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Trauma Informed Approach  
Trauma Informed Approach  

 

What is meant by psychological trauma? 

The term psychological trauma can refer to a wide range of traumatic, abusive or neglectful events or series of events. This includes Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and trauma in adulthood that are experienced as being emotionally or physically harmful or life threatening.  Whether an event(s) is traumatic depends not only on our individual experience of the event, but also how it negatively impacts on our emotional, social, spiritual and physical wellbeing.  We are all affected by traumatic events in different ways.  

In summary, psychological trauma can be understood in terms of the 3 E's:  the Event  how it is Experienced  and its Effects 
In summary, psychological trauma can be understood in terms of the 3 E's:  the Event  how it is Experienced  and its Effects 

What do we mean by “Trauma Informed” Practice? 

Being ‘Trauma Informed’ means being able to recognise when someone may be affected by trauma and  be able to respond appropriately. This includes working together to take this into account, responding in a way that supports recovery, is not causing further harm, and recognising and supporting people's resilience. 

Being 'Trauma Informed' is underpinned by the 5 R's:  Realising how common the experience of trauma and adversity is  Recognising the different ways that trauma can affect people  Responding by taking account of the ways that people can be affected by trauma to support recovery  Opportunities to Resist re-traumatisation and offer a greater sense of choice and control, empowerment, collaboration and safety with everyone that you have contact with  Recognising the central importance of Relationships. 
Being 'Trauma Informed' is underpinned by the 5 R's:  Realising how common the experience of trauma and adversity is  Recognising the different ways that trauma can affect people  Responding by taking account of the ways that people can be affected by trauma to support recovery  Opportunities to Resist re-traumatisation and offer a greater sense of choice and control, empowerment, collaboration and safety with everyone that you have contact with  Recognising the central importance of Relationships. 

What you should receive from a service if it is Trauma Informed 

Safety

Efforts are made throughout the organisation to ensure that staff and the people they support feel physically and psychologically safe. Staff and clients should experience the setting and the conversations taking place within the setting as safe, inviting, and not a risk to their physical or psychological safety. 

Trustworthiness 

This refers to the extent organisational operations and decisions are transparent, with the goal of building and maintaining trusting relationships with clients and their family members, among staff and others involved in the organisation. 

Choice 

Throughout the organisation, clients and staff are supported to make informed decisions and choices, and to set their own goals. The organisation recognises that giving people choice can help address power imbalances. Clients and staff therefore have meaningful choice and a voice in the decision-making process of the organisation and its services. 

Collaboration

The organisation recognises the value of staff and clients' experience in overcoming challenges and improving the system as a whole. Attempts are made to level the power differences between different staff groups, and between staff and clients. This is often put into practice through the formal or informal use of peer support and mutual self-help. There is recognition that healing takes place in the context of relationships and in the meaningful sharing of power and decision-making. 

Empowerment 

Efforts are made by the organisation to share power and to give clients and staff a strong voice in decision-making, at both individual and organisational levels. Each level of the organisation, including management, operations, service delivery and staff training, is designed to be empowering for both staff and service users. Staff are empowered by mechanisms of organisational support, and clients are empowered by services that are person-centred, and based on belief in the resilience of individuals and their ability to heal and recover from trauma. 

 

 

For more information on the national trauma training program click HERE

Dundee has an ongoing trauma implementation plan and activity across the city. We are working to embedded trauma informed approach and practice into all our local services. More information on this can be found HERE