How Trauma-Informed Care and Trauma-Sensitive Language Leads to Improved Participant Outcomes

The reality is, we all have some sort of trauma we carry around with us every day.

The ability to manage these collected traumas can vary depending on

• the severity of that trauma,
• the supports we have in place,
• our personal resilience and therapeutic help.

Trauma can take many different forms and is uniquely individualised.

In the mental health and disability space, caring for someone with significant traumatic experiences needs to be handled with care to provide them with the best possible care and support.

Being aware of the way we speak to individuals who have severe trauma and how we deliver care to them is very important.

Ensuring we understand the trauma triggers in both care and language will allow us to mitigate the safety risks for the support delivery team and improve the participant's outcome.

What is trauma-informed care?

Trauma-informed care refers to the way we deliver care to individuals who have experienced trauma.

By ensuring we don't act in a way that could be triggering or cause new trauma, we can control the outcome. Trauma-informed care helps reduce the risk of harm to the team delivering it and supports healing and recovery.

Tips for delivering trauma-informed care

1. Understand the Individual
   Understanding the individual's background, disability and history allows us to put together a complete picture of how best to support that individual.

   The first step in providing trauma-informed care is to learn about how that trauma affects that individual in their day-to-day life and support them throughout.
    

2. Understanding the Trauma
   To understand trauma, we have to make a conscious effort to equip ourselves with the knowledge and understanding to best support that respective individual.

   This might be as simple as reading through a Client Profile or their Behavioural Support plan, or more extensive, such as completing training or professional development.
    

3. Finding the right people
   A significant factor that is often overlooked in providing support is matching the right support person with the individual.

   Support individual / Client matching can increase the wellbeing of both the individual and the support person.

   This could mean matching the right Support Coordinator, Support Worker, Social Worker or Recovery Coach.

   Be mindful that some individuals may have trauma related to:

   • certain sexes,
   • body types,
   • beards,
   • ages or
   • other distinguishing features
      

   This needs to be taken into consideration when matching staff who support that individual. This information needs to be made available BEFORE assigning support staff to the individual.

   The very first question you should ask before engaging with a Participant is: "Has this individual experienced significant trauma, do they have behaviours of concern and is there a Behaviour Support Plan?" 
    

4. Managing the Behaviours
   Staff need to be prepared if there are significant behaviours present when supporting someone with trauma.

   Staff training and preparation are essential for success before supporting that individual. If behaviours are present, a Behavioural Management Plan must be available to all staff who support that individual.
    

5. Continual Reviews
   Trauma can shift and change for some people we support and as so, a constant review of behaviours needs to occur regularly.

   Support staff may need to collect data, complete incident reports, daily shift notes, and/or monthly reporting to maintain the best support for that individual.

What is trauma-sensitive language?

Trauma-sensitive language refers to the way we communicate with and about individuals who have experienced trauma.

The goal is to create a safe and supportive environment by avoiding language that could be triggering or re-traumatising. Using trauma-informed language helps reduce the risk of further harm and supports healing and recovery.

Tips for using trauma-sensitive language

1. Use person-first language: Person-first language places the individual before their trauma, emphasizing their inherent worth and dignity as human beings.
   For example, instead of referring to someone as a “trauma victim,” you could say “a person who has experienced trauma.” This language acknowledges that the individual’s experience of trauma is only one aspect of their identity and does not define them.
    
2. Avoid blaming language: Language that implies fault or blame can be triggering for trauma survivors.
   Instead, focus on empathy and support. For example, instead of asking “What’s wrong with you?” you could say “How can I help you?” This approach validates the individual’s feelings and experiences while emphasizing your willingness to support them.
    
3. Avoid triggering language: Certain words or phrases can trigger traumatic memories or emotions.
   Examples might include graphic descriptions of violence or sexual abuse. It’s important to be aware of these triggers and avoid using language that could be distressing for the individual.
   If you’re unsure what language might be triggering, you can ask the individual directly what language they prefer or find helpful.
    
4. Respect boundaries: Trauma survivors may have specific boundaries around touch, personal space, or certain topics of conversation.
   It’s important to respect these boundaries and avoid language or actions that could be perceived as invasive or disrespectful.
   If you’re unsure of the individual’s boundaries, you can ask them directly or seek guidance from a trauma-informed professional.
    
5. Provide options: Trauma survivors may have difficulty making decisions or feeling in control. Providing options can help to empower them and promote a sense of agency.
   For example, instead of telling someone what to do, you could offer a range of options and allow them to choose what feels most comfortable for them.

Trauma-sensitive language is a crucial component of trauma-informed care. It emphasises empathy, support, and respect for the individual’s experiences and boundaries.

Trauma-sensitive language can create a safe and supportive environment promoting healing and recovery.