Help Trauma-informed practice principles – option 1
Before you continue…
The information in this section has been written for professionals. Some of the information covers difficult and distressing life experiences and the negative impact these can have on children and young people. You can choose to read on, or click here if you are looking for support for you or your child.
Trauma-informed practice principles
Development of these principles
The principles for trauma-informed practice were suggested by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration in the USA (SAMHSA 2014) and are internationally recognised, although sometimes the wording is changed a little. While developed for use in a specific service context, they can and do apply universally when thinking about trauma informed practice.
The principles relate to everybody. This includes children, young people and families who are seeking support or input of some kind. It also includes people who work in settings or organisations that offer some sort of help or support, be that healthcare, social care, educational or community-based provision.
These principles are important because they create experiences that are the opposite to those experiences that leave a traumatic impact. They help to create a lens through which to look at and reflect on our practice and to think about how we can deepen and extend a trauma informed approach.
Safety
Instead of THREAT & DANGER
Trust and Transparency
Instead of BETRAYAL and SECRECY
Peer support and connection
Instead of ISOLATION & SILENCE
Looking through the lends of the principles of a trauma informed approach helps to see how we can create relationships and experiences that offer the opposite to those that left a traumatic impact.
Cultural humility and responsiveness
Instead of DEHUMANISING, STIGMATISING and MARGINALISING.
Empowerment
Instead of OPPRESSION and CONTROL.
Collaboration
Instead of COERCION.
Isn’t this what we already do?
When you look at the principles, this might be what you think because yes, you absolutely will be addressing many of these things to some extent. It’s really important to recognize the ways in which your way of doing things already fits with a trauma informed approach – these are things to nuture and to celebrate. But there will also be things you are doing that don’t fit with these principles, some things you could avoid, adapt or stop doing altogether. And there will also be more you could do: things to start doing and to spread into new areas of your work.
What does trauma informed practice involve?
Visit our page here to find out more.
