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Trauma Informed Recovery

Trauma informed care

Trauma Informed Care is an organisational structure and treatment framework that involves understanding, recognising and responding to the effects of all types of trauma. Trauma Informed Care also emphasises physical, psychological and emotional safety for both service users and providers, and helps people rebuild a sense of control and empowerment.

Trauma informed services don't just ask about symptoms. They ask, 'What happened to you?'

Bloom 1994

Words have power

The way in which conversations are approached in mental health services can have a significant impact on the response that is given or felt. In effect words have power. Below are some examples of the attitudes service users are often traditionally faced with.

What is wrong with you?

Instead the Trauma informed approach asks “What happened to you? How did you cope?”

This person is manipulative

Instead the Trauma informed approach says “They are trying to get their needs met.”

They are attention seeking

Trauma informed approach says “They are trying to connect the best way they can”.

They will never get over it, as they’re permanently damaged

The Trauma informed approach says that people can continue to learn effective coping strategies and can recover from trauma.

If I ask them about trauma it will upset them

The Trauma informed approach talks about trauma (without forcing disclosure) gives opportunities to discuss, normalise and learn coping strategies. Failing to ask may reinforce society’s denial of either prevalence or impact of trauma.

Consider me:

u003colu003ern tu003cliu003eCan you relate to any of the approaches described above?u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eHow different would it be for you to be approached in a trauma informed way?u003c/liu003ernu003c/olu003e