Trauma Informed Care
The more deeply I dive into the world of psychology and healing, the more I crave simple terminology and jargon-free language. In recent years there’s been an explosion of interest in “trauma-informed” everything (care, training, approaches, language, etc). A part of me rebels against using that label in my own work, as it can often be vague and perhaps unhelpful.
I think counsellors should all be “trauma-informed”, especially given the troubles in the world and within our cultures at the moment. But this may depend of what how I define both trauma and trauma-informed care. So let’s get clear on what this somewhat foggy terminology means to me.
Trauma-informed care is an overall approach to care that considers the larger (and deeper) impacts of trauma on an individual. This approach is integrated throughout the session, acting as the ground from which all insight and supports are grown.
I like this approach because it fosters a sense of safety and empowerment for my clients, while considering their dignity and resilience.
Understanding Trauma-Informed Care
Trauma-informed care shifts the focus from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?” This subtle way of reframing the perspective recognises that many of our behaviours and emotional turmoil may be rooted in past experiences, rather than inherent weaknesses or ‘broken’ness’.
A trauma-informed approach is built on several key principles:
Safety – Establishing emotional safety in the therapy room allowing you to engage in the therapeutic process without fear, and trust that you will really be seen and heard.
Transparency – I prefer open communication and sharing to build a solid therapeutic alliance, allowing clients to feel secure and understood.
Collaboration – Recognizing that deep emotional healing is a shared journey. This empowers people in their own choices and reduces the power imbalance found with many older styles of therapy.
Empowerment and Choice – No matter what insights may come up through therapy sessions, it’s up to you to take action. I encourage you to make your own decisions and goals, knowing that you are ultimately the driver of your life.
What does Trauma-Informed Care look like in a Session?
I integrate trauma-informed care principles into my sessions in several ways:
Active Listening – I give you my undivided attention and consideration. You matter and listening to what you need and want to share also matters.
Non-forceful pacing – I tend to let you guide the pace of therapeutic discussions, rather than pushing you to dive deeper than you want to. I understand the importance of building trust before you can be ready to face your deepest concerns. The inner growth needed to share difficult topics may itself be a big part of your healing, and is accepted, not rushed.
Slowing the Thought Loops - By slowing down the conversation and really letting yourself complete an anxiety thought or logical loop to it’s end, you can start to see what your unsaid assumptions are; what implicit rules may be driving your reactions. eg) “I have to yell at them, because they are going too slow” (… because going too slow will put me at risk of getting yelled at; and I can’t tolerate being yelled at or disliked right now; because right now I’m feeling vulnerable and hurt. So I yell to keep myself safe…)
Mindfulness and Grounding Techniques – I like to teach you ways to manage the distress and intense feelings you may feel your drowning in. When you are feeling overstimulated, challenged or hurt, these supports can help you stay present in the moment, rather than reaching for your favorite distractions (devices, food, substances, over-working, or others).
Strengths-Based – I look for examples of your resilience and successes, rather than focusing on your diagnoses, problems or labels (although all information is helpful for context) eg) you may have a long-term history of panic attacks, but you also have a history of surviving these extreme experiences. You have likely learned some important skills because of these experiences, and these skills may be refined or updated through therapy.
Trauma-Informed Care fosters healing by creating a compassionate space where you can feel deeply heard, validated, and empowered to reclaim your life. Through this approach I hope to help you heal from past wounds while also strengthening your ability to build a healthier, more fulfilling future. Trauma-informed care is more than just a set of techniques—it’s a mindset that places compassion, understanding, and empowerment at the heart of counselling.
