Trauma Informed Care Philosophy

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The trauma-informed care philosophy emerged as a result of research that began to highlight the long-term consequences emerging in the lives of people due to trauma. This research can be found in studies like the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study, which pioneered an understanding of trauma’s lifelong influence on health and wellbeing. Medical doctors as early as 1985 began discovering that early life traumas were impacting their adult patients negatively, and started thinking more in depth about what that might mean throughout someone’s lifespan. Dr. Vincent Felitti and a representative from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Dr. Robert Anda, developed this research and discovered that both physical and mental health …show more content…

It also emphasizes the creation of an environment where empathy and compassion for one another is the norm, and enabling a community of individuals experiencing similar symptoms to support one another. This relational approach is common in rehabilitation centers, and allows trauma survivors to feel accepted and understood.
The APA requires that an organization consider the effects of trauma on behaviors and health. This includes an assessment of both the survivor and healer at the start of the process, so that both can gain awareness about their own biases and assumptions about the functions of behavior. This translates into the Caregiver’s ability to create safety for the client, and includes intentionality in language, empowering choice over compliance, and staying present in understanding the struggle of the survivor. Again, relationship and connection are prioritized over punitive …show more content…

According to the newsletter Trauma Psychology (2008), trustworthiness has much to do with consistency, and maintaining clear interpersonal boundaries. The newsletter also pointed out that explaining things in a meaningful way and providing a sensible, predictable order of operations enable a trauma survivor to trust in the healer and their competence.
Dependability is another attribute of trustworthiness, and is necessary to the successful application of healing principles and practices. It’s interesting that something as divergent as Bushidō, the Japanese code of ethics for samurai life, should point the way to trustworthiness and transparency. One of the code’s most important paragons include living a life that holds “loyalty, courage, veracity, compassion, and honor as being important, above all else.”
Interestingly, these characteristics are the very foundation of trustworthiness and transparency in a healer as well.

Practical Ways to Display Trustworthiness and

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