Trauma-Informed Therapy Explained

Recipe

5 May

Trauma varies significantly in its effect on individuals.

While some people may quickly recover from an adverse event, others might find their coping abilities profoundly altered, affecting their self-perception and interactions with their environment and in their relationships.

Trauma-informed therapy represents a paradigm shift, focusing on understanding the root causes of distress by asking, “What happened to you?” rather than “What’s wrong with you?” This approach emphasizes understanding a client’s complete history — both past and present — to provide effective therapeutic care.

Trauma-Informed Therapy: A Definition

The diversity in origin and effect of trauma necessitates a deep understanding of its nature and the subtleties of its influence on the human psyche.

Trauma-informed therapy is a therapeutic approach that recognizes and understands the pervasive nature and impact of trauma (Evans & Coccoma, 2014). It emphasizes the physical, psychological, and emotional safety of the client and helps survivors rebuild a sense of control and empowerment.

The goals of trauma-informed therapy are to address the symptoms and behaviors resulting from trauma and empower individuals with the skills and understanding necessary for long-term healing and resilience (Black et al., 2012).

Types of trauma

Trauma is an intricate and deeply personal experience, leaving invisible wounds that often go unnoticed.

These life-changing experiences can be:

One-time acute trauma from a single incident
Chronic trauma from repeated and prolonged stressors
Complex trauma stemming from exposure to multiple traumatic events
Vicarious trauma
A result of generational or historical injustices

Each type of trauma leaves a unique imprint on an individual’s emotional and psychological state that shapes our mental and emotional landscape (Evans & Coccoma, 2014; Knight, 2019).

8 Key Principles of Trauma-Informed Care

Trauma-informed care, a vital approach in mental health, acknowledges trauma’s impact and aims to establish a safe, healing environment (Menschner & Maul, 2016).

It is based on a number of crucial principles that are essential for successful therapy: (SAMHSA, 2020)

Safety first
The primary focus is creating a physically and emotionally secure environment, including maintaining confidentiality and establishing clear boundaries, to help survivors regain control and trust.
Trustworthiness and transparency
Essential in trauma therapy, trust is built through honesty, reliability, and clear communication, forming the bedrock of the therapeutic relationship.
Empowerment and choice
Addressing the powerlessness often felt by trauma survivors, autonomy involves providing choices, involving them in treatment decisions, and recognizing their strengths to restore their sense of control.
Cultural sensitivity
Acknowledging and respecting cultural differences is key, as trauma experiences and responses can vary significantly across cultures.
Avoiding re-traumatization
Trauma-informed care involves being mindful of potential triggers to prevent re-traumatization, ensuring a safer therapeutic journey.
Understanding the impact of trauma
Recognizing the profound effects of trauma on mental, emotional, and physical health, including common responses like hypervigilance and dissociation, is critical for effective treatment.
Collaboration and coordination
A multidisciplinary approach, coordinating with various professionals and services, is essential to providing comprehensive care to trauma survivors.
Self-care for caregivers
Caregivers must prioritize self-care to avoid burnout and vicarious trauma, ensuring their capacity to provide the best possible care.
These principles collectively form the foundation of trauma-informed therapy, guiding therapists to support clients through their trauma with empathy, understanding, and effective strategies.