Trauma- Informed Services! What’s that?
What is a trauma-informed service?
We offer “trauma-informed” services. What exactly does that mean?
At IWTW, we understand the physical, psychological, mental, and emotional impact of trauma and the role it plays in a person’s life. Our intent is to ensure that our space is welcoming and engaging to our clients. We aim for you to feel safe, seen and heard and hope to help you heal both body and mind.
What is considered trauma?
Many may define trauma as an “emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, sexual assault, or natural disaster.”
We define trauma as anything that has left a negative impact on you, no matter how big or small. It can change the way you view yourself, others, and the world around you.
A trauma-informed approach
Trauma-Informed Care is led by five Guiding Principles that serve as a framework for how service providers and care systems can work together to lessen the risk of re- traumatization.
The Five Guiding Principles are; safety, choice, collaboration, trustworthiness and empowerment. (what’s the source?)
With that in mind, both therapist and client work together in a framework of wellbeing which also provides better clinical outcomes when implemented. Providing a safe environment, physically and emotionally, allows for an open and honest therapeutic relationship while choice, collaboration, trustworthiness and empowerment provide respect for one another and the client’s narrative. These principles also ensure that the client is in charge of the treatment, so that IWTW’s therapists will guide, rather than direct and center the care around each client’s needs. This will allow for a natural or organic process of healing.
Trauma-informed goals
People require a sense of security and accommodations to make them feel welcome and comfortable in therapy or counseling sessions. As for our targeted clients—first responders, helpers and healers—can benefit from trauma-informed care as it provides a safe space for them to be treated as people first and can provide a toolkit to overcome their anxieties of stigma and differential treatment. Overall, the goal is to understand their jobs and the dangerous challenges they face on a daily basis while also realizing that "the job" is only one part of their identity and he or she may want to heal concerns not only related to work.
Listening and validating our client’s feelings and viewpoints is key. Throughout the counseling process the emphasis is on the client’s needs, and placed on the five guiding principles: safety, choice, collaboration, trustworthiness and empowerment.
Many people who suffer from trauma struggle to maintain positive, open relationships with their health care providers, however, trauma- informed care can help to break this barrier and cultivate a natural and safe healing process.
Sources:
Summary from Harris, M. & Fallot, R. (2001). Using trauma theory to design service systems. New directions in mental health services, Jossey-Bass, 89, Spring.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK207195/
