Trauma-Informed Therapy: What Is It?
When an individual in Dedham, MA, sets foot into the office of a trauma-informed caregiver, they may be surprised. These practitioners begin by taking the blame off the victim, and one of their first questions is, “What happened to you? Instead of “What’s wrong with you?” This line of questioning recognizes the client as a survivor.
A trauma-informed therapy practice doesn’t rely heavily on techniques. Instead, they follow guiding principles and recognize that trauma significantly affects individuals even if it is never reported.
What Is Trauma-Informed Therapy?
In trauma-informed therapy, the therapist assumes that the individual seeking care has experienced some form of trauma in their lifetime. The trauma-informed therapist in Dedham, MA, understands the impact that trauma has on an individual, and they also recognize that culture, history, and gender can cause issues and affect an individual for a length of time. The first step in trauma-informed therapy is establishing trust and safety before any discussion of trauma is conducted. Respect and compassion are the two foundations of trauma-informed treatment.
Who Is Trauma-Informed Therapy Beneficial For?
Trauma-informed care is beneficial for anyone, regardless of personal history. Often, people in Dedham, MA, have experienced something traumatic without even realizing they were exposed to trauma. Typically, trauma-informed therapy will begin slowly to build trust with the client. Usually, trauma-informed therapists will use various treatment methods, and they will normally have their clients attend sessions that last 50minutes, depending on what the client needs and prefers.
Key Concepts of Trauma-Informed Practices
While there isn’t a standard definition of trauma-informed therapy, some basic tenets are followed by trauma-informed therapists to provide the best care possible. As a general rule, the therapist or healthcare professional will know how trauma impacts an individual and how prevalent trauma is in today’s world. These professionals will use and interpret trauma-related screenings appropriately.
Here are some of the key principles of trauma-informed care:
- Safety: The individual should feel physically and emotionally safe as soon as they enter the therapist’s door. If they don’t feel safe, they will find it more difficult to manage their care.
- Choice: Individuals should have precise control over their care. That means the therapist should ensure the client understands their rights and can maintain clear, continuous consent for treatment.
- Collaboration: In this case, the therapist doesn’t act like the expert in the room. Instead, they give power to the individual to v goals and methods. This gives the individual the feeling of being the expert in their care plan.
- Trustworthiness: Therapists should always be consistent and honest with their clients. They should maintain boundaries and respect the client’s privacy creating an environment of trust.
- Empowerment: Each client should feel heard, validated, and cared for by every member of the staff they work with. The team should focus on helping individuals feel like they can regulate their emotions and cope with whatever life throws their way.
These principles were developed to promote healing without adding new trauma to the individual. They were put into place to maintain a feeling of safety and empowerment.
Closing Thoughts
Trauma-informed therapy in Dedham, MA, switches the focus from victim blaming to recognizing that everyone is a survivor of some trauma. Sometimes, the individual doesn’t acknowledge their experience as trauma until they begin care. So, trauma-informed therapists emphasize creating a safe, judgment-free environment that allows the client to feel comfortable with the process.