Trauma Informed Treatment

Experts tend to create their own definition of trauma based on their clinical experiences (Center for Health Care Strategies, 2016). Yet, the most commonly referenced definition is from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA):4

Individual trauma results from an event, series of events, or set of circumstances that a person experiences as physically or emotionally harmful or life-threatening and that has ongoing adverse effects on the individual’s functioning and mental, physical, social, emotional, or spiritual well-being (Pavelka and Seymour, 2019).

Instances of trauma include but are not limited to:

• Experiencing or observing physical, sexual, and emotional abuse;
• Childhood neglect;
• Having a family member with a mental health or substance use disorder;
• Experiencing or witnessing violence in the community or while serving in the military; and
• Poverty and systemic discrimination (Center for Health Care Strategies, 2016).

Trauma-informed care is incumbent on practices that promote a culture of safety, healing, and empowerment. Gateway Counseling, Inc. utilizes a trauma-informed approach that

1. maximizes collaboration among health care staff, clients, and their families in organizational and treatment planning,
2. creates safe environments,
3. administers clinical screenings for trauma,
4. maintains staff training, and
5. engages referral sources.

Trauma-informed treatment is utilized in conjunction with various theoretical approaches, including Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Person-Centered Therapy. In addition, each clinician assesses for risk, crisis, and trauma symptomatology to provide the best care possible for all of our clients.