Starting Points for Supporting Survivors with a Trauma-Informed Approach

By Christine Murray

Over the past several decades, professionals and general community members have been gaining a lot more awareness about the many ways that traumatic experiences may impact survivors’ lives. The treatment of trauma by a professional or clinical specialist requires a lot of formal training. However, some of the basic building blocks of offering supportive, sensitive support to people impacted by trauma can be understood and applied by almost anyone.

Trauma-informed approaches (also sometimes referred to as trauma-informed care) involve offering support in ways that reflect the unique needs and experiences of people who have faced traumatic experiences. In the US, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association) have been leaders in defining trauma-informed care. 

The CDC and SAMHSA have partnered to offer a free, downloadable infographic that does a great job of mapping out six guiding principles for a trauma-informed care approach:

1. Safety
2. Trustworthiness & Transparency
3. Peer Support
4. Collaboration & Mutuality
5. Empowerment & Choice
6. Cultural, Historical, & Gender Issues

If you’re interested in learning more about these principles, I encourage you to visit the CDC’s website to learn more about these principles and the overall trauma-informed approach. 

If you’re supporting someone who has faced a traumatic experience, such as an abusive relationship, it’s a good idea to be familiar with local resources and trained professionals in your community if they need professional support. You can visit our Other Resources page for a few links to get started, especially for resources related to intimate partner violence and mental health. 

I believe that all people can practice some of the basics of trauma-informed care approaches, and as more people learn about and apply these principles, we’ll create safer healing environments in all corners of our communities. Below, I’ve included a couple of practical suggestions to bring to life each of the six principles listed by the CDC and SAMHSA:

• Safety: Prioritize your own and the other person’s physical and emotional safety. Take any safety risks seriously and connect with local community resources (e.g., emergency contacts and crisis hotlines) for support in navigating physical safety concerns.
  
• Safety: Offer a supportive, non-judgmental, and non-stigmatizing environment when talking with people who have faced trauma to promote emotional safety.
• Trustworthiness and Transparency: Remember that small actions can go a long way toward building trust. Follow through on plans you make, and if changes are needed, transparently explain these.
• Trustworthiness and Transparency: When there are limitations on the support you can provide, be open about the reasons for the limitations whenever possible. 
• Peer Support: If peer support resources (e.g., support groups or Certified Peer Support Specialists) are available in your community, help connect the person to these resources, if interested.
• Peer Support: If you have similar life experiences, consider the potential impacts and benefits of sharing your experiences with the person. Remember, however, that each person’s experiences are their own.
• Collaboration & Mutuality: Remember that each person is the expert in their own life. Ask them if and how you can support them. Don’t impose your advice or suggestions.
• Collaboration & Mutuality: Bring a teamwork mindset to any support you offer. If the person would like your help, work together to brainstorm and implement solutions to the challenges they are facing. 
• Empowerment & Choice: Try to offer choices whenever possible. Remember that some experiences might be triggers for a person who has experienced trauma. Offering flexibility helps people have as many choices and options as possible. 
  
• Empowerment & Choice: Empower the person to make the best decisions that make sense to them at the present time. Ask open-ended questions to help them think through their options if they’re not sure what decision to make.
• Cultural, Historical, & Gender Issues: Honor each person’s unique cultural background(s). Remember that they may have different cultural practices or values than yours. Remain curious to learn more about differences.
  
• Cultural, Historical, & Gender Issues: Consider whether the person’s experiences with trauma might be layered with other forms of discrimination or oppression. If they’d like your support with this, help them get connected with cultural and/or gender-affirming resources online or locally.

The thought of offering support to someone who has faced such a difficult life experience as trauma can feel overwhelming at times. The guiding principles of trauma-informed care offer a helpful starting point, but even these can feel complicated when we’re just starting to learn about them. I’ve done a lot of work and teaching related to trauma-informed approaches, and if I had to boil this approach down to three simple suggestions:

1. Be kind, compassionate, and respectful when you’re interacting with someone who has been through a traumatic experience. (Remember that you may not know who has been impacted by trauma, so it’s wise to be kind, compassionate, and respectful to everyone whenever possible!)
2. Let the person who has experienced trauma lead the way. Allow them to guide the pace and let you know how you can support them, if at all. Empower them to make decisions that are in line with their values and needs.
3. Know your limits, and help connect them with additional support whenever needed. It’s very helpful to know how to connect with relevant resources in your local community, as well as national hotlines and resource centers. 

When in doubt, remember three words: Kindness, Empowerment, and Connection. At times, you may feel confused about what to say or do when you’re supporting a survivor of abuse or other forms of trauma. However, these three words (Kindness, Empowerment, and Connection) can help you refocus on the basics, stay present in the moment, and offer sensitive support.