Trauma Informed Care

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 …show more content…
TIC does more than address the symptoms, it addresses trauma itself so the client can heal, own, and speak of their trauma in an empowering and safe way (Ackerson, 2016). Organizations that implement TIC create a safe environment where all staff members understand trauma and its’ symptoms, they routinely examine their processes to maintain a safe environment with limited possibilities of eliciting triggers, and they are prepared for trauma reactions when they may occur (Smyth, 2013). Social workers enter the profession to help and care for others, and the social work profession seeks to respect, empower, and treat clients with empathy; due to this, social workers should use TIC as it is centered around the principles of safety, collaboration, trustworthiness, and a strengths-based approach (Smyth,