Trauma-Informed Therapy : Benifits and Importance

Trauma-Informed Therapy

Taking into account trauma and its impact on clients’ behavior, mental health, and ability to engage in treatment is a crucial component of trauma-informed therapy. Therapists who are trauma-informed assume that their clients may have a history of trauma and take steps to avoid re-traumatizing them.

Trauma: What Is It?

There are many types of trauma, and people can react to a traumatic event in many different ways. People will respond differently to the same event, and not everyone who experiences a traumatic event will experience trauma afterward.

In general, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5)1 defines trauma as: “Exposure to actual or threatened events involving death, serious injury, or sexual abuse in one or more of the following ways:

Direct experience of the events.
Witnessing the events firsthand as they occur to others.
Getting to know how the events affected someone close to you.
Being exposed to the events’ details over and over again.

Kaiser Permanente Insurance and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continue to study the impact of ongoing stressors on children, known as Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).

Research has found that Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) can lead to conduct issues in children and adolescents and can have lifelong consequences. The research also found that adults with high ACE scores have higher risks for physical health issues, mental illness, and early death.

Ten adverse childhood experiences were identified:

Physical abuse
Sexual abuse
Emotional abuse
Physical neglect
Emotional neglect
Family member or caretaker mental illness
Family member or caretaker substance abuse
Witnessing violence against the mother
Having a relative sent to jail or prison
Losing a parent due to separation, divorce, or death

A recent study suggests that racial trauma should also be considered an Adverse Childhood Experience for Black children.

According to the initial study, more than 46% of children have experienced at least one Adverse Childhood Experience, highlighting the need for trauma-informed care.

A trauma-informed therapist understands the potential effects of trauma on their clients. Trauma-informed therapy emphasizes not asking, “What is wrong with you? “, but instead asking, “What happened to you?”

What are the techniques of trauma-informed therapy?

Trauma-informed therapy does not use a specific intervention, but rather tailors interventions to meet the individual’s trauma history, triggers, and specific needs. Taking into account the impact of trauma on emotions, behavior, and regulation, it is a lens through which therapists view their clients. Intergenerational trauma is also taken into account.

Psychotherapists who are trauma-informed focus on the following areas in their practice:

Physical safety and emotional safety. Trauma-informed therapists ensure that clients feel physically and emotionally safe during sessions.
Cooperation. By educating clients about their options and giving them an active role in their care, trauma-informed therapists aim to empower clients.
Transparency. Trauma-informed therapists are honest and open with their clients.
Competency. In order to work effectively with traumatized clients, trauma-informed therapists remain up-to-date on the latest research and best practice. In addition, they recognize the unique cultural concerns of each client.

The Benefits of Trauma-Informed Therapy

Any individual who has experienced trauma, whether as a child or as an adult, will benefit from trauma-informed therapy. This approach can ensure your emotional safety in your sessions even if you are not in treatment specifically for your trauma.

Despite the fact that not everyone has experienced trauma, trauma-informed care will not harm someone who does not require it. For this reason, many providers use trauma-informed approaches in all sessions, not just when addressing a specific trauma.

Consider these factors before beginning trauma therapy

To receive trauma-informed care, you need to seek therapy from a therapist who is properly trained. Here are some points to consider before beginning trauma therapy.

Trauma-informed therapists are not all available, In short, trauma-informed therapy does not use a specific intervention, but tailors it

To determine if a therapist’s trauma training meets your unique needs, you might ask the following questions:

Do you have trauma-informed training?
How would you define trauma-informedness to you, and what does it mean to you?
How do you treat clients with trauma histories?
Do you work with specific types of clients, or traumas?
Which types of trauma do you not feel comfortable or competent to work with?

What pace do you follow when treating trauma?

It is common for therapists to list several specialties in directories or biographies, and not everyone who lists “trauma” has the same level of training or comfort in trauma-informed care. You should feel comfortable and safe asking questions and locating a therapist who you feel comfortable with.

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