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Reply to "Using the term Trauma-Informed"

Work that is specifically therapeutic and interventions that are designed to treat trauma symptoms or trauma-related disorders are trauma-specific treatments or trauma-specific services. They are not the same as trauma-informed approaches. Trauma-informed care was developed as an alternative to coercive medical models of practice. It originated in behavioral health settings but has been adapted for other settings as well including child welfare and K-12 schools (which often use the term trauma sensitive even though they are technically using trauma-informed school-wide approaches). Trauma-informed refers to an organizational change process based on a set of principles that are designed to reduce the risk of retraumatization through standard operating procedures and to promote healing and empowerment. It takes a while for a whole organization (even a small one) to change its culture and become trauma-informed. So many of us are starting by applying the principles to our own programs/classrooms/departments first. To the extent one is using TI principles to change policies and practices, I would call it trauma-informed. If one is using treatments, such as behavioral or nutrition interventions, to address symptoms or disorders, then I would call it trauma-specific or trauma-aware or trauma-sensitive.   

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