Have you heard the term ‘trauma-informed care,’ and wondered just what this involves? Do you have trauma and wonder if those who provide health or educational care about whether they are attentive to what’s going on with you? If so, then this blog post is a good one to read.
Trauma-Informed Care is an Important Advancement Today
With all of the increases in the experiences of trauma in our world, it is a positive development that healthcare and educational providers are becoming aware of and trained in what is called trauma-informed care. By its definition, it is a “model of care that recognizes the impact of trauma on individuals, well-being, and aims to prevent re-traumatization.“ This is very important to help create a kind of firewall around individuals and groups experiences of trauma so that they are taken care of in a way that does not, at the very least, worsen the problem.
What are Some of the Characteristics of Trauma-Informed Care?
One of the primary aspects of this model is understanding, which involves acknowledging the need to understand the patient’s life experiences to deliver effective care. This involves recognizing the symptoms and widespread impact of trauma according to SAMHSA and the United Kingdom. Beyond this, it involves working with individuals in such a way that they do not become traumatized because of the way their caregivers interact with them.
Why has Trauma-Informed Care Become Important Now?
As I mentioned earlier, this may very well be because of how widespread trauma has become in our world due to various armed conflicts, widespread impacts of the climate crisis, and the outcome of recent pandemics. None of these appear to be going away anytime soon, so the importance of them is continually increasing.
Trauma-Informed Care and Discrimination
One of the other reasons that trauma-informed care has become so important now has to do with disparities based on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, and geography, according to one source on the subject. People who have been discriminated against because of one of these reasons have a particular need for this to be recognized and openly discussed in caregiving settings. I make it a point to bring up these issues with my clients, so as to be able to support them in discussing the effects of discrimination of various types in their lives.
What To Do If Trauma-Informed Care is Lacking in Your Community
This is not a simple matter and subject to deal with in any way shape or form. You can go to the SAMSHA website to read their document on trauma informed care, and provide information on this to your health or educational facility that you may interact with. Some employers are also becoming more aware of the need for this kind of model to be implemented in their settings. Even though many institutions are embracing this model in principle at least, there is the potential for pushback and resistance, depending on the setting. In such cases, it could be important to reach out to others that you know, either individually or organizationally to encourage the adoption of this model where you live and work. One resource is www.chcs.org here in the United States.
What To Do If the Lack of Trauma-Informed Care is Worsening Your Trauma
If you need help in treating your trauma or have an experience with an educational or healthcare setting that is worsening your own experience of trauma, you are welcome to reach out to me if you live in Maryland or Texas for a free 20 minute phone consult on whether I can help you in your own situation. I’ve been helping my clients to recover from trauma for the vast majority of my social work career. I would be happy to talk to you so you could get a better idea about whether I could help you with your situation. The need to have trauma treated is all important for yourself and those that you care for and love going well into the future. Please don’t hesitate to take care of yourself and those you care for who may be impacted by trauma in any way.
Visit our page on trauma therapy to learn more about how Scott can help you with trauma- informed care.
About the author: Scott Kampschaefer, LCSW is a private practice therapist in Frederick, Maryland. He has an extensive background in working with depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder at a clinic for older adults with these disorders in Austin, Texas. He now works with adults and adolescents 14 and up in private practice. His most recent book is titled The 5 Pillars of Addiction Recovery and is available for purchase on Amazon and in paperback on this website.