Abstract
"Complex Trauma: A College Counsellor’s Perspective" by Alice Shepard

This essay depicts the experience of a university counsellor’s deepening understanding of complex trauma in connection to students of an educational opportunity programme at a large urban university in New York City. Identifying trauma and complex trauma as salient to working with first-generation and low-income students is necessary to gain a more thoughtful approach to college counselling. It will also strengthen society’s understanding of the continued need for counsellors as an integral part of educational opportunity programmes. Lastly, the author is hopeful that exposing the prevalence of trauma will increase the awareness, training, and support for counselling services provided to marginalised students.