Embracing Trauma Informed Principles in Therapy

Hello!

In talking to clients they often let me know how important trauma informed principles (or trauma informed care as it is sometimes known) is to them. They may use the term trauma informed or they might talk about the importance of some of the principles themselves. Whilst I have spent many years trying to ensure my therapeutic work is trauma informed, this feedback from clients did make me reflect on the importance of these principles guiding how we might approach healing, support and the therapeutic relationship.

Trauma effects many people, in many different ways. We may not necessarily be aware of if a person has experienced trauma and what the impacts may be. Acknowledging that trauma may be effecting the person in front of you ensures that you can be sensitive, empathic and respectful that there is the potential for a person to be a trauma survivor.  

What Are Trauma Informed Principles in Therapy?

Trauma informed therapy is all about understanding and addressing the effects of trauma while ensuring that therapy itself doesn’t unintentionally re-traumatize clients. However it goes further than just therapy. For example, trauma informed principles can be applied to how an organisation works with clients and can extend to the policies and procedures they write and inform the way in which a practitioner implements a service. They can also be applied to research, strategic approaches, academia and direct practice with clients.   You don’t have to be in a professional setting to use trauma informed principles either. Blue Knot has published articles about how personal supports might use the principles when having a conversation with a person who has experienced trauma. You can find these here.

In therapy, trauma informed principles involves integrating an awareness of the impact of trauma into every aspect of the therapeutic process. This approach helps create a safe and supportive environment where clients can begin to heal.

Key Principles of Trauma Informed Therapy

There are some principles that are core to being trauma informed. They are;

Safety:
The therapeutic environment must be a safe space for a person entering it, both physically and emotionally. This means that when you are entering a therapeutic space it should be a welcoming atmosphere that allows you to feel comfortable sharing your experiences. For your therapist they can be mindful of the physical space, maintaining confidentiality (no open windows), and making sure you feel in control of your  therapeutic journey.

Some of the things that Blue Knot have suggested could be important to consider is to think about the physical or geographical location, is it contained, away from dangers or interruptions? Is there anything that you would like to make the space more comfortable? Perhaps there is a particular cushion or piece of artwork that is activating. Can this be moved or your positioning changed to impede the impact of this?

It is also important to consider both physical and emotional/psychological safety not only during the session, but also after. For example, the environment during the session is safe enough but is the environment you are returning to safe. Your therapist might titrating the physiological sensations that you experience, or support you to pendulate, to ensure the nervous system is not overwhelmed. This could mean that a discussion is not linear or in large portions. But rather there are pauses, redirections or small interventions to manage arousal during the session.

Trustworthiness:
Building and maintaining trust is essential in therapy. Your therapist should be clear about the therapy process, goals, and any potential risks. Transparency is necessary in therapy and will help you to feel secure by understanding what to expect. Being able to have a therapeutic process that is attuned can also help build trust.

Choice:
This is another trauma informed principle and is so important. Often during trauma there was an absence of choice during a traumatic experience. It can be really important to enable a person to make as much choice as possible as we move towards healing from the impacts of trauma.

There are lots of different things that a person can have choice about. For example things such as the temperature of the room, seating, lighting, the focus of therapeutic discussion and choice of intervention. This is just a few things to highlight that really choice can be incorporated into many aspects of therapy.

Collaboration:
Trauma-informed therapy emphasizes collaboration between the therapist and client. This means as a client you should be involved in decisions about treatment. Your therapist should also, respect your autonomy, and validate your strengths. You should be empowered to take an active role in your healing process, this can support the fostering of resilience and self-efficacy.

Empowerment:
Traumatic experiences are disempowering, moving towards healing can be about taking steps to increase empowerment during the therapeutic process. This can mean a therapist will make sure that when there are opportunities to enhance empowerment they are enacted. For example this could be you having choice about if, what and how you would like to disclose something in therapy. It could mean a therapist highlighting your own strengths and abilities and encouraging you to take action and make decisions in a way you want to.  Your therapist might also request your preferences and making sure they honour these.

Whilst these are not strictly trauma informed principles, it is also important from a trauma informed perspective that therapist have awareness and acknowledge the diverse backgrounds and identities that people have. Therapists should consider cultural, historical, and gender-related factors that may impact a persons experience of trauma.

Also a trauma informed therapist should have a deep understanding of how trauma affects our nervous system, behaviour, emotions, and cognitions. Therapists should recognize that trauma can influence how a person responds to therapeutic interventions and be prepared to approach these responses with empathy and flexibility.  

Applying Trauma Informed Principles in Therapy

 Here’s how you can expect to see some of the trauma-informed principles incorporated into therapy;

 - Creating a Safe Space: Ensure the space is a comfortable, non-threatening environment. The therapist can discuss what is helpful to feel safe during sessions. It is okay to be aware of your own needs and assert these (you might be asked or you might say something). An example could be letting the therapist know that the lighting feels too bright.

- Building Trust: A therapist should be consistent and reliable. You might see this when they explain their methods or reasons for asking a particular question, the purpose of different interventions, and how they will work with you. It can help for a therapist to ask permission to give feedback or try a particular intervention – and with permission seeking, it is okay to decline the request.

- Encouraging Peer Support: If appropriate, the therapist might recommend support groups or community resources about a particular topic.

- Collaborating: This could look like your therapist being really curious about your goals and perspective and ensuring this determines how therapy unfolds. The therapist can also check in with you about your experiences and use your feedback to guide the therapeutic process and adapt approaches as needed.

-Choice: All I can say here is that you should be encouraged to make choices in therapy whenever possible.

- Respecting Diversity: Your therapist should be culturally competent and acknowledge how racial, political, historical and gender issues might contribute to your experiences. Your therapist shouldn’t really make assumptions about this but approach your unique experience with curiosity and respect. 

Final Thoughts

Trauma-informed principles are essential for creating a therapeutic environment where a persons feels safe, respected, and empowered. By integrating these principles into practice, the healing process can be enhanced, there can be improvements in the effectiveness of therapy and a person can feel more supported and understood.

Is your therapist trauma informed? Do they implement these principles? You might notice it in during the intake process, in your appointments with your therapist and they way that they respond to the disclosure of trauma.

Thank you for exploring trauma informed therapy with me today. I hope this guide helps you in your practice or in understanding how therapy can be a more supportive experience. If you have any thoughts or questions, feel free to reach out —I’d love to hear from you!