal for counsellors, social workers, HIP’s and health coaches.

  • Session One – Overview of DBT and Behaviour Chain Analysis
  • Session Two – Diary keeping homework and overview of DBT skills
  • Session Three – DBT skills focus and putting it all together

Example of In Person Trauma-Responsive Training Day

This is a six hour training day programme (typically 9am-4.30pm including a 1 hr lunchbreak and two 15 minute morning and afternoon breaks). We can accomodate some flexibility to suit your needs, but recommend that breaks are kept so that participant's well-being is not compromised.

Connection:

The kaupapa of Mātai Rongo is that human connection forms the foundation of safe trauma work. Training events will typically prioritise time at the beginning to model this.

Information:

Trauma-responsive care involves allowing choice and providing information. Before the training starts participants will have access to the training resources so that you can request anything that is not planned to be covered be included, or so that you can choose not to attend certain parts. Information about the structure of the day is provided, so you can plan your other commitments around the schedule and manage your self-care in a way that works best for you.

Theory:

A presentation and discussion of what it means to experience trauma, complex trauma, collective and intergenerational trauma, including DSM/ICD definitions. Clarification about what trauma-informed and trauma-responsive means and looks like in practice.

Application:

Taking the theory out of the classroom and applying it to your real-life context, so that you can assess the strengths of your organisation, and explore next steps in enhacing wellbeing of staff, and creating safety and a healing environment for your clients with lived experience of trauma.

Skills:

Learning some easy and effective 'do it the next day' skills for trauma-responsive practice that will increase your competence and confidence in collaborating in trauma-responsive care with those you work with. 

Resources:

Mātai Rongo provides a powerpoint guided presentation, and printed workbooks for participants, with links to additional resources

Follow-up:

All Mātai Rongo training participants have access to follow-up consultation and support with Nikki in person or via Zoom