Trauma-Informed Care: A Growing Priority
Working with Trauma from the Past
Trauma-informed care has emerged as a critical focus in Australian counselling practices. This approach recognises the profound impact that trauma can have on individuals and aims to create a therapeutic environment that prioritizes safety, trust, and empowerment. By acknowledging the pervasive effects of trauma, counsellors can tailor their interventions to better meet the needs of their clients.
The growing emphasis on trauma-informed care is reflected in the increasing availability of specialised training programs for counsellors. These programs equip professionals with the skills to identify trauma responses, understand their implications, and implement strategies that minimize the risk of re traumatisation. Key principles of trauma-informed care include creating a sense of physical and emotional safety, fostering collaboration, and empowering clients to take an active role in their healing journey.
This trend is particularly relevant in the context of Australia’s unique challenges. This includes natural disasters, domestic violence and the historical trauma within Indigenous communities. By adopting a trauma-informed approach, counsellors can provide more compassionate and effective support, ultimately contributing to better mental health outcomes. An awareness of trauma’s impact continues to grow and this approach is likely to become a cornerstone in Australia.
A foot note here, unless you have specific trauma informed training, you are working outside your scope of work. Lived experience IS NOT training, no matter how much trauma you have lived for. This includes supporting friends and family with trauma.
Helpful Links
Here is a link to Australian Human Rights Guidelines ahrc_sr_2021_8_trauma-informed_approach_a4_r3.pdf
The Blue Knox have released their guidelines for working with trauma IND.0521.001.0001.pdf
This is a link to the ACA’s guidelines for working with trauma Work Effectively in Trauma Informed Care – Australian Counselling Association