You may have heard the term “trauma informed” a lot more recently. But what does it look like in practice?
Here’s part one (because I have a lot more to say on the subject) of what being trauma informed means to me.
Our past experiences, as well as the experiences of our loved ones and communities (whether recently or in generations past), and environmental tragedies may be at the root of our suffering and symptoms. Compassionate understanding and curiosity is the first step in acknowledging history so it can transform into healing.
I’ll share more on survival strategies and how they are often hidden in symptoms another time. Recognizing how our adaptive survival strategies, which served a very important purpose in the past, become embodied overtime is key to reduce shame and increase empowerment and choice.
Trauma becomes coded in our bodies and memories as feelings, sensations, thoughts, and memories without a timestamp. Healing takes place when we can start to organize those fragments into a cohesive narrative of the past without re-experiencing the past. Staying anchored in the power of the present moment is a stronghold into the truth that you survived and are here.
No one chooses trauma, abuse, oppression, neglect, disaster. Trauma is too much, too fast, too early. Asking for consent in seemingly small interactions is an important embodied reminder that today you have options, you can say no, and your boundaries will be respected.
All humans have an inherent ability to heal, though sometimes the once lifesaving strategies we had to use are getting in the way of accessing resilience. This capacity always exists, and trauma informed therapy can help dismantle the blocks that get in the way.
What does being trauma informed mean to you?