What is a Trauma Responsive Facility?
Trauma seems to be a word that has latched on in recent years, used by young and old alike. Contrary to popular usage, a traumatic thing is more than a strong negative emotion or experience. The event stretches an individual beyond their ability to cope. It can shatter a person's sense of safety or control. It can be a one time event, such as a car crash, or chronic, such as the repeated exposure to domestic violence. Trauma can result from varied, multiple events, called complex trauma. If the distinctions feel confusing or unclear, you are not alone.
The Hope Place has established practices that make us not just aware of trauma and the way it impacts people, but on creating the space and methods that help people heal safely. If "trauma-informed" is knowing about trauma, then "trauma-responsive" is actively doing something about it – integrating that knowledge into action, policy, and interaction. Trauma responsiveness takes the knowledge of trauma and makes intentional efforts to avoid retraumatization.
How can you expect to see trauma responsiveness at The Hope Place?
The Physical Space. When one first steps into the waiting room of the lobby of The Hope Place, they will notice soft lighting and a more “homey” feel. This is intentional! Sensory overwhelm is a real struggle, and the ability to reduce these components are a welcomed change for many whose nervous system struggles to stay regulated. Additionally, all offices at The Hope Place allow for clients to sit with their backs NOT facing the door. For many individuals that have been impacted by trauma, a clear line to the escape path is crucial in helping establish feelings of safety and empowerment.
Clear Boundaries and Consistency. This is so meaningful! In a world that has often felt chaotic and unpredictable, clear boundaries and consistent behavior help develop trust. It helps individuals know what to expect and fosters a sense of safety.
The Power of Choice. At The Hope Place, we strongly value the concept of partnership with clients! While we are professionally trained, we are not the professionals in the client’s life. You are! Decisions are made with the client, not for the client.
Trauma Informed Interventions Accelerated Resolution Therapy ( ART) is not the only trauma informed intervention, but is one that we love and embrace at The Hope Place. One of the most detrimental concepts in trauma recovery is the requirement that clients must talk about the trauma in order to be healed. We disagree. In fact, we believe that forced communication regarding the event(s) can be harmful and retraumatize. By using ART, there is not the forced verbalization, which feels more respectful to both clients and therapists alike.
Flexible Approaches. While boundaries absolutely need to remain clear and consistent, if there is room for flexibility in approaches, then that is the route we will take. The flexibility asks two questions: Will this flexibility harm or benefit this client, and/or will it be detrimental to other clients present? If flexibility can ensure all clients have their needs met, we will lean towards flexibility so that we meet the client where they are.
Are we going to get it right every time? No. Individual experiences are unique, and we might miss something. However, you can trust that if we don't get it right, we have the humility to learn and do better next time. That is trauma responsiveness.
Rachel Nauss is a therapist at The Hope Place that sees children and adults. She is a Registered Play Therapist with Texas and is our Operations Manager. For questions, she can be reached at info@hopeplacetx.com.
