Exposure to trauma is well-recognized as a risk factor for the development of mental health conditions. Trauma-informed care acknowledges that trauma can affect many different aspects of a person’s life and that understanding their full history is the best way to provide care that supports their recovery journey.
Types of Trauma That Can Lead to Mental Health Challenges
Childhood experiences with abuse and neglect can shape how you view the world and yourself, often leading to long-lasting effects on your mental health. The ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) study is a well-known exploration of the long-term effects of childhood trauma that was conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Kaiser Permanente in the mid-1990s. After reviewing data from over 17,000 participants, it found a strong link between exposure to ACEs and an increased risk of mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression with suicidal thoughts, and substance use disorders.
While the impact of childhood trauma shouldn’t be underestimated, it’s important to remember that trauma can occur at any age. Adult experiences with trauma, such as community violence, natural disasters, domestic violence, life-threatening illnesses, or the sudden loss of a loved one, can shatter your sense of safety and trust.
For members of marginalized communities, systemic and cultural trauma can also play a role in mental health. Racism and discrimination can be obstacles to improving one’s mental health—especially when a person has already experienced other forms of trauma.
6 Principles of Trauma-Informed Care
Trauma-informed care for mental health conditions is based on six key principles: safety, transparency, peer support, collaboration, empowerment, and cultural understanding. Let’s examine what this means when you seek treatment from the team at Eagle View Behavioral Health in Bettendorf, Iowa.
- Safety
Ensuring the client’s physical and emotional safety is the first step in any plan for trauma-informed care. This means creating an environment where our clients feel respected and free from potential re-traumatization. This includes:
- Clear communication about what you can expect during treatment
- Quiet spaces for relaxation and decompression
- Staff members who are trained in de-escalation techniques
- Opportunities for you to provide feedback on your comfort level
- Transparency
Transparency about procedures, expectations, and goals builds the trust that is an essential component of trauma-informed care. Here’s what this looks like:
- Clear explanations of all aspects of your treatment plan
- Open communication about any changes in your treatment plan
- Opportunities for you to ask questions and express any concerns you might have about your treatment
- Peer Support
Often, people with mental health challenges feel isolated and believe that others can’t understand their struggles. Peer support lets them know that they are not alone. Trauma-informed care incorporates peer support through:
- Group therapy sessions
- Peer mentorship programs
- Family support groups
- Community-building activities
- Collaboration
Many people think of treatment as a passive experience. However, trauma-informed mental health care views you as an active participant in your healing journey. This includes:
- Involvement in treatment planning
- Shared decision-making in regard to medications and therapies
- Regular check-ins to assess your progress
- Empowerment
After experiencing trauma, it’s common for people to struggle with feelings of powerlessness. Trauma-informed care aims to restore your sense of control and agency. It involves:
- Options in treatment modalities
- Respect for your personal boundaries
- Encouragement to set your own short-term and long-term goals
- Skills training to enhance independence
- Cultural Understanding
Trauma-informed care recognizes that cultural background, historical experiences, and gender identity all play a role in how trauma is experienced and processed. Our mental health treatment programs that provide trauma-informed care feature:
- Diverse staff members who are trained in cultural competency
- Treatment approaches that consider cultural and historical contexts
- Gender-specific programming as appropriate
- Respect for each patient’s specific religious and spiritual beliefs
A Holistic, Strengths-Based Approach
Unlike traditional approaches that might focus solely on symptoms or diagnoses, trauma-informed care takes a holistic view of each person’s individual needs. It considers your physical health, emotional well-being, social relationships, and cultural context to ensure that no aspect is overlooked in the healing process.
Trauma-informed care is also strengths-based. This means that the primary emphasis of treatment is your individual strengths and resilience. The media sometimes depicts survivors of trauma as “damaged” or “broken,” but trauma-informed care views survivors as people with an
inherent capacity for growth and healing. It involves:
- Empowering you to have a voice and choice in your treatment process
- Identifying your existing coping skills
- Fostering resilience by promoting the development of new skills that enhance your ability to cope with personal challenges
- Celebrating progress by acknowledging and reinforcing each positive change you make
Take the First Step to Recovery by Requesting a Free Assessment
At Eagle View Behavioral Health, we believe you deserve care that respects your past experiences and empowers you to reclaim your future. Trauma-informed care can be a powerful tool in your recovery journey, and we’re ready to walk that path with you. Request your free, confidential assessment today.
