
The Value of Trauma-Informed Care: How It Transforms Lives and Creates Safer Spaces for Those in Recovery
What Is Trauma-Informed Care?
Trauma-informed care (TIC) is an approach widely used in various healthcare settings, such as hospitals, mental health clinics, trauma intensive programs and addiction treatment centers.
This approach acknowledges an individual’s life situation (past and present) to provide a holistic, well-rounded treatment experience, particularly for those in recovery from addiction and other mental health challenges like anxiety and trauma.
It is also incredibly important for those embarking on a specific trauma intensive program.
TIC recognizes the prevalence and profound impact of trauma on physical, emotional, and mental well-being, emphasizing the need for compassionate, safe, and transformative care.
Shifting the focus from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?” TIC helps cultivate trust, understanding, and collaboration between healthcare providers and individuals.
Trauma-informed professionals uphold various principles to those under their care, including:
- Safety (physical and emotional)
- Trustworthiness
- Peer support and collaboration
- Empathy
- Empowerment
- Cultural, religious and gender sensitivity
These principles ensure that treatment does not inadvertently re-traumatize clients, which can occur when care is not trauma-informed and instead creates a foundation of lasting healing and resilience.
Trauma-informed care aims to create a supportive environment where individuals feel seen, heard, and valued.
This supportive framework encourages individuals to progress in their recovery and overall well-being, knowing they are not alone in their healing journey.
Trauma-Informed Care in Substance Abuse Recovery
When it comes to treating mental health conditions like substance use, trauma-informed care is about more than just treating the addiction.
TIC utilizes a whole-person approach, acknowledging the individual’s history and potential root causes for their mental health struggles.
By exploring the origins of trauma, which often fuels substance abuse, trauma-informed professionals can offer those under their care a treatment approach that is non-judgmental, compassionate, and empowering.
This approach fosters a sense of acceptance and understanding, enabling individuals to not only recover but thrive despite what they may have been through in the past.
This article explores the value of trauma-informed care and how this approach can transform lives, creating a safe space for lasting healing and recovery.
Whether you are struggling with substance abuse or other emotional difficulties like anxiety or depression, working with a trauma-informed professional can help you navigate these challenges in a safe and supportive way.
How We Can Help
At The Lighthouse Bali, our multidisciplinary team has extensive knowledge and experience in treating all types of addiction and co-occurring disorders, such as depression and anxiety, providing recovery programs based on your unique needs and history.
Our trauma-informed therapists and counselors provide a range of evidence-based treatments to help you get a handle on your addiction and explore the root causes of these behaviors, including trauma and chronic stress.
A typical treatment program at The Lighthouse Bali includes a combination of therapies and approaches that address the three main facets of addiction: mind, body, and spirit.
Our recovery programs include:
- Bespoke inpatient treatment
- Medical detox, if necessary
- Behavioral therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- EMDR (eye movement desensitization reprocessing) therapy
- Mindfulness-based therapy
- Schema therapy
- And more
The above treatments aim to explore and address any maladaptive thoughts and behaviors that cause or worsen your substance use, enabling you to reprocess traumatic experiences
in a safe, supportive way.
Hence, they no longer have such a hold over your emotions and life choices.
Contact our professional team today to learn more about our substance abuse recovery programs. They will gladly provide further help and support.
We are here and ready to help.
Understanding Trauma
Understanding the profound impact of trauma, which is defined as a deeply distressing or disturbing experience, is crucial in addressing self-destructive behaviors like addiction.
More often than not, trauma is at the root of most addictive behaviors and other mental health presentations, such as depressive and anxiety disorders.
Trauma Symptoms
Individuals with trauma may experience the following symptoms:
- Re-experiencing: This may include flashbacks, hallucinations, and nightmares related to the traumatic event.
- Excessive arousal: Symptoms can include anger, bouts of uncontrollable rage, heightened alertness, and difficulty sleeping or concentrating.
- Avoidance: You may avoid people, places, objects, or memories associated with the traumatic incident.
- Intrusive, distressing thoughts: These can include feelings of guilt, shame, or self-blame.
Studies on trauma and addiction have shown that:
- Experiencing trauma, such as the sudden loss of a loved one or being involved in a significant car accident, increases a person’s likelihood of turning to substances to cope.
- More than 70% of women with drug or alcohol abuse problems were victims of violence.
- Exposure to traumatic experiences in childhood has been linked to the development of substance use disorders in adulthood, including dependence and abuse.
For those experiencing such outcomes, seeking the help of a trauma-informed professional can be the difference between them getting the right help and support that is oriented toward lasting healing and not just symptom management, which rarely works in the long term.
The Value of Trauma-Informed Care: How It Transforms Lives and Creates Safer Spaces for Those in Recovery
Trauma-informed care fosters positive recovery outcomes by prioritizing physical, psychological, and emotional safety.
However, this approach is not just about safety; it’s also about empowerment.
TIC empowers individuals to take an active role in their healing journey by helping them identify their needs, set personal goals, and make informed decisions about their care and the services they receive.
This sense of empowerment can significantly affect the recovery process, making individuals feel more in control and hopeful about their future.
Trauma-informed professionals adhere to several fundamental principles in the services they provide to clients, ensuring a comprehensive and effective approach to care.
These principles include the following:
1. Safety
Individuals utilizing healthcare services such as mental health or addiction treatment benefit from a trauma-informed approach as these professionals prioritize safety first and foremost as a key element to recovery.
Trauma-informed professionals ensure the physical and emotional safety of every individual under their care, creating spaces where each person feels secure and free from judgment, fostering an environment of trust and support.
The emotional and physical safety of service users and staff prioritizes the following:
- Reasonable freedom from threat or harm.
- Various procedures and protocols are in place that prevent re-traumatization.
- Individuals feel comfortable knowing they are safe, and they are also comfortable asking for what they need to feel safe and secure.
2. Trustworthiness and Transparency
Trauma-informed service providers such as therapists and counselors work with clients to build trust and transparency throughout treatment.
Transparency is a key element of trauma-informed care.
It involves providing a clear and defined service without any confusion or the potential to cause further distress to individuals or other involved parties.
This transparency can make individuals feel more informed and secure about their treatment, reducing anxiety and uncertainty.
The above involves:
- Service providers explaining what they are doing and why. For instance, your therapist may explain why they have chosen a specific treatment plan and the benefits and efficacy of that decision.
- The service provider is doing what it says it will do. For example, if your therapist says they will call you at 4 pm, they follow through or explain why they could not call at the above time should the appointment be delayed.
- Expectations for treatment are made clear without overpromising or compromising your safety and understanding.
3. Peer Support
Trauma-informed care recognizes the power of shared support and community.
The importance of staff and client sharing experiences is acknowledged as vital in addressing challenges and enhancing the overall system and treatment experience.
This is achieved in the following ways:
- Leveraging peer support: Utilizing formal and informal peer support systems and mutual self-help to cultivate connection and resilience.
- Collaborative needs assessment: Actively engaging service users and staff to identify their needs and working together to determine how best to address them.
- Empowering clients/patients: Emphasizing partnership by involving the client/patient meaningfully in the design and delivery of services, ensuring their voices influence and shape the care they receive.
4. Collaboration and Mutuality
This principle fosters teamwork and shared decision-making, where clients and service providers feel included in the service offered and received. This collaborative approach can make individuals feel valued and respected, enhancing their trust in the care and treatment process.
For example, there is a measured approach to care and a focus on breaking down hierarchies.
As explained by SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration), collaboration and mutuality involves the following:
“There is recognition that healing happens in relationships and in the meaningful sharing of power and decision-making. The organization recognizes that everyone has a role to play in a trauma-informed approach. One does not have to be a therapist to be therapeutic.”
5. Empowerment, Voice, and Choice
This principle prioritizes personal strengths and autonomy between service providers and clients/patients.
For example, service providers and staff members make a concerted effort to give clients a strong voice in decision-making at all levels, individual and professional.
This can look like:
- Listening objectively to what a person needs and wants.
- Supporting people in their actions and decisions.
- Acknowledging the feelings and worries of clients and staff.
- Recognizing the profound impact of trauma on individuals and how these experiences may make them feel vulnerable, powerless, and/or isolated, including feelings of chronic shame and low self-worth.
6. Cultural, Historical and Gender Awareness
Trauma-informed service providers, such as counselors, mental health therapists, and other healthcare staff, work to move beyond internal biases and cultural stereotypes.
This includes offering individuals complete access to services like gender-responsive programs and incorporating policies, protocols, and resources that are responsive and sensitive to the needs of each individual served regardless of gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, race, or ethnicity.
Bottom Line
It’s essential for mental health professionals working with individuals grappling with trauma, addiction or compulsive behaviors to have a robust understanding of trauma-informed treatment approaches.
Addressing trauma and addiction concurrently is vital, as these conditions are deeply connected and mutually influential (SAMHSA, 2014).
For instance, substance use or other addictive behaviors like gambling or gaming may serve as a coping mechanism to escape trauma symptoms through negative reinforcement.
However, engaging in these behaviors can exacerbate trauma by triggering flashbacks or resurfacing painful memories.
By exploring the complex relationship between trauma and addiction, trauma-informed professionals can help clients gain a deeper understanding of how these conditions interact.
This approach enhances the effectiveness of treatment and supports lasting recovery and healing.
Inherently, trauma-informed professionals explore all aspects of an individual’s history and how their pasts may influence their current behaviors and choices.
These professionals work through the lens of “What happened to you?” rather than” What is wrong with you?”
From this stance, clinicians can facilitate trauma-informed protocols into their work, enabling clients to experience a well-rounded treatment program that empowers, heals, and, ultimately, helps them thrive despite what they may have been through in the past.
Next Steps
At The Lighthouse Bali, our trauma-informed team combines a range of evidence-based therapies and experiential approaches to address the many aspects of co-occurring addiction and mental health challenges.
By focusing on these interconnected areas, we aim to facilitate successful and lasting recovery for each individual.
Every person’s healing journey is unique, so our treatment programs are highly bespoke and customizable.
They are designed to adapt to your specific needs, preferences, and personal history, ensuring an authentic approach aligned with your recovery goals.
Contact our professional team today to learn more about our trauma-informed treatment programs and start your transformative journey to healing.
We are here and ready to guide you every step of the way.
Additional Resources
- What it Means to be Trauma-Informed, The Lighthouse Bali, June 4, 2024
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