What Is Trauma Informed Care for Mental Health?
Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) is an evidence-based approach that considers the impact that trauma has on those seeking mental health treatment.
Instead of asking, “what’s wrong with you?” trauma-informed treatment asks, “what happened to you?” It assumes the individual has a history of trauma and operates by creating a sense of safety around them.
TIC encourages a safe environment based on the collaboration of everyone in the healthcare system. This includes the healthcare providers, who use trauma-informed practices to avoid retraumatization of the person seeking treatment.
This holistic view helps mental health services improve patient engagement and health outcomes.
Principles of Trauma Informed Care Services
Trauma-informed care rests on guiding principles that promote long-term recovery and well-being.
The key principles of trauma-informed care include:
- Ensuring safety: A safe atmosphere where the emotional and physical security of patients and employees is prioritized.
- Building trust and openness: Emphasizing transparent decision-making processes to create a trustworthy environment.
- Incorporating peer support: Valuing the role of those with lived experiences in the healing process.
- Promoting collaboration: Aiming to reduce power differences, encouraging cooperative decision-making across the organization.
- Fostering empowerment: Nurturing resilience and giving patients the tools to manage their recovery journey.
- Cultural sensitivity and equity: Being mindful of biases, stereotypes, and historical injustices to ensure inclusivity and sensitivity for all.
These principles aim to ensure a compassionate and consistent level of care across all TIC services. This helps every patient get the help they need.
What Types of Trauma Can Be Treated?
Trauma-informed care addresses the wide spectrum of traumas that people experience. It recognizes that untreated trauma can significantly impact mental health and delay recovery.
Common types of trauma that can be treated include:
- Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Sexual assault
- Abuse (physical, emotional, and sexual abuse)
- Childhood neglect
- Family-related stress
- Separation trauma
- Socioeconomic stress
- Discrimination and oppression
- Community and societal violence
- Physical injuries and illness
- Historical and generational trauma
What to Expect with Trauma Informed Care
Trauma-informed care programs are different to general mental health services. Health professionals who work in TIC understand the effects of trauma on how an individual views themselves, the world, and the people around them.
For this reason, extra care is taken to create a sense of emotional safety. This avoids further traumatization, and helps trauma survivors build trust in support services.
Here’s what you can expect in a trauma-informed facility:
- Whole-organization approach: Trauma-informed care is built into the organization. This includes administrative policies to clinical procedures, promoting a sensitive culture.
- Reframed interactions: Conversations shift from blaming to understanding the experiences that led to the current circumstances.
- Solution-focused services: Includes therapy sessions with a trauma-informed therapist to build coping skills, cognitive behavioral therapy, and other modalities.
- Prevention of re-traumatization: Care is taken to avoid practices that could accidentally cause further trauma.
- Patient engagement: Patients are involved in their care planning. This ensures empowerment in their treatment plan decisions.
- Trauma-focused training: Staff receive specialized training to deliver trauma-specific therapies and interventions.
- Collaborative networks: Connections with resources and community organizations support a continuum of care.
A trauma-informed care program provides an environment that holistically supports the healing process.
Who Will Benefit from Trauma Informed Care?
Trauma-informed care can help a wide range of people across different life experiences.
People who may benefit from TIC include but aren’t limited to:
- Survivors of abuse and neglect: Including physical, sexual, or emotional abuse or neglect in childhood or adulthood.
- Individuals with mental health disorders: Many mental health issues can be related to or exacerbated by past trauma.
- People with substance use disorders: Which often co-occur with a history of trauma. Addressing both can be crucial for effective treatment and long-term recovery.
- Military veterans: Veterans may have experienced traumatic events in combat. These can contribute to PTSD and other stress-related disorders.
- First responders: Police, firefighters, and emergency personnel are regularly exposed to traumatic situations. They may benefit from treating this cumulative stress.
- Healthcare professionals: Those who work in healthcare can experience secondary traumatic stress. They may need support as part of their professional self-care.
- Children and adolescents: Young people are especially vulnerable to the effects of trauma, and it can severely impact their development.
- Marginalized communities: People from communities that experience systemic oppression often face trauma. This can include racial minorities or LGBTQ+ people.
- Families of trauma survivors: Trauma affects both individuals and their family systems. TIC can provide support for caregivers and family members.
- Incarcerated individuals: Many people in the criminal justice system have a history of trauma. TIC can aid in rehabilitation and societal reintegration.
- Those experiencing homelessness: People without homes often face trauma from living conditions, past experiences, and systemic barriers.
- Disaster survivors: TIC can help people heal from the psychological effects of natural or man-made disasters.
TIC helps both people who have experienced trauma and the professionals that support them. It creates supportive environments that are effective in fostering healing and resilience.
How Trauma Therapy Lends to Long Term Mental Health Recovery
Trauma therapy plays a key role in long-term mental health recovery. It addresses the root causes of trauma and the coping strategies developed to manage distress.
Some of these, such as substance abuse or social withdrawal, can be extremely harmful. And while they may be temporarily soothing, they can worsen anxiety, isolation, and physical health over time.
Traumatic experiences also affect relationships and a person’s ability to trust. This can lead to emotional volatility or withdrawal, which may make treatment less successful.
But trauma-informed practices interrupt the trauma cycle and enhance patient engagement with treatment. This improves outcomes and increases the chances of long-term recovery.
TIC also supports the well-being of care providers and reduces pressures on healthcare and social services, encouraging better healthcare overall.
How Much Does a Trauma Informed Care Program Cost?
The cost of trauma-informed treatment varies, depending on the types of therapies provided. Residential programs that are trauma-informed can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars before insurance, while outpatient programs may cost less overall.
These programs are often covered by health insurance, so it’s best to check with your insurance provider to learn what your plan covers.
How to Enter Trauma Informed Therapy in Florida
Many facilities in Florida offer a trauma-informed approach to care and crisis stabilization. These organizations can offer advice on the options available to you:
- Immediate danger: Call 911 or head to the nearest emergency room if you or someone you know is in immediate danger.
- 988 suicide & crisis lifeline: Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org for free, 24/7 crisis support.
- Crisis text line: The crisis line connects individuals in crisis with a counselor who can provide support and information. Text “HELLO” to 741741.
- General resources and hotlines: Visit FindTreatment.gov for resources for the treatment of mental and substance use disorders from the Florida Department of Health.
- NAMI helpLine: The National Alliance on Mental Illness provides information, resources, and support. Contact them at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or helpline@nami.org.
- SAMHSA: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s online service locator can help you find American trauma-informed treatment centers.
Find Compassionate Trauma Care at Mark Behavioral Health
The impact of trauma can be devastating on an individual and their family. These underlying issues can contribute to a range of mental and physical health issues that may not respond fully to treatment.
At Mark Behavioral Health, we understand how the trauma cycle can delay or prevent full recovery. That’s why we embrace a trauma-focused approach to care throughout our organization.
Contact us today to see how our trauma-informed approach can help you, or your loved one, on the way toward a healthier, happier future.
Trauma Informed Care FAQs
Why is trauma informed care important?
Trauma-informed care is important because it recognizes the impact of trauma on a person’s life. It addresses the root causes of trauma-related issues to improve recovery outcomes.
How do healthcare providers incorporate trauma informed care?
Healthcare providers incorporate trauma-informed care by training staff to recognize and respond to the signs of trauma. This creates a supportive environment with safe practices that avoid re-traumatization.
What are the core principles of trauma informed care?
The core principles of trauma-informed care include safety, trustworthiness and transparency, peer support, collaboration, empowerment, and cultural sensitivity.
What are examples of trauma informed care?
Examples of trauma-informed care include training staff in trauma-specific therapies and involving patients in their care planning. It can also include support groups with peers who have similar experiences.
How does trauma informed care differ from other mental health treatments?
Trauma-informed care differs from traditional mental health treatments by focusing on the long-term effects of trauma and how it contributes to mental and physical health issues.
