Dr Marinei Herselman, a Social Work lecturer in the Department of Criminology, Psychology and Social Work at the University of Fort Hare (UFH), recently presented her pioneering work on trauma-informed care at the European Conference on Social Work Education (ECSSWE) in Salzburg, Austria.
Drawing on decades of professional experience and personal trauma, Dr Herselman titled her presentation: “The Sound of Silence Speaks Loud.” The presentation explored how trauma shapes the lives of social workers, students, and vulnerable communities, and how social work education can play a vital role in supporting healing.
“The theme of the conference, Social Connectedness: Contemporary Challenges and Opportunities, offered a much-needed space to reflect on how trauma and social isolation show up in our work, and how social work education can play a part in healing,” she said.
Trauma
Dr Herselman’s journey began in forensic social work, working with sexually abused children and testifying in court as an expert witness for the South African Police Service.
During her Master’s studies in New York, she witnessed the long-term effects of 9/11.
“I was in NY on 9/11 during the terrorist attacks and worked in NY with many survivors who, after 9/11, either got addicted to drugs, presented with severe mental health conditions (PTSD), or committed suicide.”
Following the tragic loss of her sister, who was murdered in a hijacking in Gqeberha, her work took on a deeply personal significance.
In 2015, she began a PhD examining alternative care under South Africa’s Children’s Act, focusing on child protection social workers in the Eastern Cape.
“My study focused on child protection social workers in the Eastern Cape who, despite their commitment and resilience, were working within broken systems and often carried untreated trauma themselves,” she said.
Dr Herselman’s research revealed a critical but often silent burden. “That study opened my eyes to the emotional cost of care, and the silence that so many practitioners hold, not because they are unwilling to speak, but because there is no space or language for their pain.”
Bridging Research and Practice
Recognising that trauma affects both professionals and students, Dr Herselman developed a Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) programme tailored for high-stress environments.
“I piloted the Trauma Informed Care Programme in Child Protection Services Organizations in the Buffalo City Metro, conducting social work services for children in need of care and protection” she said.
The programme was later registered for Continued Professional Development (CPD) with the South African Council of Social Service Professionals (SACSSP).
“The need was undeniable. It’s clear that trauma does not just affect service users, but it affects all of us.”
“Here at UFH, we’ve embedded trauma-sensitive principles into our third-year social work module, Crisis Intervention Strategies and Clinical Social Work (SWK317). It’s a 16-credit course that blends theory with practical tools, like trauma debriefing, emotional regulation, journaling, intuitive movement, Afrocentric healing rituals, role-plays, and somatic grounding techniques.”
“It has been a humbling process of unlearning, listening, and responding,” she said.
Healing
Central to Dr Herselman’s presentation was this question: “How do we create trauma-informed learning spaces that not only honour the stories of our clients, but also recognise and respond to the unspoken experiences our students bring with them even before they walk through the doors of higher education?”
Her answer: “We respond by remembering that our students arrive carrying stories long before they carry textbooks, and if we can meet them with care, honesty, and presence, learning becomes a place of healing, not harm.”
“Because this work is ultimately about healing. It’s about building a more just and caring world. One where transformation isn’t just a slogan, but something we feel in our classrooms, our clinics, our communities and in ourselves. If we can hold each other through the silence, there’s hope that we’ll move toward something more sustainable, more connected, and more alive,” she concluded.
