Caring with Compassion – Understanding Trauma-Informed Care

At ROS, we believe that how we offer support is just as important as what support we offer. That’s why we embrace trauma-informed care in all our services. But what does “trauma-informed” mean? In simple terms, it means we recognise that many people have past trauma (big or small) and we tailor our approach to ensure you feel safe, heard, and in control. 🙏

A trauma-informed approach rests on some key principles: safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration, empowerment, and cultural sensitivity. Here’s how you might notice these principles in action at ROS:

●      Safety: We strive to make our spaces (whether it’s our office, a group room, or even our Zoom calls) feel welcoming and safe for you. This includes emotional safety – you won’t be judged or pressured here. For example, if crowded noisy environments trigger your anxiety, we can meet in a quiet room or adjust to your comfort level.

●      Trustworthiness & Transparency: We’ll be clear and honest about what we can do and how we handle information. If we say we’ll follow up on something, we will. Building trust is important – we know consistency and keeping our word are part of that.

●      Choice & Empowerment: You have choices at every step. Trauma can make people feel powerless, so we want to give that power back. You decide what goals to work on, which services to use, and even things like appointment times. We provide options and you choose what feels right. Your voice matters – if something isn’t working for you, tell us and we’ll adjust. Our motto: “Nothing about you without you.”

●      Collaboration & Mutuality: We see our relationship as a partnership. Whether with your recovery coach or coordinator, you’re a teammate, not a “patient” being dictated to. We encourage feedback – for instance, “How did you find today’s session? Should we do anything differently?” – so you can shape the support you receive. We also recognize that healing is not one-sided; we learn and grow from you, too.

●      Cultural Sensitivity & Humility: We respect that everyone comes from different backgrounds – culture, religion, identity – and trauma can be tied into those contexts. We will do our best to understand and respect your background. If something is important to you (like involving family, or observing certain practices), we incorporate that. And we’re always open to learning – if we don’t know about your cultural perspective on something, we’ll ask rather than assume.

Why is trauma-informed care important? Because unfortunately, many people with mental health challenges have also experienced past trauma – be it childhood adversity, abuse, violence, or even trauma within the healthcare system. Traditional approaches that ignore this can unintentionally retraumatize someone (for example, using forceful or authoritative methods might trigger memories of past control or harm). We never want to add harm – we want ROS to be a healing environment. By being trauma-informed, we focus on creating trust and safety, giving you control, and building on your strengths.

When you work with ROS, know that we see you as a whole person, not just a diagnosis or a problem list. Your emotions and responses are understood in light of what you’ve lived through. For example, if crowds make you panicky, instead of labeling it as “irrational,” we acknowledge it may relate to past trauma and then work gently with that knowledge (maybe planning sessions in calmer settings). It’s about compassion first – asking “What happened to you?” rather than “What’s wrong with you?”

In sum, trauma-informed care is about respect and empowerment. We hold hope for your recovery and give you the reins to go at your own pace. With this approach, we aim to help you rebuild a sense of control and safety in your life. 💕

#TraumaInformed #CompassionateCare #Safety #Empowerment #MentalHealth