Trauma can occur to anyone who has been violated, hurt, or threatened, or to those who witness these acts (Smyth, 2013). Clients may have experienced trauma through child abuse, domestic abuse, sexual assault, natural disasters, life threatening illness, being threatened by death or harm, serious accidents, and many other situations where danger is present (Smyth, 2013). Trauma Informed Care (TIC) is an intervention acknowledging how all types of trauma may be impacting clients, and recognizing and responding to trauma in a safe and empowering way (Trauma-Informed Care, 2012).
Experiencing trauma can significantly impact a person, and clients who have been through trauma may develop various mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, childhood behavioral disorders, substance abuse, or personality disorders (Smyth, 2013). Trauma often results in a cycle of trauma, with the traumatic event eliciting a bodily response, followed by an emotional response, and then a behavioral response; after this, each time a trigger…