Studying trauma-informed psychotherapy allows you to play a vital role in helping others rebuild their lives after trauma. You’ll learn how to support recovery with empathy and skill, collaborating with other healthcare professionals and community services to provide holistic, compassionate care that promotes lasting wellbeing.
At the University of Sydney, you have access to a rich array of bachelor’s degrees within the Faculty of Medicine and Health and Faculty of Science that lay a strong foundation for later postgraduate study in trauma‐informed psychotherapy.
Aside from medicine, degrees in dentistry and oral health, health sciences and allied health, nursing, social work, psychology, counselling and pharmacy can be undertaken as a relevant entry point to trauma-informed psychotherapy.
Each discipline gives a different vantage point on health and healing. For many students, these undergraduate years are where an early interest in trauma first starts to crystallise, through clinical placements, lectures on the nervous system, or encounters with patients whose stories reveal how adversity shapes both body and mind.
These programs offer a strong, versatile entry point into the more specialised, relational, and reflective work of trauma-informed psychotherapy.
Once you have completed an undergraduate degree in medicine or other health sciences, you are well positioned to transition into a postgraduate qualification in trauma-informed psychotherapy.
Trauma-informed psychotherapy is available at the postgraduate level through either a medicine, science or health science pathway, designed to support your professional growth and clinical expertise.
The program is grounded in the Conversational Model, a relational psychodynamic approach developed at Westmead Hospital in Australia by Professor Russell Meares and in the UK by Dr Robert Hobson. This model is internationally recognised for its effectiveness in treating complex trauma and supporting deep psychological change.
Through evidence-informed shared learning across both pathways, you’ll develop the skills to support healing and resilience, promoting wellbeing in the people and communities they work with.
Choosing to study trauma-informed psychotherapy at the University of Sydney places you within one of the country’s most respected medical and health education environments.
Our programs are designed to support professionals across a wide spectrum of clinical backgrounds, whether you are a practising doctor looking to deepen your therapeutic expertise, a psychologist or social worker expanding your work with trauma, or a nurse, counsellor or allied health practitioner seeking advanced clinical capabilities.
The medicine pathway offers structured training for medical practitioners developing careers in psychotherapy, while the health sciences pathway provides a strong fit for clinicians working in mental health, community services and related fields.
Many graduates from areas such as speech pathology, dentistry and school counselling also find these programs valuable as they broaden their scope of practice.
Your studies will be connected to the Westmead Psychotherapy Program for Complex Traumatic Disorders, an internationally recognised centre known for its clinical leadership and innovation in trauma care.
Although teaching is delivered online, students remain closely linked to the Westmead Health and Research Precinct through partnerships with the Western Sydney Local Health District. This ensures learning is grounded in real-world clinical practice and contemporary research.
You’ll be part of a smaller cohort, so you have the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with academic staff and peers, creating a supportive community of practitioners who bring diverse experiences.
Most units include live online seminars and supervision on Thursday mornings, with some subjects offered fully asynchronously for added flexibility.
All programs are delivered part-time, enabling working professionals to integrate postgraduate study into their week while continuing to serve their communities.
With guidance from experienced clinicians, researchers and psychotherapists, students develop the confidence and capability to deliver sensitive, evidence-based trauma care.
Graduates of trauma-informed psychotherapy at the University of Sydney are well placed for diverse and impactful career pathways in psychodynamic psychotherapy across mental health, healthcare, community services, and research.
Clinicians can expand their scope of practice in roles such as psychotherapist, counsellor, mental health clinician, or specialist trauma therapist, working in hospitals, community health centres, private practice, and non-government organisations supporting people affected by trauma.
Many graduates also contribute to multidisciplinary teams within psychiatric services, primary care, or rehabilitation settings, where trauma-informed expertise is increasingly recognised as essential.
For those with an interest in leadership or policy, the program provides a strong foundation for roles that influence service design, training, and clinical governance.
With further research training, graduates may also pursue academic or research careers focused on advancing evidence-based trauma care.
