What Is Trauma Informed Care?
If you’ve ever needed behavioral health treatment, you may have encountered the term trauma informed care. But what exactly is trauma informed care?
In simplest terms, if people and organizations were to consider the role that trauma plays in the lives of the client’s they serve, how might they behave differently?
By looking at situations and organizational policies through a “trauma lens,” people can shape the system they’re in to be emotionally and physically safe for all people in their system. Organizations that truly embrace a trauma informed approach will shape their policies, procedures and services to create a physically and psychologically safe environment to treat their clients.
Core Principles of Trauma Informed Care
People and organizations that practice trauma informed care usually carry themselves a bit differently than those who don’t. If you’ve been through a number of different behavioral health organizations, you probably know what I mean. These organizations come off more emotionally intelligent and appear to provide a more safe and supportive environment. Most programs have their own pillars for providing trauma informed care, but by and large, they usually embrace the following principles:
- Trustworthy: Transparency in conversations, actions and overall being. Willing and able to maintain confidential information without feeling retribution.
- Empowerment: Recognition and validation of staff and clients for contributions to the community.
- Safety: Physical and psychological security allows people to share their thoughts and emotions without fear of retribution or scrutiny. Stereotypes, biases and trauma history are acknowledged and addressed.
- Humility: Both staff and clients recognize shortcomings in failure and actions.
- Collaboration: Staff and clients come together to make shared decisions that will impact the group’s wellbeing.
Why Is Trauma Informed Care Important?
There’s a number of reasons why trauma informed care is so important. At the heart of the matter, trauma informed care provides a safe space for everyone in the system, not just clients or patients. We’ll be breaking down how this approach impacts people at an operational level, client level, and its relationship with addiction.
First, trauma informed care is essential to building a strong foundation in relationships across all scenarios. At an operational level, the core tenets described above create a trusting and collaborative environment for co-workers to express their emotions, experiences and thoughts. When we’re empowered to express our thoughts and feelings safely, we’re unconsciously granted the ability to provide unencumbered feedback that can lead to better organizational structures and client care. Arguably, this approach will lead to a better staff experience that trickles down to better client experiences. Moreover, the fallout from not providing this work environment could lead to higher employee turnover, disgruntled customers, mental health drain on employees.
Secondly, trauma informed care provides patients and clients with room to grow psychologically. If done, you will find a physically and emotionally safe environment for clients to express their needs and wants to both staff and peers. By not feeling the need to withhold information, will be able to voice their concerns, resentments and needs from their family and friends. This is incredibly empowering for most people, especially if it’s a foreign practice.
Lastly, there is an incredibly high correlation between trauma and addiction. It would be wise for addiction treatment programs to adopt this type of environment to help create a safe space for them to work through the underlying conditions that led them to addiction.