What is trauma-responsive care?
Trauma is anything that overwhelms a person’s ability to cope.
Individual trauma results from an event, series of events, or set of circumstances that is experienced by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or life threatening and that has lasting negative effects on the individual’s functioning and mental, physical, social, emotional, or spiritual well-being.
Research on trauma concluded that 1) trauma is prevalent, and 2) exposure to trauma at any point in life can limit human potential, compromise the quality of life, create health problems, and shorten life expectancy.
From Trauma-Informed to Trauma-Responsive Care
Therapists and other practitioners must be trauma-informed to address trauma.
Trauma-informed care recognizes the presence of trauma symptoms and acknowledges the connection between trauma, behaviors, and interpersonal interactions.
Trauma-responsive care is the application of being trauma-informed. This “next step” of the treatment process is delivered according to the unique needs of the person who has experienced trauma, as well as the partner in couples relationships and the family unit. A more significant level of trauma responsiveness is required to holistically meet the needs of individuals who have experienced adversity.
Implementation is the difference between trauma-informed care and trauma-responsive care.
Here’s an analogy - did you read the instructions manual before putting together the furniture you bought at the store? Do you know what parts and tools you need to build it? If so, then you are informed.
When you start to build that furniture, are you following the instructions and safety measures you have learned? If a part of the furniture isn’t working as expected, are you using the manual to troubleshoot? If so, you are being responsive with using the knowledge you have.