Taking care of your trauma involves being careful as you do not want to do anything that can bring those feelings of trauma back to you. It is best to find a form of therapy that can help you accomplish that. By taking part in trauma-informed care, you can learn more about your trauma and be in a safe environment where you do not re-traumatized yourself.
What is the General Basis of Trauma-Informed Care?
Trauma-informed care assumes that the patient is more likely than not to have a history of trauma. It recognizes the trauma occurring in a person’s life as well as its symptoms. Instead of asking yourself what is wrong with you, you will instead ask what has happened to you. Instead of treating the symptoms or issues related to any abuse you have suffered, but to provide accessible and appropriate support services. Without this approach, your chances of re-traumatization can increase.
What Does it Mean to Re-Traumatize Yourself?
Re-traumatization is when a situation or an environment triggers difficult feelings and reactions related to the original trauma. This is normally unintentional where it can happen through specific smells, sounds, or types of interactions. People who have been traumatized many times have great trauma-related symptoms compared to those who have experienced trauma once. Dealing with multiple traumatic experiences can make it less likely to seek treatment. Trauma-Informed care’s role is to change policies, procedures, and practices to minimize the potential to go through that same trauma again. Staff will be educated on its symptoms and signs of trauma to avoid them doing anything that can bring that trauma back.
What Are the Five Principles of Trauma-Informed Care?
The first principle is that the physical and emotional safety of the person is addressed. The second principle is for the individual to know that the provider is trustworthy in regard to boundaries and what is expected in tasks to accomplish. The third and fourth principle is to give the individual more choice and control through a collaborative effort to ensure that they participate in services and that they are effective for them. The fifth principle is to focus on the individual’s strengths and empower them to build on them as well as developing stronger coping skills if and when services are over. Trauma-informed therapy will help you treat your trauma and take preventative measures to ensure it does not come back.
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