Trauma-Informed Care: A Compassionate Approach to Healing
By Eddie Sackey
BA, MEd (Candidate)
“Trauma is not what happens to you, but what happens inside of you.” – Gabor Maté (Bramley, 2023).
The experience of trauma is widespread in Canadian society. According to Statistics Canada (2014), approximately 63% of Canadians report being exposed to trauma at some point in their lives. With two-thirds of Canadians experiencing trauma, it raises the question: are healthcare providers delivering their services through a trauma-informed lens that helps, rather than hinders, their clients?
What is Trauma-Informed Care?
Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) is an approach that acknowledges the various ways trauma can impact a person’s mental health (Clark et al., 2014). TIC shifts the mindset from asking, “What is wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?” when working with individuals exposed to trauma. This approach prioritizes understanding, compassion, and empowerment for those who have experienced trauma.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA, 2014) provides a guideline for professionals to create environments where people feel safe, respected, and empowered to heal. Their framework highlights six key principles of TIC, which are outlined below.
Key Principles of Trauma-Informed Care
1. Safety
Individuals who have experienced trauma often feel unsafe in their surroundings. Trauma-Informed Care emphasizes creating both physical and emotional environments where people feel secure. This can include clear communication, ensuring privacy, and designing spaces that are calm and welcoming.
2. Trustworthiness and Transparency
For those with a history of trauma, trust can be difficult to establish. Trauma-Informed Care involves being transparent at every step. This includes explaining procedures, setting clear goals, and discussing potential risks openly. Trust is built through honesty, consistency, and mutual respect.
3. Peer Support
Connecting with others who have shared similar experiences can be validating and empowering. Trauma-Informed Care integrates support groups, mentorship programs, and peer counsellors as vital components of the healing process.
4. Collaboration and Mutuality
Trauma-Informed Care recognizes the individual as the expert on their own life. Collaboration involves working together to set goals, make decisions, and promote a sense of agency in their care. Empowerment is key to countering the disempowerment many trauma survivors experience.
5. Empowerment, Voice, and Choice
TIC focuses on recognizing individuals as resilient and capable of growth. Empowerment fosters self-advocacy and builds confidence. Acknowledging power imbalances and promoting choice ensures that trauma survivors feel heard and respected in their care.
6. Cultural, Historical, and Gender Sensitivity
Trauma is not experienced equally across individuals. Factors such as culture, gender, and socioeconomic background influence how trauma is experienced and how healing occurs. Trauma-Informed Care considers these factors to provide personalized, respectful, and inclusive care that honours each individual’s unique experience.
Why It Matters
Trauma-Informed Care is essential because it fosters healing and growth. When individuals are treated with understanding and respect, they are more likely to trust the process and actively engage in their recovery. This approach not only helps prevent re-traumatization but also creates a supportive framework for sustainable change.
By adopting Trauma-Informed Care practices, organizations and caregivers can provide a pathway to healing for trauma survivors. It is an investment in empathy, respect, and empowerment—values that transform lives and strengthen communities.
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References
Bramley, E. (2023, April 12). The trauma doctor: Gabor Maté on happiness, hope and how to heal our deepest wounds. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/apr/12/the-trauma-doctor-gabor-mate-on-happiness-hope-and-how-to-heal-our-deepest-wounds
Clark et al., (2015). Treating the trauma survivor [electronic resource]: an essential guide to trauma-informed care. Chapter 1: The Basics, pp. 5-11. New York: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group. https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.myaccess.library.utoronto.ca/lib/utoronto/reader.action?docID=1791184&ppg=6
SAMSHA. (2014, July). Concept of trauma and guidance for a trauma-informed approach https://library.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/sma14-4884.pdf
Statistics Canada (2024, May 27). Survey on Mental Health and Stressful Events, 2023. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/240527/dq240527b-eng.htm