Trauma-Informed Practice Quick Guide
What is Trauma-Informed Practice?
Trauma-informed practice recognises and responds to the effects of trauma on individuals. It aims to deliver services in a way that is sensitive to the experiences of trauma survivors, fostering safety, trust, and empowerment. The approach is not about providing treatment or clinical interventions but creating an environment where individuals feel respected and supported.
Key Principles of Trauma-Informed Practice:
Do No Harm:
The foundational principle of trauma-informed practice is to avoid causing further harm. This requires creating safe and supportive environments where individuals do not feel threatened or re-traumatised.
Understand Trauma’s Impact:
Recognise that trauma can profoundly affect the brain and body, influencing behaviour, emotions, and physical health. This takes empathy and patience. Symptoms and behaviours often viewed as problematic are understood as coping mechanisms developed in response to trauma.
Focus on What Happened, Not What’s “Wrong”:
Trauma-informed practice shifts the focus from asking “What is wrong with you?” to “What has happened to you?” This perspective encourages a compassionate and non-judgmental approach to understanding a person’s experiences and responses.
Sensitivity to Comfort Levels:
We need to be sensitive to people's comfort levels, acknowledging that trauma can affect how they experience and respond to services. The way care is provided is as important as the content of the care itself.
Collaboration Over Coercion:
Trauma-informed practice emphasises working with people rather than “doing to” them. This involves actively involving clients in their care, respecting their autonomy, and fostering a partnership built on trust.
What Trauma-Informed Practice Is Not:
Not Clinical Treatment: While it acknowledges the impact of trauma, trauma-informed practice does not require clinical knowledge or the provision of therapeutic treatment. Instead, it focuses on creating supportive environments.
Not One-Size-Fits-All: It is not about following a set protocol but about adapting services to meet the unique needs of each individual, recognising that comfort and safety vary from person to person.
Practical Applications of Trauma-Informed Practice:
- Create Safe Spaces: Ensure that the physical and emotional environment is safe, welcoming, and free from triggers that could re-traumatise individuals.
- Respect Boundaries: Always ask for consent and respect personal boundaries, understanding that trauma survivors may have heightened sensitivities to certain actions or language.
- Empower Through Choice: Offer choices whenever possible to give individuals a sense of control over their care and environment.
- Be Mindful of Language: Use language that is supportive and non-judgmental, avoiding terms that could be perceived as blaming or shaming.
- Provide Predictability: Create a consistent and predictable environment to reduce anxiety and build trust with residents and trainees.