Trauma-informed care asks the question, “What happened to you?”
A trauma-informed approach to care acknowledges that organizations and care teams need to have a complete picture of a patient’s life situation — past and present — in order to provide effective health care services with a healing orientation.
Adopting trauma-informed practices can potentially improve patient engagement, treatment adherence, and health outcomes, as well as provider and staff wellness. It can also help reduce avoidable care and excess costs for both the health care and social service sectors.
Trauma-informed care seeks to:
- Realize the widespread impact of trauma and understand paths for recovery;
- Recognize the signs and symptoms of trauma in patients, families, and staff;
- Integrate knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures, and practices;
- Actively avoid re-traumatization.
Six principles of trauma-informed care
(Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s “Guiding Principles of Trauma-Informed Care.”)
Safety
Throughout the organization, staff and the people they serve, whether children or adults, feel physically and psychologically safe;
Trustworthiness & Transparency
Decisions are made with transparency, and with the goal of building and maintaining trust.
Peer Support
Individuals with shared experiences are integrated into the organization and viewed as integral to service delivery.
Collaboration & Mutuality
Power differences — between staff and clients and among organizational staff — are leveled to support shared decision-making.
Empowerment Voice & Choice
Patient and staff strengths are recognized, built on, and validated — this includes a belief in resilience and the ability to heal from trauma.
Cultural, Historical, & Gender Issues
Biases and stereotypes (e.g., based on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, geography) and historical trauma are recognized and addressed.