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What is Trauma-informed Care, and How Can it Help Me?

Mental health disorders are very common in people seeking alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment. Similarly, people with mental health problems often have high rates of AOD problems as well. Further, a significant percentage of people seeking AOD treatment have also experienced sexual violence, whether as a child or as an adult. In fact, AOD use is often a very functional response to relieve the distress of painful thoughts and feelings related to the trauma.

A common response has been to treat the symptoms, whether these are related to mental health or AOD use. Instead of examining the issues holistically, the person is referred to other services for the co-occurring problems. This can lead to fragmented and unhelpful treatment, which does not address the person’s individual core issues.

There is a growing awareness of the need for a more holistic and integrated approach in responding to AOD and mental health problems that uses a trauma-informed practice.
The trauma-informed therapy approach, which focuses on the person rather than their symptoms, can help reduce the stigma experienced by trauma sufferers who also develop AOD problems.

Our trauma-informed therapy at Holyoake is based on the principles of:

  • providing safety;
  • maximising trustworthiness;
  • maximising choice and control;
  • collaborating and empowering; and
  • understanding cultural and gender issues.

What Can You Expect From Holyoake?

Holyoake’s trauma-informed care includes trauma screening and assessment; training, education and hiring practices; policies and procedures that reflect a trauma-informed approach; and access to trauma-specific counselling.

Holyoake adopts an integrated approach to trauma, mental health and AOD issues to improve treatment outcomes from the initial welcome at reception (consideration of your personal space, privacy if required, etc.) through the entire treatment journey. At your first contact with Holyoake, you will be screened and assessed for any history of trauma and whether it continues to affect you. You will be reassured that you are in control of how much you want to disclose. The focus will be on how much the trauma may influence your alcohol and drug use. Assessment details the type of trauma you may have experienced, the severity of the trauma, and your developmental capacities to determine the type of post-trauma response undertaken (Vivekananda, 2002).

Counsellors will offer a therapeutic relationship by listening, believing, and validating your experience. Your choices are respected, and counsellors will provide information to enhance your awareness of the impact of the trauma and help you develop strategies to manage it. If you experience co-existing issues such as anxiety or depression, an integrated case management approach is offered.

Evidence-based alcohol and other drug interventions are undertaken, including motivational intervention, problem-solving and goal setting, relapse prevention and management and harm reduction.

At Holyoake, you are at the centre of the treatment and support that we provide.

Our trauma-informed approach will provide you with a safe, supportive and therapeutic environment in which you will feel empowered, with the choice to seek support and explore issues how and when you are ready to do so. This approach focuses on working alongside you in your recovery journey. Counsellors respond compassionately and non-judgementally to build trust and create a supportive, safe and collaborative relationship with you.

References

Kezelman, C. & Stavropoulos, P. (2012). ‘ “The last frontier”: practice guidelines for treatment of complex trauma and trauma informed care and service delivery.’ Adults Surviving Child Abuse (Blue Knot Foundation).

Kezelman, C. & Stavropoulos, P. (2018). Talking about trauma: Guide to conversations and screening for health and other service providers. (Blue Knot Foundation).

Stone, J., Marsh, A., Dale, A., Willis, L., O’Toole, S., Helfgott, S., Bennetts, A., Cleary, L., Ditchburn, S., Jacobson, H., Rea, R., Aitken, D., Lowery, M., Oh, G., Stark, R.,& Stevens, C. (2019). Counselling Guidelines: Alcohol and other drug issues (4th ed.). Perth, Western Australia: Mental Health Commission.

Vivekananda, K. (2002) Profound simplicity: integrating frameworks for working with trauma. Psychotherapy Australia, 9. 14-24.