Trauma: What is it?
Trauma is an emotional response to a distressing or life-threatening event, but its effects go beyond the initial emotional shock. For many people, trauma can shape the way they understand and process the world, their relationships, and their ability to function day to day. This is where trauma-informed care (TIC) comes into play. TIC isn’t just about understanding trauma but about integrating that understanding into every part of support and therapy, ensuring those affected by trauma receive care that is empathetic, properly paced, and effective.
What is Trauma-Informed Care?
At its core, TIC is a treatment framework that involves recognizing, understanding, and responding to the profound effects of trauma on an individual’s well-being. It doesn’t just focus on the trauma itself but on creating an environment where people feel safe, respected, and empowered throughout their healing process. The goal is to shift the care approach from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?”
The principles of trauma-informed care include:
- Safety: Creating a physical and emotional environment that fosters a sense of security.
- Trustworthiness and Transparency: Building trust between the therapist and the individual by maintaining open, honest communication.
- Peer Support: Engaging in relationships that bring you joy and offer mutual understanding and validation.
- Collaboration and Mutuality: Acknowledging that healing is a collaborative process where the individual plays a vital role in their own care.
- Empowerment, Voice, and Choice: Ensuring that individuals are given choices, feel heard, and are empowered to take control of their healing journey.
Working With a Therapist Who Has Trauma Specific Training
One of the most important components of TIC is working with a therapist who is specially trained in trauma. Not all therapists possess the expertise needed to navigate the complexities of trauma, which is why it’s essential to seek out someone with specific trauma training.
Trauma-specific training equips therapists with the knowledge to understand the wide-ranging influence of trauma on a person’s body, mind, and emotions. These therapists are adept at creating safe therapeutic environments, where clients feel validated and supported. They know how to address common trauma responses like hypervigilance, emotional dysregulation, and dissociation, and can tailor their treatment approach to the specific needs of the individual.
Moreover, therapists with trauma-specific training are often well-versed in various trauma treatment modalities such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), somatic experiencing, and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT). Each of these approaches is grounded in an understanding of trauma’s effects and works to address those effects in an individualized way.
Different Types of Trauma: Single Event vs. Complex Trauma
Trauma is not one-size-fits-all. Individuals experience trauma in different ways, and the type of trauma they’ve endured can influence the course of treatment. Generally, trauma can be categorized into two main types: single-event trauma and complex trauma.
- Single-Event Trauma: This occurs when someone experiences one isolated, traumatic event, such as a car accident, natural disaster, or a sudden loss of a loved one. While the emotional toll can be significant, recovery from single-event trauma is often more straightforward, as the event is more contained. Therapy for single-event trauma often focuses on helping individuals process the specific incident, release any lingering emotional or physical distress, and regain a sense of safety.
- Complex Trauma: This type of trauma is more intricate, involving repeated, prolonged exposure to distressing experiences, such as childhood abuse, domestic violence, or chronic neglect. Complex trauma often affects an individual’s sense of self, relationships, and worldview. It can result in long-lasting psychological and emotional issues like anxiety, depression, and dissociation. Because the trauma is ongoing or accumulative, recovery may take longer and require more comprehensive support. Therapists trained in trauma are skilled at working with complex trauma, offering interventions that focus on rebuilding trust, establishing safety, and helping individuals develop healthier coping mechanisms.
An experienced trauma therapist is adept at identifying the type of trauma a person has experienced and tailoring their approach accordingly. This ensures that the individual feels understood and that their treatment is aligned with their unique needs.
Feeling Heard and Supported by Your Care Team
One of the most crucial aspects of trauma-informed care is fostering an environment where individuals feel heard and supported by their care team. Trauma often leaves people feeling powerless and mistrustful of others. When therapists, doctors, or other care providers are dismissive or fail to acknowledge a person’s trauma, it can exacerbate those feelings of isolation and helplessness.
In a trauma-informed approach, care teams make it a priority to listen actively, validate experiences, and support individuals throughout their healing journey. Feeling heard is vital for establishing trust, which is the foundation of effective therapy. A supportive care team also understands the importance of respecting boundaries and giving individuals the autonomy to make decisions about their treatment.
Collaboration is key—working with a team that includes the individual in every step of the process ensures that the care they receive is personalized and empowering. This partnership helps people regain a sense of control over their lives, which can be especially powerful for trauma survivors.
The Importance of Trauma-Informed Care
Trauma-informed care is more than just a buzzword in the mental health field. It’s an important shift in how we approach the treatment of trauma, ensuring that those who have experienced it are met with empathy, understanding, and support. By working with therapists trained in trauma, addressing the specific type of trauma, and creating an environment where individuals feel safe and heard, trauma-informed care offers a pathway to healing that honors the complexity of trauma and the resilience of those who experience it. At Liminal Counselling, in Ajax, ON you will be met with trauma-informed care. Reach out today for the support you are looking for.
