We explained Trauma-Informed Care in a recent blog post. But, now you may be wondering why is this important to you?
Trauma-informed care is a hot topic in the mental health field because research has shown that a good majority of people needing mental health support have experienced trauma of some kind. Trauma is pervasive and broad, and has effects that can impact an individual for their entire life.
If you, your child, or someone you know is struggling with mental health, it is often in your best interest to find a provider who practices trauma-informed, trauma-sensitive care. Trauma has been shown to impact an individual’s brain development, subsequently altering emotional and cognitive development. In order to effectively engage with and treat clients who have experienced trauma of some kind, it’s important for us as providers to understand how trauma can change the way a person thinks, reacts, and operates.
Trauma-Informed Care Providers
A trauma-informed provider will work to not only identify and understand underlying issues, but assist the client in finding treatment methods that can address the past trauma and allow them to work through and manage reactions or behaviors that are caused by it. For years, professionals have taken a broad-stroke approach to mental health, educational, and parenting interventions, using a one size fits all mentality. Trauma-informed care challenges providers to see each person individually, generating specific care and treatment plans that are tailored to best meet the needs of each client.
Trauma-informed care has shown to have more long-term positive outcomes for clients in almost all domains of life (interpersonal, professional, etc.), which creates a less likely rate of them engaging with more acute services like inpatient hospitals and treatment centers or emergency room visits.
As helping professionals, our main goal is to help people heal and see them off to live happy, healthy, successful lives – and while we enjoy our time with our clients, we hope to give them enough tools so that we don’t actually see them again. Trauma-informed care practices allows us to do just that by providing the help and healing needed to empower our clients to move forward.
This blog article was contributed by Elizabeth Williams, MA, LMFT, Director of Clinical Services for Nexus Family Healing.
Nexus Family Healing is a national nonprofit mental health organization that restores hope for thousands of children and families who come to us for outpatient/community mental health services, foster care and adoption, and residential treatment. For over 45 years, our network of agencies has used innovative, personalized approaches to heal trauma, break cycles of harm, and reshape futures. We believe every child is worth it — and every family matters. Learn more at nexusfamilyhealing.org.