In recent years, clinicians have studied the impact of trauma on behavioral health treatment outcomes. Many individuals experience traumatic episodes in their lifetimes, and those experiences can have a lasting effect. Trauma can affect an individual's personal relationships as well as their relationships and interactions with healthcare professionals.
Trauma-informed care is the practice of considering each patient's possible traumatic experiences when delivering care. In this post, we discuss why trauma-informed care is an essential component of behavioral health treatment, and we define trauma-informed care’s key principles. We also cover steps that clinicians take to avoid retraumatization, and we discuss the importance of the patient's family in assisting with trauma-informed care.
The prevalence of trauma and the importance of trauma-informed care
Trauma affects more people than many individuals think. For trauma involving abuse and violence, the CDC estimates that one in four women is a victim of domestic violence, and one in five women experiences rape. Men can also be the victim of abuse, including rape. The CDC estimates that one in 71 men experience rape. Additionally, approximately one in four children is a victim of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse.
While people experience trauma to different extents and in different ways, each traumatic experience can impact a person well into the future. Trauma-informed care is important because the symptoms and effects of trauma can influence a person's behavioral health in a variety of ways. In some cases, the individual's traumatic experience may cause a person's behavioral health challenges. For example, due to a traumatic experience, the person may face ongoing anxiety, self-image concerns, or substance abuse issues.
In other cases, the individual's traumatic experience may be a roadblock to receiving the care they need. Clinicians may trigger a person's memories of trauma inadvertently when delivering behavioral health treatment. The person may then be unable to continue with treatment, as the treatment experience may remind the person of past traumatic episodes and might be too stressful to complete.
The five principles of trauma-informed care
The concept of trauma-informed care consists of much more than healthcare professionals merely being aware of each patient's possible history with trauma. Practitioners and behavioral health facilities can adhere to trauma-informed care methods by following actionable principles. There are five trauma-informed care principles, and each principle helps ensure that patients have the supportive environment they need for effective treatment.
The first principle of trauma-informed care is safety. This principle of safety applies to the patient's physical and emotional safety. For patients to focus on the treatment process, they must know that they are safe at home and safe at the behavioral health hospital.
The second principle of trauma-informed care is choice. The patient must understand that they have control over the situation and a choice of whether or not they want to undergo treatment. In past episodes of trauma, the individual likely did not have a choice. If the patient does not have a choice in the treatment process, treatment may trigger memories of past trauma.
Closely related to the principle of choice, the third principle of trauma-informed care is collaboration. Instead of patients following along blindly with the healthcare provider's decisions, the patient must be a part of each decision and be a part of the treatment-planning process. Fostering a collaborative environment during treatment is vital to ensure that the patient does not experience a power imbalance between themself and clinicians.
Trustworthiness is the fourth principle of trauma-informed care. Often, traumatic experiences involve abuse of trust, and understandably, the patient may have trouble trusting other people. To build trust, clinicians maintain respect with each patient and set adhere to clear interpersonal boundaries.
The fifth principle of trauma-informed care is empowerment. This principle refers to helping patients recognize their strengths and feel validated throughout the treatment process. When patients recognize their strengths, both the patient and clinician can use those strengths to help achieve treatment goals.
Preventing retraumatization with trauma-informed care methods
By adhering to the above principles of trauma-informed care, clinicians can help patients avoid retraumatization events. Retraumatization events occur when the patient remembers episodes of trauma, and that recall may cause stress and anxiety. In addition to adhering to the above principles, key actions that clinicians can take to avoid retraumatization include the following:
Explaining why they must ask each question or perform each part of an exam. This point is particularly relevant to questions and medical exams that may have to do with the patient's sexual health. Explaining each step helps define the professional relationship between the patient and clinician and helps build trust.
Asking the patient if there is anything that can improve the patient's treatment experience. Sometimes, patients may need a cue to ask for something that may make them feel more comfortable. Actively trying to improve the patient's treatment experience can increase collaboration and reduce power imbalances.
Invite the patient to have a family member or close friend in the room during the exam. While some patients prefer to undergo exams alone, other patients may appreciate and need the company of a loved one. Having a family member nearby can help a patient feel safer.
While the above steps are just a few ways that trauma-informed care can prevent retraumatization, they highlight how clinicians can be mindful of a person's past trauma during the treatment process. When patients have a safe and supporting environment during their behavioral health treatment, they are more likely to achieve positive treatment outcomes.
Importance of the family for trauma-informed care
In many cases of trauma, the person's entire family becomes involved in some way. A family may face a difficult period of trauma together when the family learns to deal with new life circumstances. In other cases, a family may learn how to support a family member who experienced trauma alone.
When adhering to a trauma-informed approach to care, it is essential for clinicians to recognize the family's role throughout the treatment process. The patient's family can help inform the clinician of the patient's history and challenges. Additionally, the clinician can teach the family how to provide the best environment for the patient's ongoing recovery.
Particularly for young children who experience trauma, families and healthcare providers must form an ongoing partnership. Behavioral health professionals call this partnership the "trauma-informed partnership," and it refers to a relationship of trust and respect between a patient, the patient's family, and healthcare providers. Throughout the child's care, the family and healthcare provider can work together to ensure that the child has a supportive environment at the hospital and at home.
Trauma-informed care at Bakersfield Behavioral Healthcare Hospital
At Bakersfield Behavioral Healthcare Hospital, we understand the importance of trauma-informed care in relation to behavioral health. We train our clinicians and staff to adhere to trauma-informed care best practices, and we consider trauma-informed care to be a key component of a successful treatment program.
At our behavioral healthcare hospital in Bakersfield, California, we offer various behavioral health treatment programs. Our treatment programs include adult behavioral health treatment programs and specialized treatment programs for adolescents. We also provide unique behavioral health treatment programs for children. Each program incorporates trauma-informed care methods at each step of the patient experience.
To receive trauma-informed care for behavioral health at our hospital, the first step is to schedule a free mental health assessment. The free mental health assessment helps our clinical staff better understand the patient's situation and behavioral health needs. After the mental health assessment, our team will then recommend a customized treatment program.
To schedule a free mental health assessment at Bakersfield Behavioral Healthcare Hospital, you can contact our team 24/7 at +1 (877) 755-4907.