Professional Resources
Find Evidence-Based Ways for Professionals to Encourage Resilience
As defined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “trauma” refers to an emotional, psychological, and/or physical response to an event, series of events, or circumstances that are distressing or harmful. Trauma can impact individuals, families, and communities and includes a range of experiences, including violence, loss, natural disasters, or neglect and abuse.
It is important to recognize that trauma can impact people from all backgrounds and every walk of life. It is the responsibility of all citizens to provide care that is inclusive and conscious of the diverse needs of individuals and their loved ones.
Brain Talk
Mental health providers, teachers, and countless other professionals work to empower others and help them find resilience. These easy-to-access resources, addressing how to overcome trauma’s impact on the mind and body, can help.
Encouraging Healing
Trauma-Informed and
Resilience-Oriented Practices
The 4 Rs
SAMHSA defines trauma-informed care using the four “Rs.” These steps foster the healing and growth of survivors.
Realization
This involves acknowledging the impact of trauma on individuals, families, and communities. It’s about recognizing that trauma can affect people from all walks of life.
Recognize
In this step, individuals actively look for signs of potential trauma in the people they serve. It’s about being able to recognize the effects of trauma and identifying when someone may have experienced it.
Respond
Individuals adopt approaches that are sensitive to trauma, like creating safe, supportive environments, using language that acknowledges trauma, and providing care that addresses the unique needs of survivors.
Resist Re-Traumatization
This step involves resisting practices that may cause further harm. It’s about actively working to prevent additional trauma and promoting hope, healing, and resilience.
By adhering to these four “Rs,” defined by SAMHSA, trauma-informed care aims to offer compassionate and effective support to individuals who have experienced trauma, fostering a sense of safety, trust, and empowerment in their healing journey.
SAMHSA’s 6 Key Principles
These principles help guide a trauma-informed approach, addressing both the prevention and healing of trauma.
Safety
Create a culture of physical and psychological safety for staff and the people they service.
Truthworthiness and Transparency
Build and maintain trustworthiness and transparency among staff, clients, and others involved with the organization.
Peer Support
Utilize peer support to promote healing, recovery, and connections.
Collaboration and Mutuality
Level power differences between staff and clients and among staff to foster collaboration and mutuality.
Empowerment, Voice, and Choice
Cultivate a culture of empowerment, voice, and choice that recognizes individual strengths, resilience, and ability to heal from past trauma.
Cultural, Historical, and Gender Issues
Recognize and respond to the cultural, historical, and gender roots of trauma.
Missouri Model Trauma-Informed Continuum
There are four stages to change in the Missouri Model’s Trauma-Informed approach that lead to the full implementation of its key concepts.
Aware
People become more aware of trauma’s pervasiveness and its impact on social systems and people.
Sensitive
Responsive
The process of cultural change begins as stakeholders at all levels integrate their knowledge into behaviors and practices.
Informed
As people, communities, and organizations move through the stages, they can better implement the four key principles to help bring about equity.
Missouri Model’s Key Concepts
- Safety
- Trustworthiness
- Choice
- Collaboration
PACEs
Protective and Compensatory Experiences
There are various Adverse Childhood Experiences or ACEs. It is possible to limit the impact of the trauma a child experiences before the age of 18 With Protective and Compensatory Experiences or PACEs. Positive experiences can develop resilience and aid children in growing into healthy adults.
What Are the 10 PACEs?
- Unconditional love from a parent or caregiver.
- Spending time with a best friend.
- Helping others or volunteering.
- Being part of an active social group.
- Having a mentor who is not a family member.
- Living in a clean, safe home without hunger.
- Having opportunities to learn.
- Pursuing a hobby.
- Staying active or playing sports.
- Having routines and fair rules at home.
NEAR Science – Beyond ACEs
NEAR is a self-healing, three-day curriculum from the Potts Family Foundation that will take you beyond ACEs.
Neurobiology
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