Many people seek therapy because they have suffered through a traumatic event. But not every therapist is truly prepared to support clients with post-traumatic stress disorder or related conditions. 

Trauma-informed care is a concept in the mental health field that is growing in importance. Today, more and more therapists recognize just how past trauma can lead to many mental health conditions down the line. A specialized framework is necessary to help clients in this position heal. But what is trauma-informed care, and how does it differ from traditional talk therapy? Furthermore, why do so many people who enroll in therapy require this kind of approach to treatment? Here are the principles of trauma-informed care, and why it is so important.

Starting From The Right Position

Today, many therapists have found that it is beneficial to assume that there is a high chance a new client has suffered from trauma in the past. The current mental health condition that they are dealing with may be linked, in part, to that traumatic event. The trauma-informed framework allows therapists to start from a position where they are asking the client what happened to them in the past, rather than what is wrong with them.

Establish Safety

In trauma-informed therapy, establishing physical and emotional safety between the therapist and the client is of the utmost importance. Someone who has lived through trauma often worries that they are unsafe. This occurs even in situations where they are not being physically threatened. This can negatively impact their quality of life. A trauma-informed therapist will make every effort to make their clients feel safe.

Build Trust

Trauma-informed therapy places a heavy emphasis on building trust between the client and the therapist. Often, people who have survived trauma often feel as though they cannot trust anybody, because someone betrayed their trust previously. Now, they may not be able to let their guard down. In trauma-informed therapy, they can learn what a trustworthy bond feels like in the context of their relationship with their therapist.

Collaboration

In therapy, nothing is more empowering than the moment that the client feels they have made a breakthrough on their own. It is very important that therapists give clients the support they need to make proactive choices and come to their own realizations. Many people with trauma feel that they no longer have agency. But trauma-informed therapy can help them regain a sense of autonomy and independence in their own lives. Their therapist can grant them the tools they need to feel like the master of their own choices. That’s why the collaborative nature of trauma-informed therapy is so valuable.

Sensitivity 

Many people who have suffered from trauma come from marginalized backgrounds. A counselor who practices trauma-informed therapy will take care to be sensitive to their clients’ race, gender, ethnicity, culture, religious background, or any other identity that may have a significant impact on their life.

Compassionate Response

Overall, trauma-informed therapy invokes a compassionate response from the therapist. Lots of people who have suffered through trauma feel that people in their lives dismissed or diminished their experiences. They may feel like other people do not believe them, or are not willing to acknowledge the hardships that they have lived through. Compassion is the core of trauma-informed therapy. The therapist will acknowledge and validate what their client has been through, and recognize that their emotional response makes sense in the context of their experiences. 

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Are you struggling to cope in the aftermath of a traumatic event? Working with a therapist who specializes in trauma-informed care can help. Reach out to us today to discuss your options for scheduling your first session.