Trauma is more common than many realize and can lead to addicting behaviors as a coping mechanism or other related mental health disorders. People don’t want to have an addiction, they want freedom from the trauma they have experienced. Trauma-informed care recognizes what has happened and how to help the person heal from it. It also strays from causing any further trauma to an individual during the healing process.
What Is Trauma-Informed Care?
Trauma-informed care (TIC) asks the question, “what happened to this person”. We don’t view it as someone having something wrong with them. People are not their trauma and should not be viewed in that way. It is also important that people learn they are not their trauma and discover their true selves. There are five principles associated with TIC to help a person achieve healing and recovery in a healthy way.
The Five Principles Of Trauma Informed Care
The five principles were developed to avoid re-traumatizing a person and allow them to achieve healing. Each principle is important to come together as a whole in a trauma-informed practice. Let’s take a look at each principle and how they come together to treat a person with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Safety
When discussing trauma, safety is essential for success. A person must feel safe in their therapeutic space. This includes all who are present, such as in group therapy. At The Nestled Recovery, your discussions about trauma you have experienced is kept private. You will never have to worry about someone talking about it with other people.
Choice
Choice means you have choice and control over what you share and how you share it. We provide you with a Patient’s Bill Of Rights statement to review upon admission. We work to make it clear that you have a role in your therapy.
Collaboration
Collaboration is your involvement with therapy and recovery. Our services are patient-centered, meaning you have a say in what is happening. You have a voice in developing your treatment plan and how it’s executed. You also have the chance to evaluate services and report your evaluations.
Trustworthiness
Our goal is to build trust with you during your stay. We provide clear and healthy boundaries with each individual. You will have a clear understanding of what the roles are and how things are handled. Many of our staff have struggled with alcohol abuse or substance use disorder in the past and boundaries are consistent with their recovery as well.
Empowerment
We are here to empower you! At every step you take, our team will positively reinforce your efforts. When you need to voice your concerns or discuss hard feelings regarding addiction and trauma, we validate those feelings. Empowered people are successful in all that we do and take great pride in supporting you.
Is Trauma-Informed Care Successful For Treating Addiction?
TIC is highly successful in recovery from substance abuse. Here at The Nestled Recovery Center, we are striving to heal every aspect of yourself and trauma-informed care if a vital part of that. When your mind is healed from traumatic events, your need to cope with destructive substances diminishes. TIC is a part of the eight dimensions of wellness and assisted by our holistic approach to substance abuse. Trauma and addiction go hand-in-hand so it only makes sense to treat both.
It’s important for people with histories of trauma who are seeking help to build on strength and inner resilience in supportive community environments. As described by SAMSHA, “This type of Trauma Informed Protocol (TIP) begins by introducing the scope, purpose, and organization of the topic and describing its intended audience.” Trauma-informed care empowers individuals through providing positive coping tools to address the underlying issues of substance use disorder and mental health which may stem from trauma.
What Is The Prevalence Of Trauma Informed Care in Substance Use Populations?
Trauma and symptoms of trauma are found frequently to be one of the co-occurring disorders with the highest prevalence rates for patients of substance use treatment. Studies show that individuals with a diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) engage in treatment for Substance Use Disorders (SUD) at a rate five times higher than the general population. It’s important for addiction treatment teams providing substance use disorder treatment are at a greater likelihood of having patients with co-occurring trauma than many other mental health-related symptoms and diagnoses.
Final Thoughts On Trauma-Informed Care
Don’t allow your traumatic experiences to run your life, we are here to help. With our experienced and professional staff, you are heading down the road of recovery by choosing us. We offer a wide range of services and resources to help you during your stay and after you leave. Call our team today to learn more about getting started with a new and healthier life. Substance abuse and mental health disorders can get better with the right attention. We are here to help support and guide you on your journey to wellness.
References:
Bargeman, M., Smith, S., & Wekerle, C. (2021). Trauma-informed care as a rights-based “standard of care”: A critical review. Child Abuse & Neglect, 119, 1-8.
Bendall, S., Eastwood, O., Cox, G., Farrelly-Rosch, A., Nicoll, H., Peters, W., Bailey, A., McGorry, P., & Scanlan, F. (2021). A systematic review and synthesis of trauma-informed care within outpatient and counseling health settings for young people. Child Maltreatment, 26 (3), 313-324.
https://www.addictioncounselorce.com/blog/trauma-informed-care
https://store.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/d7/priv/sma14-4816.pdf
