Trauma Informed Care
Used by organisations whose focus is about looking after people, such as health professionals or the police, Trauma Informed Care is a set of principles that organisations can adopt that minimises the risk of re-traumastising a person. It looks to shift an organsations systems and procedures away from thinking “What is wrong with this person?” to “What has happened to this person?”
What is Trauma-Informed Care
Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) is an approach used in the field of human service. TIC acknowledges the presence of trauma symptoms and the role trauma may play in a person’s life. It assumes and takes the approach that an individual is more likely than not to have a history of trauma.
TIC changes organisational culture to emphasise respecting and appropriately responding to the effects of trauma at all levels. Trauma-Informed Care requires a system and organisation to move from asking, “What is wrong with this person?” to “What has happened to this person?” The goal is to have the practice and awareness of trauma-informed care become second nature across all service responses.
TIC intends not to treat symptoms or issues related to physical, emotional or sexual abuse but to provide support services in an accessible and appropriate way to those who may have experienced trauma. When services or operating procedures do not use a TIC approach, the possibility of triggering trauma symptoms and re-traumatising individuals increases.
Re-Traumatisation
Re-traumatisation can involve the environment or situation that resembles or reminds an individual of their trauma, literally or symbolically. Re-traumatisation triggers reactions and feelings associated with the original trauma.
Re-traumatisation is often unintentional. Some “obvious” practices that could be re-traumatising include the use of restraints or isolation; however, less apparent practices or situations could involve specific smells, sounds or types of interactions.
Understanding re-traumatisation is important, as individuals who are traumatised multiple times frequently have heightened trauma symptoms. Individuals with numerous trauma experiences often are less willing to engage in treatment.
Re-traumatisation may also occur when engaging with individuals with a history of intergenerational and/or cultural trauma experience.
A Trauma Informed Care Approach
A TIC approach strives to understand the complete individual seeking services. Trauma affects an individual’s sense of self, their sense of others, and their beliefs about the world. These beliefs can directly impact an individual’s ability or motivation to connect with and use support services. A TIC approach realises the direct impact trauma can have on people accessing services and responds by changing policies, procedures and practices to minimise potential barriers. A system utilising a TIC approach integrates knowledge about trauma into all aspects of its services and trains staff to recognise the signs and symptoms of trauma. Thus avoiding any possibility of re-traumatisation.
An Informed Approach
A TIC approach strives to understand the complete individual seeking services. Trauma affects an individual’s sense of self, their sense of others, and their beliefs about the world. These beliefs can directly impact an individual’s ability or motivation to connect with and use support services. A TIC approach realises the direct impact trauma can have on people accessing services and responds by changing policies, procedures and practices to minimise potential barriers. A system utilising a TIC approach integrates knowledge about trauma into all aspects of its services and trains staff to recognise the signs and symptoms of trauma. Thus avoiding any possibility of re-traumatisation.
The Five Principles Of Trauma Informed Care
Trauma-Informed Care follows five guiding principles as a framework for how service providers and care systems can work to reduce the likelihood of re-traumatisation. These general principles are used across a variety of service settings. Rather than providing a set of practices and procedures, the principles can be interpreted and applied in ways that are appropriate for a specific type of service setting.
1. Safety – Ensuring physical and emotional safety through the individual experience
2. Choice – Ensuring the individual has choice, along with a clear and appropriate message about their rights and responsibilities.
3. Collaboration – Ensure the individual is involved and empowered in all decisions about the services they can access.
4. Trustworthiness – Ensuring the individual knows that the provider is trustworthy. This can involve respecting and maintaining personal boundaries.
5. Empowerment – Providing an atmosphere that allows individuals to feel validated and affirmed with every contact.
Conclusion
In conclusion Trauma Informed Care is about radically shifting an organsations, systems and procedures away from thinking “What is wrong with this person?” to “What has happened to this person?”. It requires a holistic review, an organisational wide shift that is driven from the top of the organisation down.
Conclusion
In conclusion Trauma Informed Care is about radically shifting an organsations, systems and procedures away from thinking “What is wrong with this person?” to “What has happened to this person?”. It requires a holistic review, an organisational wide shift that is driven from the top of the organisation down.