October 9, 2025 | 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. EST | Live Online

Do you feel confident conducting trauma-informed investigations?

64% of Canadians report being exposed to at least one traumatic event in their lifetime. Trauma-informed practice is no longer optional. Mishandling these investigations can erode trust, cause harm, and compromise the integrity of the outcome.

Applying trauma-informed principles effectively requires more than just awareness, it takes skill.

This live online course bridges the gap between theory and practice. You’ll leave with concrete tools, deeper understanding and greater confidence in your ability to lead fair, effective, trauma-informed investigations.

What You’ll Learn:

1. The Neurobiology of Trauma
 Presented by Dr. Jim Hopper (Independent Consultant & Teaching Associate, Harvard Medical School)

Understand what happens in the brain during trauma, how memory encoding and retrieval are impacted by trauma and stress, and why a "reflexes and habits" model offers a more reliable framework than "fight, flight, freeze, fawn."

You’ll leave with a clearer understanding of trauma’s neurological impacts and how to use that knowledge to support participants and shape better interviews.


2. Practical Application of Trauma-Informed Principles
 Led by Laura Hutchinson (Co-CEO, Barker Hutchinson)

Gain hands-on tools to bring trauma-informed care into every step of your process—from intake to final report writing. Through interactive case studies, you’ll learn how to:

  • Build rapport and trust with trauma-affected individuals
  • Conduct trauma-informed interviews using empathic communication
  • Avoid common mistakes that damage participant trust
  • Apply a person-centered lens to your interactions throughout the investigation


3. Managing Vicarious Trauma
 Trauma affects investigators too. This session helps you recognize the signs of vicarious trauma and gives you tools to protect your well-being and maintain professional clarity.

Why This Course is Different:

  • Built for real-world impact: Based on hundreds of investigations, this training reflects the latest trauma-informed strategies used by top regulatory and workplace investigators.
  • Practical focus: We go beyond theory with real-life case scenarios and small group practice.
  • Expert-led: You’ll learn directly from Dr. Jim Hopper and Laura Hutchinson, two leading voices in trauma and investigation practice.

Led by Leading Experts in the Field


Dr. Jim Hopper | Teaching Associate in Psychology, Harvard Medical School

Dr. Hopper is an internationally recognized expert in the neurobiology of trauma, with over 25 years of experience in research, clinical practice and training. He regularly consults with investigators, prosecutors, judges and administrators in both civilian and military contexts. His sessions combine scientific insight with practical relevance to investigative professionals.

 

Laura Hutchinson | Co-CEO, Barker Hutchinson

Laura is a respected speaker and trainer on person-centered, trauma-informed investigation practices. She brings extensive experience conducting and supervising investigations, particularly in healthcare and regulatory settings, and is the creator of Canada’s first national training platform for regulatory investigators. Laura’s approach is rooted in both deep investigative knowledge and practical experience.

Who Should Attend:

This course is designed for professionals who want to strengthen their investigative practice through a trauma-informed lens, including:

  • Investigators looking to deepen their trauma-informed interviewing skills
  • Mid-career professionals seeking to refresh and modernize their approach
  • HR and regulatory professionals expanding into investigative work
  • Anyone tasked with sensitive interviews or investigations who wants practical, hands-on training

Course Details

  • Date: Thursday, October 9, 2025
  • Time: 9:00am – 5:00pm EST
  • Location: Live Online (link provided upon registration)
  • Investment: $675 per person
    Group Discount: $100 per person for teams of 4 of more


Spots are limited. Don’t miss your chance to join.

What Others Have to Say About Our Training

Past Particpant Course Rating: 9.2/10

“It was captivating, interactive and applicable to my job.”

“The content was excellent. The facilitation was perfect. Informative on all fronts.”

“It was very informative. Both Dr. Hopper and Laura Hutchinson were extremely knowledgeable and experienced in the area, which came across. It really resonated with me, and I found myself talking to my family about the training over the weekend, as it really is relevant across many fields and contexts.”

“Having a day set aside to consider trauma informed investigations and interviews was really useful. I also find Laura's examples of phrasing SO useful to have in my toolbox. I regularly use phrases that I have learned from Laura during similar sessions in my day-to-day work.”

“The combination of neurobiology and practical interviewing techniques helped me understand in a whole new way how to view complainants, recognize my own biases and set up interviews with safety so that I'm able to obtain as much important (and accurate) information as possible.”

“I really did appreciate this training a lot and know I will be better at my job because of it.”