What is trauma-informed and why does it really matter?

Ooooh wee!! We love us some buzz words! Especially when it comes to normalizing mental health and trauma recovery! However, we also love accurate information.  

When certain words and phrases start trending we risk misinformation being disseminated to the masses. AKA  #fakenews

Being "Trauma-Informed” is the awesomely trendy buzz word right now SO it’s important to know what it really means! 

When you're approaching anything or anyone through a trauma-informed lens, your intention is to NOT cause further harm while mitigating all the potential of re-traumatizing or re-victimizing a person or client.

This is BIG SHIT—

For a long time conventional practices in coaching and therapy have leaned into “processing” people's stories in the effort to support healing.

Sometimes that ‘processing’ actually causes more harm.

BECAUSE: Revisiting or reenacting a traumatic event or memory can trigger a series of physiological responses that can be hard to stop once set in motion.

Our next episode of Life Camp TV explores what it really means to be trauma-informed, why we are trauma-informed and why it might be important to work with a trauma-informed coach, therapist or program for your healing journey. 

Tune in below for the 6 Guiding Principles to a trauma-informed approach developed by SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration).

6 Guiding Principles To A Trauma-Informed Approach - Developed by SAMHSA in the 90’s, these make up the backbone for all the layers from trauma informed support:  to leadership, coaching, therapy and you can even apply it to how you roll in the world.  See LC TV highlights, “What is Trauma-Informed” for the deep dive into this topic. 

SAFETY - Safety creates the possibility of vulnerability and vulnerability (we now know through the phenomenal work of Brene Brown) is the vehicle for transformation and healing

PEER SUPPORT - We are a relational species meaning we need connection to thrive. A group dynamic allows us to be seen, get support, be acknowledged, recognized and inspired by others.  It helps us feel less alone (“holy shit, others are going through this too!”) and often also facilitates blind spots and triggers seeing the light of day to create space for healing.

TRUSTWORTHINESS & TRANSPARENCY

Without trust, there’s no deep and no ability to be truly vulnerable.  Showing up fully present and transparent with the intention to 

COLLABORATION & MUTUALITY

- Commitment to neutralizing the power dynamic to create a collaborative process where the client/participant has personal authority to access deeper parts of self, healing and health… facilitating and prioritizing the innate wisdom in each of us.  

EMPOWERMENT & CHOICE

This is throwing out the antiquated “do what I say” relationship.  Choice means asking for consent in order to truly collaborate together, empowering a client through accountability and personal responsibility. 

CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & GENDER ISSUES

-Tossing the cookie cutter approach where the humans are treated the same regardless of background and designing the journey to meet a clients needs by looking at the full spectrum, including the macro issues playing a critical role in our human development.  

You can see how each one is imperative in a client/coach relationship on it’s own, but when utilized all together, they completely change the playing field of healing.

The truth is, if  you’re seeking out a therapist or a coach, there’s a pretty strong likelihood you have some form of trauma floating around in your reality and it’s REALLY AWESOME to have someone skilled to navigate that with you.

Trauma in a client/professional relationship can show up as:

- Low motivation

- Reluctance to engage

- Not making eye contact 

- Last minute cancellations

- Chronic fiddling or movement during sessions 

- Interrupting

- Unwilling to trust the Process

- Tardiness

- Procrastination

- Defensiveness

- Disorganization

- Depression or anxiety

- Inability to focus

As a client: do you notice any of these signs in yourself showing up in your relationship with your coach or therapist?

As a coach or therapist:  are you noticing any of these trends showing up with your clients?  

Takeaway:  It’s incredibly helpful when you have a professional skilled enough to be able to see these patterns and not mistake them for a deficit or intentional resistance but instead, see them as opportunities for growth and learning.

These signs are often indicators of trauma showing up, not dealbreakers!

Healing is possible for anyone regardless of your backstory… understanding the hype around trauma-informed empowers you as the client to choose support to absolutely increase your chances for success, integration and living fully alive. 

Star and I created Life Camp from our desire to bring something that was missing for so many… a trauma-informed healing approach paired with cutting edge neuroscience… because we know healing doesn’t need to be painful, take decades, or decrease your ability to show up in life.  

Life Camp is for grown-ass adults who want to ditch their trauma through a neuroscience  based approach & create a life worth obsessing about.  

AND! Due to multiple requests, we’ve added a special trauma-informed leadership course within Life Camp for coaches and therapists who want to uplevel themselves and their practices!

We’re STOKED to bring you Life Camp this January… it’s going to be better than ever!  DM me to get on the waitlist today!