What is Trauma Informed Care?

​PTSD and Trauma

The unfortunate reality of the world is that 70 percent of people will experience at least one traumatic event in their lifetime. Of those, at least a fifth will develop some form of post-traumatic stress disorder. Trauma comes from many experiences like war, violence and abuse, sudden loss, accidents, or natural disasters. Both experiencing it or even witnessing such events can lead to some level of trauma. It is a common misconception that PTSD is an issue only for soldiers. It is also not uncommon for people to believe something “doesn’t count” as a traumatic event for one reason or another. However, it is not for one person to define what trauma is or how things affect others. But because of these ideas, many people don’t reach out for help after such events. 

We understand that trauma comes from many sources and isn’t always easy for clients to recognize. Trauma can even be passed down from one generation to another and increase a person's chances of developing chronic health conditions. Whether trauma is the cause of anxiety and depressive episodes or is adding to an existing issue, we use trauma-informed care to help identify and heal trauma throughout our clients’ journeys.

Trauma-informed Care

Trauma isn’t present in every situation when someone seeks out mental health care. Regardless, we believe it’s important to consider at every point in the therapy process. Our goal is to build trust and a safe environment to promote healing and avoid re-traumatization. Looking at therapy as a partnership between the therapist and client helps provide transparency and empowerment. Clients can participate more fully in their care and build confidence to advocate for themselves in potentially triggering situations. Trauma-informed care can also reduce stress and burnout in our staff, allowing us to provide better support in all situations.



Resources Used:

“PTSD Facts and Statistics: The Recovery Village.” Edited by Megan Hill, The Recovery Village Drug and Alcohol Rehab, The Recovery Village Drug and Alcohol Rehab, 26 Aug. 2021, https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/mental-health/ptsd/related/ptsd-statistics/. 

Tello, Monique. “Trauma-Informed Care: What It Is, and Why It's Important.” Harvard Health, 16 Oct. 2018, https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/trauma-informed-care-what-it-is-and-why-its-important-2018101613562. 

Trauma-Informed Care Implementation Resource Center, 5 Apr. 2022, https://www.traumainformedcare.chcs.org/.