Trauma-Informed Care: A Model for Building Safety & Trust

According to research, individuals who have experienced trauma are at an elevated risk for substance use disorders, including abuse and dependence; mental health problems (e.g., depression and anxiety symptoms or disorders, impairment in relational/social and other major life areas, other distressing symptoms); and physical disorders and conditions, such as sleep, eating, and body dysmorphic disorders (SAMSHA, 2014). 

The National Council for Wellbeing in 2023 reported that 70% of adults in the U.S. have experienced some type of traumatic event at least once in their lives. Single, multiple, or chronic exposures to traumatic events, as well as the emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and spiritual responses to trauma, are considered elements of trauma. Trauma can happen at any age to virtually anyone, and it can be triggered suddenly or recalled at any time. 

Welcome to trauma-informed care. Trauma-informed care acknowledges there are many ingredients prior to, during, and after traumatic experiences that can help set the stage for recovery (SAMSHA, 2014). These social-ecological impacts are complicated and unpredictable—this is something a trauma-informed provider is in touch with. Recognizing that traumatic experiences and their sequelae tie closely into behavioral health problems, clinicians and community-based programs are building a trauma-informed environment across the continuum of health care. This is what trauma-informed care is evolving into in 2024. It’s not perfect, because we are talking about a system of humans and a tricky one at that. It’s progress, information, and an increase in clarity, education, and considerations for the impacts of trauma. 

What does this mean for clients? It means you are informed of your right to inquire and pursue health care that is, in theory and practice, trauma-informed. This kind of care is designed to meet your needs as a client in a safe, collaborative, and compassionate manner. A trauma-informed provider will work to prevent practices that retraumatize people with histories of trauma who are seeking help or receiving services. It is strengths-and resiliency-based care that takes into account the contexts of your life, such as your home environment, your community, your cultural identities, and so on. The most important foundational piece is your emotional safety as a client. Your therapist and health care team should feel safe, inclusive, and foster a non-judgement, supportive environment. 

Trauma Resources
If you want to delve into supportive resources out there on the internet, there is a wealth of PTSD and trauma-specific materials and modalities to choose from. Below are a few of my favorite, most reliable recommendations when working with people who want to learn and understand as much about trauma and its impacts to them for the sake of self-study and growth. 

How to Manage Trauma Infographic

David Baldwin’s Trauma Information Pages: These Trauma Pages focus primarily on emotional trauma and traumatic stress, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and dissociation, whether following individual traumatic experience(s) or a large-scale disaster.   

Anxiety and Depression Association of America: The ADAA is the only national, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to informing the public, healthcare professionals, and legislators that anxiety disorders are real, serious, and treatable. ADAA promotes the early diagnosis, treatment, and cure of anxiety disorders and is committed to improving the lives of the people who have them. The ADAA website provides information about the symptoms of PTSD and how it can be treated, in addition to offering a PTSD self-screening tool.

Books:

• Trauma is Really Strange ebook/graphic novel

What is trauma? How does it change the way our brains work? And how can we overcome it? When something traumatic happens to us, we dissociate and our bodies shut down their normal processes. This unique comic explains the strange nature of trauma and how it confuses the brain and affects the body. With wonderful artwork, cat and mouse metaphors, essential scientific facts, and a healthy dose of wit, the narrator reveals how trauma resolution involves changing the body's physiology and describes techniques that can achieve this, including Trauma Releasing Exercises that allow the body to shake away tension, safely releasing deep muscular patterns of stress and trauma.  

• The Complex PTSD Workbook: A mind-body approach to regaining emotional control and becoming whole (Schwartz  2017);
• Healing from Hidden Abuse: A journey thorugh the stages of recovery from psychological abuse (Thomas 2017); 
• Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness: Practices for safe and transformative healing (Treleaven, 2018). 
• It's OK That You're Not OK by Megan Devine. You can learn more about Megan at www.refugeingrief.com, including information on her Writing Your Grief classes, resources, and blogs for grief support. 

Reference: SAMSHA. Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 57. Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (US). Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 2014.