By Adriana Argueta, LPC RYT
If you're working in the healing professions or in education, you may have heard the term “trauma-informed” gaining more traction recently. While we can define each part of the term succinctly, it might be more difficult for someone not in the field to know what trauma-informed care might look like within different settings, and within the world as a whole.
Starting off, it’s important to define trauma - most simply defined as any event, series of events, or accumulation of experiences that impact one’s physical, emotional, social and spiritual sense of safety in the world. With these types of life experiences, our ability to handle and cope can be overwhelmed, stunted, or shut down. There may be immediate effects or sometimes a delayed reaction and both can be distressing to one’s overall functioning. We are also learning through longer term studies that trauma in childhood can have significant effects on health throughout the lifespan.
To aim to be trauma-informed is to recognize how common trauma is, and to understand that every person we work with may have experienced trauma at some level. As Stephen Cope says, “None of us is immune to trauma.” We don’t necessarily need to question people about their experiences; rather, we can always work with the possibility that anyone may have this history, and act accordingly. There are no outer indicators or signs for many forms of trauma, so it is often safe to work under the assumption that someone within a given setting is likely to have experienced trauma. It’s also important to note that there are many types of trauma and we need to honor others’ lived experience, whatever it may be.
Being trauma-informed means striving to create and foster an environment of safety for anyone who enters. This might sound obvious, because of course we expect to be safe, but not every environment or setting provides an experience of safety. To be more specific, looking at safety from a trauma-informed lens means accounting for physical safety, mental safety, emotional safety, and cultural, religious and spiritual safety. Depending on the population being served, creating physical safety might include access to exits and minimized noise in the space being used. Within the environment, it may be helpful to make sure there is sufficient light or access to light so that those within can fully assess their surroundings at all times. Creating a safe environment may also mean having neutral or soothing images or artwork displayed.
Being trauma-informed also means creating an environment where choice is paramount and continuously offered. Within the experience of trauma and trauma reactions, many such experiences may involve a lack of choice or lack of control. Any practice (yoga, meditation, breath work, movement, etc) offered in a trauma-informed perspective offers choice each step of the way so that individuals can opt-in or opt-out as they see fit, without requirement or obligation. If we seek to empower those who have experienced trauma within the setting we work in, it means trusting them to make the choices that are best for them remembering that each individual will respond differently. This principle of choice would also be offered for any and all practices involving, or potentially involving, touch in a therapeutic setting. Communication is key every step of the way and letting people know what is coming next as well as choices available is one of the more important ways to create a trauma-informed environment.
If we aspire to be trauma-informed, we recognize the pervasiveness and universality of trauma in the world and seek to be responsive as such. It means not only having an understanding of trauma in and of itself, but more so being responsive, understanding, and being able to anticipate the difficulties that a person who has experienced trauma may have. At its core, being trauma-informed seeks to avoid harm and further re-traumatization or blaming trauma victims for their own reactions to different situations. Further, being trauma-informed means aspiring to create a world that can foster growth, resilience, and healing.
Simply stated, if we are aspiring to create a setting or environment that is trauma-informed, we may need to imagine ourselves at our most vulnerable moments and recall what we needed to get through them. Most likely, we can easily remember when we may have needed safety and comfort in a difficult or trying moment and it was not being offered, or available. We will remember differently those experiences wherein we felt safe, comfortable, and had choices readily available for us. Being trauma-informed means creating an environment, a setting, most ideally a world wherein we can experience what we need to first heal, then grow, then thrive.
If You’re Looking to Study Trauma-Informed Yoga
My journey with Trauma-Informed Yoga has been shaped by my studies at the Center for Yoga and Trauma Recovery (CYTR). I’m proud to say that I’m now a Certified Provider through the CYTR. I have completed the 8-week Y4T Online Training Program and the 9-month Advanced Training and Mentorship Program, and have the tools and knowledge I need to support my clients in healing trauma mindfully through yoga.
To learn more about yoga and trauma recovery, check out the 8-week Yoga for Trauma Online Training Program here.
Adriana Argueta – LCPC, CTMH, CCATP
Adriana Argueta is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) with extensive experience working with children, adolescents, and families. Using an approach that focuses on strengths and building coping skills, Adriana believes in the potential of the therapeutic relationship for supporting the individual healing process, growth, and positive change.
Adriana enjoys working with children, adolescents, and families and issues including depression, anxiety, separation/divorce, grief, and major life changes. Adriana also has extensive training in complex trauma, domestic violence, and sexual assault crisis intervention. Adriana especially enjoys exploring mind/body connections as a medium for healing and growth.
Adriana is also a Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance and enjoys incorporating mindfulness and yoga practices in her work. Adriana is also a Registered Yoga Teacher and has completed the 8-week Yoga for Trauma Online Training Program as well as the yearlong Advanced Training Mentorship. She is currently in the process of becoming a Y4T Trainer.
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