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Trauma and trauma-informed are becoming such buzzwords that sometimes we lose the potency and reality of what this all means. This also means there are misconceptions that can lead to more harm than good and leave people unsupported. Here are some common misconceptions we come across here at SomaPsych...
1) Trauma-Informed Practice Means Focusing Solely on Trauma
Misconception: Some believe that trauma-informed practice involves concentrating exclusively on discussing and addressing past traumatic experiences.
Reality: While acknowledging and understanding trauma is a crucial component, trauma-informed practice is about much more than that. It’s about creating environments and interactions that are safe, trustworthy, and empowering for all individuals, regardless of whether they openly discuss their trauma. This means adopting practices that promote safety, choice, collaboration, trustworthiness, and empowerment in all interactions. It's about being sensitive to the possibility of trauma and minimizing potential re-traumatization and actively triggering.
2) Trauma-Informed Practice is a One-Time Training
Misconception: There’s a common belief that attending a single trauma-informed training or workshop is sufficient to become trauma-informed.
Reality: Becoming trauma-informed cannot be just another tickbox, it is an ongoing process rather than a one-time thing. It’s a lifestyle and paradigm shift that requires continuous learning, reflection, and adaptation. Organizations and individuals need to regularly update their knowledge, seek feedback, and integrate trauma-informed principles into all aspects of their work. This involves a commitment to ongoing professional development, organizational change, and the implementation of policies and practices that support a trauma-informed approach. It also requires us to move beyond the individual and seek social and systemic change and liberation for all.
3) Trauma-informed means quick-fixes and ‘healing’ people
Misconception: Some believe that trauma-informed practitioners are here to heal others and by doing certain practices you can quickly 'heal' or 'release' trauma.
Reality: People aren’t broken and do not need external saving or 'healing'. They need people walking alongside and wrap-around support/resources as they restore their nervous system, discharge compressed survival energy, and re-navigate their perception of self and the world around them. It is not a quick fix; one definition of trauma is ‘too much too soon’ and the same can be said for the process of restoration. Too much too soon when it comes to restoration can flood and overwhelm one’s system and cause retraumatization. This process requires patience and titration - it’s a long-game, y'all.
It is important we better understand and implement trauma-informed practices in various settings to ultimately foster environments that support restoration and resilience. It's important that we as trauma-informed facilitators uphold a standard of ethical care and responsibility to best support ourselves, those we walk alongside, and the wider community.
To learn more about Trauma-Informed Care you can join Amanda Hanna, SomaPsych Founder on the following trainings:
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