Trauma Informed Therapy
Trauma Informed Therapy
"from fear to safety, from control to empowerment, and from abuse of power to accountability and transparency" (Concetta, 2018)
Trauma is experienced by an individual’s as harmful or threatening and can occur as a result of a single or multiple set of events or circumstances. Being able to create a space where clients can feel really heard and validated is the starting point for practicing in a trauma informed way. As a coach this means looking beyond the surface behaviours that are presenting and supporting the client to ask themselves ‘What do I need?’
The aim of incorporating trauma informed therapy into my therapeutic coaching sessions is not to retrigger clients, in fact the opposite is true and the practice ensures we work together to avoid re-traumatisation. Re-traumatisation can often occur due to inexperienced coaches delving into a traumatic event from the past and the clients then re-experiencing thoughts and feelings experienced at the time of the initial trauma.
Practicing in a trauma informed way enables us to focus on addressing any barriers that you as my client my experience due to your experience with trauma. It is a collaborative process and works on the principles of building a safe and trusting relationship in which you feel able to explore your choices and empowered to advocate for your needs. The ultimate aim being to reduce the negative impact of the trauma experiences and focuses on supporting positive physical and mental wellbeing
There are 6 principles of trauma-informed practice:
Safety
The physical, psychological and emotional safety of service users and staff is prioritised, by:
• people knowing they are safe or asking what they need to feel safe
• there being reasonable freedom from threat or harm
• attempting to prevent re-traumatisation
• putting policies, practices and safeguarding arrangements in place
To begin developing a framework for this movement the concept of Neurodivergence informed/Neurodivergent Affirming therapy was created from a neurodiversity perspective for therapists working with neurodivergent clients.
Trustworthiness
Transparency exists in an organisation’s policies and procedures, with the objective of building trust among staff, service users and the wider community, by:
• the organisation and staff explaining what they are doing and why
• the organisation and staff doing what they say they will do
• expectations being made clear and the organisation and staff not overpromising
Choice
Service users are supported in shared decision-making, choice and goal setting to determine the plan of action they need to heal and move forward, by:
• ensuring service users and staff have a voice in the decision-making process of the organisation and its services
• listening to the needs and wishes of service users and staff
• explaining choices clearly and transparently
• acknowledging that people who have experienced or are experiencing trauma may feel a lack of safety or control over the course of their life which can cause difficulties in developing trusting relationships
Collaboration
The value of staff and service user experience is recognised in overcoming challenges and improving the system as a whole, by:
• using formal and informal peer support and mutual self-help
• the organisation asking service users and staff what they need and collaboratively considering how these needs can be met
• focussing on working alongside and actively involving service users in the delivery of services
Empowerment
Efforts are made to share power and give service users and staff a strong voice in decision-making, at both individual and organisational level, by:
• ensuring service users and staff have a voice in the decision-making process of the organisation and its services
• listening to the needs and wishes of service users and staff
• explaining choices clearly and transparently
• acknowledging that people who have experienced or are experiencing trauma may feel a lack of safety or control over the course of their life which can cause difficulties in developing trusting relationships
Cultural consideration
Move past cultural stereotypes and biases based on, for example, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, geography, race or ethnicity by:
• offering access to gender responsive services
• leveraging the healing value of traditional cultural connections
• incorporating policies, protocols and processes that are responsive to the needs of individuals served