What does it mean to be trauma informed & what does that therapy look like?

A trauma informed therapist has:

•An awareness of the prevalence of trauma;
•An understanding of the impact of trauma on physical, emotional, and mental health as well as on behaviors and engagement to services; and
•An understanding that current service systems can re-traumatize individuals.

It is important to identify that AGPsychotherapy specializes in trauma informed care however the client accessing services may not have experienced what people commonly refer to as trauma. At AGPsychotherapy, it is acknowledged that each client is a unique individual bringing with them their own experiences, and perceptions. AGPsychotherapy therapists are able to identify, sometimes subtle, trauma responses associated to developmental trauma vs. the more well known acute or shock trauma, that a client may exhibit. Therapy is structured to incorporate the necessary resources, practices and tools to help regulate the system, increasing personal resiliency.

“Trauma-informed care is a strengths based framework that is grounded in an understanding of and responsiveness to the impact of trauma, that emphasizes physical, psychological, and emotional safety for both providers and survivors, and that creates opportunities for survivors to rebuild a sense of control and empowerment.”(Hopper, Bassuk, & Olivet, 2010).