2.4 Trauma Informed Care
Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) is an approach in the human service field that recognizes the widespread impact of trauma and aims to provide care that is sensitive to its effects. Here are the key principles and benefits of trauma-informed care
Trauma-Informed Care
- TIC shifts the focus from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?”
- It acknowledges that health care providers need a complete picture of a patient’s life situation, both past and present, to deliver effective care with a healing orientation.
- By adopting trauma-informed practices, providers can potentially improve patient engagement, treatment adherence, and health outcomes.
Core Principles of Trauma-Informed Care
- Safety: Patients and staff feel physically and psychologically safe throughout the organization.
- Trustworthiness and Transparency: Decisions are made transparently, building and maintaining trust.
- Peer Support: Individuals with shared experiences are integrated into the organization, enhancing service delivery.
- Collaboration: Power differences are leveled to support shared decision-making.
- Empowerment: Patient and staff strengths are recognized, validating resilience and healing abilities.
- Humility and Responsiveness: Biases, stereotypes, and historical trauma are acknowledged and addressed.
Benefits of Providing Trauma-Informed Care
- Positive Outcomes: TIC promotes physical, psychological, and emotional safety, leading to better well-being.
- Empowerment: Patients define their needs, goals, and choices about care and services.
- Avoiding Re-Traumatization: TIC prevents triggering past negative experiences during care.
Strategies to Advance Trauma-Informed Care
CHCS (2024). Trauma-Informed Care Champions: From Treaters to Healers [Video]
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