Uses and Effectiveness
In a study of 9,282 Americans aged 18 to 54, 60% of men and 51% of women in the United States had experienced at least one traumatic event in their lives, while 17% of men and 13% of women had experienced three or more such events (Kessler, Sonnega, Bromet, Hughes, & Nelson). [3] In light of the number of people touched by trauma, an approach that offers attentiveness to the kinds of challenges related to trauma is absolutely necessary. [4]
What has occurred in the past twenty-five years in trauma-related care is nothing short of monumental. Instead of asking a question of the form, “what’s wrong with you,” therapists have started asking, “what’s happened to you?” The whole approach of TIC is broad and reaches all levels of a client’s experience with therapists.
Data and testing inform Trauma Informed Care and make it consistently adaptive to new research. The national organizations, conferences, and networks providing care for those with trauma further enhance the success of TIC.
Applications for Teens and Families
Trauma Informed Care is especially important for teens and families as a collaborative approach can used to identify areas in which teens may be at risk for substance use or dependency, family dysfunction and re-traumatization. The team can then work on building skills, more effective styles of communication and resiliency both within the teen and within the family.
At The Center for Success and Independence, trauma is worked through in a multitude of ways, with integrated modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Through psychoeducation, teens are educated on what constitutes as trauma, the different types of trauma and abuse, as well as different styles of abuse and grooming techniques, in order to bring more awareness of triggering situations. Teens are also educated on the symptoms of trauma, adaptive coping skills for distress tolerance and emotion regulation, as well as consequences and risks of using maladaptive coping mechanisms. Teens are also encouraged to write out their trauma narratives and share them within a group setting, allowing for a shared learning experience and normalization so they know they are not alone.
Often, family members or caregivers are unaware of how trauma can affect a family system or even some of the traumatic experiences their teen has endured. Teens are encouraged to share their trauma narratives with their caregivers in family therapy to allow for systemic healing.
[1] Fallot and Harris, 2009; http://www.dcf.state.fl.us / programs / samh / mentalhealth/ training/ ba/ Trauma%20Web%20Event/ Informed/ Trauma_Informed_care.pdf
[3] http://www.socialworktoday.com/ archive/ exc_012014.shtml
[4] William Steele, “Trauma Informed Care: A History of Helping: A History of Excellence Lessons Learned Since 1990,” The National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children, July 2009.
Steele, Raider & Kuban, 2009; Steele, Raider, Delillo, Jacobs & Kuban, 2008
Steele, W., Kuban, C. and Raider, M. (2009). Connections, Continuity, Dignity, Opportunities Model: Follow-up of Children Who Completed the I Feel Better Now! Trauma Intervention Program. School Social Work Journal. 33:2, 98-111.
Steele, W., Raider, M., Delillo, M., Jacobs, J. and Kuban, C. (2008). Structured Sensory Therapy (SITCAP-ART) For Traumatized Adjudicated Adolescents in Residential Treatment. Residential Treatment for Children and Youth. 25:2, 1-17.
