Trauma Informed Practice
Using a trauma informed lens…..
- Trauma Informed Practice is not about the treatment of trauma or the symptoms, but rather a recognition that trauma experiences are a possibility for anyone (Kezelman & Stavropoulos, 2012)
Trauma Informed Practice
- Focusses on what may have happened to someone (strengths-based approach) and focuses on how we engage and treat each other, rather than what is wrong (deficit approach).
- Reduces potential for re-traumatisation and rests on a do-no harm approach that is sensitive to unintentional re-traumatisation from and in, services
- Recognises that many people live with the ongoing effects of past and present trauma.
- Sees trauma is treatable and looks at providing opportunities for recovery
Recovery from trauma
- Recovery occurs within the context of relationships and requires trust, autonomy, initiative, competence, identity and intimacy – Judith Herman
Trauma Informed Practice
- Recognises:
- the prevalence of trauma and its impact on people and communities
- the high incidence of unrecognised underlying trauma
- that many problems, disorders and conditions are trauma-related
- that trauma may have different meanings in different cultures and responses
- trauma may also be expressed differently