What Makes a Trauma-Informed Therapist?

The trauma-informed therapist maintains a number of core competencies that make it easier to work through trauma.

The trauma-informed therapist maintains a number of core competencies that make it easier to work through trauma. Some of these competencies include: 

• Knowledge of trauma 

• Trustworthiness

•  Safety 

• Collaboration 

• Autonomy

Knowledge of Trauma

Having knowledge of trauma is not just understanding that adversity exists or that people experience trauma. Having a knowledge of trauma is far more expansive than that. This can include an understanding in:

• The diversity of trauma and adverse experiences (e.g., physical, global, historic)

• Trauma experiences, symptoms, and manifestations The complexity of traumas

• The shame, privacy, or protection of traumas 

• The ways traumas can be triggered 

• Different techniques on how to treat trauma 

• Different exercises on how to help people regulate

Trustworthiness

A trauma-informed therapist understands that clients often protect traumas and that it takes a while for clients to decide when they may be ready to share these personal experiences with another person. As such, therapists will strive to convey their trustworthiness to their clients by: 

• Maintaining transparency with clients (e.g., limitations to treatment or experience, limitations to confidentiality) 

• Keeping their word with clients (e.g., meeting with clients regularly and on time) 

• Maintaining authenticity with clients (e.g., being themselves with clients)

• Remembering to follow up on certain action items (e.g., homework assignments)

Safety

Trauma-informed therapists understand the fragility of the therapeutic relationship. They understand that the safety of their clients is a priority. As such, the therapist may engage in various behaviors to protect the safety of their clients: 

• Remaining mindful of their own reactions in session 

• Remaining open to feedback from clients 

• Providing clients a roadmap to therapy 

• Avoiding secondary trauma (or retraumatization) 

• Maintaining a warm, gentle, and non-judgmental approach 

• Checking in with clients’ bandwidth

• Reading cues of distress, dysregulation, or discomfort 

• Providing clients with grounding exercises

Collaboration

Trauma-informed therapists understand that the individual is the expert in the room and that every client differs in their readiness, ability, or desire to change. As such, the trauma-informed therapist will share decision-making regarding treatment with clients. This can include behaviors like: 

• Soliciting feedback from clients 

• Providing clients with options for treatment 

• Brain-storming ways to manage symptoms (e.g., coping, self-care) 

• Soliciting ideas for treatment from clients 

• Developing treatment plans that align with the client’s goals

Autonomy

The trauma-informed therapist will understand the importance of autonomy or choice in therapy. When people experience trauma, they may feel as though their choice was taken from them. The trauma-informed therapist will work to empower them to reclaim a sense of autonomy. This is done through: 

• Providing positive regard for the choices they make 

• Supporting clients to develop a sense of confidence in their decision-making

• Giving clients a sense of choice 

• Not forcing clients to make decisions 

• Working with clients to understand the importance of their choice and autonomy

Takeaways

• The trauma-informed therapists understand the diversity of trauma, recognize symptoms and triggers, and are familiar with effective treatment techniques.

• The trauma-informed therapists maintain transparency, reliability, and authenticity to build a strong therapeutic relationship.

• The trauma-informed therapists prioritize client safety by being mindful of reactions, encouraging feedback, and providing grounding exercises.

• The trauma-informed therapists empower clients by respecting their choices and emphasizing their sense of autonomy in therapy.