Integrating Trauma-Informed Care Into Your Everyday Life
What is Trauma?
“It is an individual’s subjective experience that determines whether an event is or is not traumatic… an event or situation creates psychological trauma when it overwhelms the individual’s perceived ability to cope… The individual feels emotionally, cognitively, and physically overwhelmed. The circumstances of the event commonly include abuse of power, betrayal of trust, entrapment, helplessness, pain, confusion, and/or loss.”
— Judith Herman on Trauma and Recovery
Effects of Trauma
- Cognitive: loss of memory, dissociation, perceptions of dangerousness, impaired decision making, thoughts of suicide, intrusive thoughts, flashbacks
- Physical: somatization: pain or fatigue, injuries, changes in limbic system functioning, neurotransmitter dysregulation, sleep disturbances, high blood pressure
- Interpersonal: secondary traumatization of others, changes to support system, social withdrawal, irritability, distrust, increased conflict
- Emotional: emotional dysregulation, numbing or apathy, excessive guilt, confusion, depression/anxiety, feelings of hopelessness, feeling helpless, loss of control
- Behavioral: reenactments, self-harm or self-destructive behaviors, avoidance, substance use, hypervigilance, harming others, changes in routine and/or appearance
- Spiritual: loss of faith, searching for meaning or understanding, responses from a religious community, changes in belief systems
What does trauma-informed care look like?
Trauma-informed care refers to the different ways that an individual’s work and interactions are influenced by their understanding of trauma.
Trauma-informed care paradigms seek to empower and restore a sense of control for survivors, and specific approaches are designed to decrease the likelihood that talking about trauma will re-traumatize someone who has been affected by trauma.
Trauma-Informed Values (Adapted from SAMHSA)
- Safety: ensuring physical and emotional safety.
- Trust and Clarity: building trust by maintaining boundaries.
- Choice and Control: having the individual’s personal choice and control be a priority.
- Compassion and Support: offering compassion and support by using a non-judgmental attitude toward the individual and their willingness to engage in conversation with you.
- Collaboration: Working together to identify what feels healing and supportive for the individual.
- Strength-based: emphasizing the individual’s strengths and resilience.
- Cultural Sensitivity: being respectful to the diverse identities of individuals who have been affected by trauma, as well as the ways that they cope with their experiences.
- Empowerment: helping an individual feel in control and free to make their own choices.
Integrating Trauma-Informed Care Into Your Everyday Life
- Create a safe space by displaying warmth and empathy.
- Let the other person know that they are loved and supported.
- Demonstrate compassion by being supportive of the emotions that someone who has been impacted by trauma may be feeling.
- Actively listen to the other person and keep an open mind, to let them know that they are being heard.
- Avoid forms of physical contact, such as hugs and handshakes, unless initiated by the other person.
- Use language that emphasizes strength and resilience.
- Be present and let the other person take control and make their own choices.
- Respond to a person’s experiences with belief and validation.
- Be considerate with your words and actions by adapting the language you use to match the other person.
Additional Resources
- UCI CARE: (949) 824–7273 or email care@uci.edu. M-F: 8 AM-5 PM.
- UCI Counseling Center: (949) 824–6457.
Sources
(Trauma-Informed Care in Behavioral Health Services. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (U.S.); 2014.)
