Mad in America: Beyond the Buzzwords: What Does Trauma-Informed Care Truly Mean?
There is a lot of classism built into the mental health system, which is also retraumatizing. Social work has gotten away from its roots and has become more professionalized, which can lead to being out of touch. Frontline workers often deal with poor wages and unsafe, exhausting working conditions, and this is traumatizing instead of trauma-informed. Our medical and mental health system is so focused on liability, which often leads to practices that are counter to being trauma-informed.
Trauma-informed care acknowledges people’s pain, as well as their capacity for growth and resilience. We discussed how some people heal and grow after major trauma. We talked about the idea of post-traumatic growth. This is a controversial idea and participants expressed mixed feelings. It is important to foster an environment of healing and resilience but also to avoid “Toxic Positivity,” which can be retraumatizing.
Trauma-informed care is complicated, and our system is filled with obstacles. Being trauma-informed does not mean having to be perfect. This goes for care providers and care recipients.
