Trauma-Informed Approach
A Trauma-Informed Approach is a framework for practice that recognises the
widespread impact of trauma and understands how traumatic experiences can
affect an individual's physical, emotional, psychological and social wellbeing.
Rather than asking, "What is wrong with you?", a trauma-informed approach
encourages practitioners to ask, "What has happened to you?" This shift moves
the focus away from blame or pathology towards understanding people's
experiences, promoting safety, empowerment and recovery. Within social work,
trauma-informed practice underpins relationship-based, strengths-based and
person-centred interventions by recognising that many behaviours are adaptive
responses to traumatic experiences rather than deliberate choices (Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 2014).
The concept of trauma-informed practice developed during the 1990s following
increasing recognition of the long-term effects of childhood abuse, domestic
abuse, violence, neglect, war, displacement and other adverse experiences.
Research into Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) by Felitti and colleagues
demonstrated the strong relationship between early trauma and poorer physical,
mental and social outcomes throughout adulthood (Felitti et al., 1998). These
findings, alongside developments in neuroscience and attachment theory, led
health and social care professionals to adopt approaches that recognise trauma
as a significant factor influencing behaviour, relationships and wellbeing.
A central principle of a Trauma-Informed Approach is that trauma is widespread.
Trauma may result from a single event, repeated experiences or prolonged
exposure to adversity. Examples include physical, emotional or sexual abuse,
neglect, domestic abuse, bereavement, serious accidents, discrimination,
community violence, war, trafficking or chronic poverty. Practitioners recognise
that trauma affects individuals differently and avoid making assumptions about
how people should respond.
Trauma-informed practice is underpinned by six key principles, identified by
SAMHSA:
Safety – creating environments where individuals feel physically and
emotionally safe.
Trustworthiness and transparency – building trust through honesty,
consistency and clear communication.
A Trauma-Informed Approach is a framework for practice that recognises the
widespread impact of trauma and understands how traumatic experiences can
affect an individual's physical, emotional, psychological and social wellbeing.
Rather than asking, "What is wrong with you?", a trauma-informed approach
encourages practitioners to ask, "What has happened to you?" This shift moves
the focus away from blame or pathology towards understanding people's
experiences, promoting safety, empowerment and recovery. Within social work,
trauma-informed practice underpins relationship-based, strengths-based and
person-centred interventions by recognising that many behaviours are adaptive
responses to traumatic experiences rather than deliberate choices (Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 2014).
The concept of trauma-informed practice developed during the 1990s following
increasing recognition of the long-term effects of childhood abuse, domestic
abuse, violence, neglect, war, displacement and other adverse experiences.
Research into Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) by Felitti and colleagues
demonstrated the strong relationship between early trauma and poorer physical,
mental and social outcomes throughout adulthood (Felitti et al., 1998). These
findings, alongside developments in neuroscience and attachment theory, led
health and social care professionals to adopt approaches that recognise trauma
as a significant factor influencing behaviour, relationships and wellbeing.
A central principle of a Trauma-Informed Approach is that trauma is widespread.
Trauma may result from a single event, repeated experiences or prolonged
exposure to adversity. Examples include physical, emotional or sexual abuse,
neglect, domestic abuse, bereavement, serious accidents, discrimination,
community violence, war, trafficking or chronic poverty. Practitioners recognise
that trauma affects individuals differently and avoid making assumptions about
how people should respond.
Trauma-informed practice is underpinned by six key principles, identified by
SAMHSA:
Safety – creating environments where individuals feel physically and
emotionally safe.
Trustworthiness and transparency – building trust through honesty,
consistency and clear communication.
