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Trauma Informed Support – Introduction

What is trauma?

Write down some things that you may already know about trauma:

 

Trauma

Life is full of experiences. Some experiences change us. Sometimes this change is for the better, sometimes it is not. Trauma is one of those experiences.

 

trauma noun (trau·​ma)
Trauma is a deeply distressing event or experience that can cause physical, emotional or psychological harm.

 

Or to say it another way; it is a moment in life that really tests us. That moment challenges our understanding of the world and the way we think about things. It affects our sense of safety. And it can have big and ongoing side effects.

Understanding Trauma

This video from Pheonix Australia explains trauma and the way it can affect people.

 

Disability and Trauma

Trauma is more common in people with disability than other people in society.

Many People living with a disability have experienced trauma. Trauma can be the cause of the disability, such as an accident, or trauma can be experienced, such as experiencing violence and abuse.
Living with a disability can also mean a person experiences loss. A loss of control, privacy, independence, freedom, social connection, or financial security. Loss is also trauma.

Trauma will be different for each person.

Types of Trauma

Thinking about the people you support in Acquired Injury Services.
What trauma may they have experienced? How might you feel or react if you had experienced similar trauma/s?

  • Physical (body) trauma

    This may result in:

    • Injuries
    • Disabilities
    • Chronic pain
    • Other physical health problems.

  • Emotional (feeling) trauma

    This can lead to feelings of:

    • Fear
    • Anxiety
    • Depression
    • Other mental health concerns.

  • Psychological (thinking) trauma

    This can affect the individual’s:

    • Self-esteem (how they see themselves)
    • Relationships
    • Ability to cope with stress (difficult times).

  • Here are some other signs of trauma people can show

    • Being over alert or aware of things
    • Being a bit jumpy
    • Not feeling safe
    • Recurring bad thoughts or dreams, nightmares
    • Flash backs
    • Changes in behaviour
    • Changes in the way they express emotions
    • Feeling grief, vulnerable, scared, angry, nervous, suspicious
    • Not being able to trust
    • A change in coping with people or situations
    • Avoiding difficult situations
    • Withdrawn
    • Challenging boundaries.

What is Trauma Informed Support?

  • Now you understand a little about trauma, what do you think Trauma Informed Support means?

  • Trauma Informed Support is...

    A way of working with people that lessens the effect of trauma.

    It is creating a safe and supportive place.

    It is empowering people and fostering a sense of control and support.

    If we understand trauma and work in a “trauma informed” way, we can support people to get better, prevent more hurt and help them live a better life.

5 Principles of Trauma Informed Support

Trauma informed support has 5 principles:

  1. Safety
  2. Trustworthiness
  3. Choice
  4. Collaboration
  5. Empowerment

 

Here is a way to start…

Rather than saying ‘What’s wrong with that person, why do they do that?’, you could think about and ask yourself, ‘What has happened to them? What is causing this?’.

This helps us to understand why a person responds in a certain way. It acknowledges that behaviour, actions or emotions can all be responses to trauma. It helps us to be more aware of a person’s experiences and their distress. It helps us to avoid being judgmental or blaming. And helps us see the world through another’s eyes.

Videos

Here are some additional video’s to help you understand trauma, how it effects the brain, and how others use Trauma Informed Support.

  • Trauma and the Brain

  • Brain Model of PTSD

Trauma Informed Support training quiz

Thank you for taking part in Anglicare’s Trauma Informed Support Training. Please complete the short quiz below to finish the training.
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