It's strange for me to say this because I never would have thought I felt this way, but I don't think training or a degree amounts to much, as long as the counselor has the wisdom and instinct to know how to work with me. If I were dealing with trauma, I would want a reference and a person with training specifically for that, instead of sharing my trauma with the counselor not knowing whether or not she knows how to handle this in a sensitive and productive way.