How can you adapt your communication style to meet clients' needs after trauma?

It is imperative to understand that people who have suffered trauma have had their sense of safety compromised. The first thing you need to ensure is that the person feels safe. you also need to be clear and honest about the process which needs to be followed. In my experience, young people who have disclosed sexual assault get so angry when the allegation is investigated by DCP, because they have been assured that it wouldn't happen. When something is disclosed, it is important to be transparent that it does need to be reported. It is crucial to be consistent with what you say and your actions. I never promise anything I can't deliver, it only confirms what people from trauma already know.

In my time of being a trauma informed psychotherapist, I have witness the impactful outcomes of utlizing trauma informed practices first hand. There are many layers in trauma informed care that must be emphasized as the article has already suggested. The most important and most significant tool in trauma informed care is the ability to help clients gain a sense of predictability that is often lost when face with trauma, in addition to cultivating a supportive and safe environment in order to nurture the therapeutic alliance that is needed to promote healing. This was an essential part of my work in my practice.

There are many doors into the room of holding space with some one who has experienced trauma as someone with lived experience and a peer worker creating an atmosphere of choice warmth and agency helps generate contextual relational attunement. The expectation not the exception is that dispite the best intentions there will be many things you try that simply won't work. When this moment arrives the common factors empathy, collaboration, goal setting, hope for positive change in the future, culturally sensitive practice, authenticity and fast alliance development will serve circles of care well the art is integrating the best of what we know from the evidence base to create impactful synergies sumed up as a human response

It is imperative to understand the situation that a client/beneficiary is going through. Design the intervention accordingly. have a clear goal on what you want to achieve whether you are a coach/therapist dealing with individuals or groups. Learn to put yourself in their shoes.

In my experience it is important to prioritise meeting in person. - safe location decided on by the client and with whoever is a safe support person for them. - give clear and concrete information about my role and the work I would be offering. - have a sense of timelessness and be present. Don’t be thinking about the next appointment and make sure the day is structured to support this. - have options ready to support emotional regulation eg. Chewing gum, a drink with a straw. - provide visual representations of the work I do. Mind mapping support and demonstrating where my role fits in their support system.

Simple things like "You did the right thing telling me," goes a long way. Use minimal verbal cues, the client needs to be talking, not you. Active listening such as "So correct me if I am wrong but you feel..."

At first sight with survivors, your countenance must be welcoming and not judgmental. The tone of your conservation with the survivors must be calm and be able to sooth the already bruised emotion.

Active listening skills are very essential to social work services. A good social worker must be able to pay close attention to details and avoid interrupting a client while speaking. He or shemust be empathetic and kind during the course of discussion and thereafter. Being mindful of the tone to use while responding is also important. Avoid yelling and overreacting.

The most important part is always to forget about your experiences until you know, about the value-system of the traumatic person before the trauma (if that can be established ). This will make it easier to find the way to help.

I agree. By listening actively and emphatically you communicate to the client that you understand, care and respect. And by doing so you help the client restore neural equilibrium. Whenever one feels safe heard and understood the amygdalic activation goes down allowing the client an access to her own higher cortical centres.

Checking in regularly just shows people you care about them, that they aren't just another number. People who have suffered trauma know whether you actually care about them having good outcomes, or whether you don't. It is also so important to stress that while you can't change the past, you can help them set positive goals for them to take control of their present and work towards creating a future they want.

It is good to respect boundaries and pacing. Work within the space of the client Don't rush the process. Accept when a client say no and never overstay your welcome . This will enhance recovery and restoration of the client.

Social workers are working to a set time frame which doesn't involve allowing their clients to set their own healing journeys. Maybe this is due to workloads but I believe its got more to do with rushing their jobs.

Respecting boundaries is about recognizing and valuing the survivor's autonomy and rights to set limits for themselves. It involves understanding and accepting the client's preferences and refraining from behaviors that make them feel uncomfortable or violated. Respecting the clients right to NO will mean the social worker values their decision.

The ability to give enough physical space as well objects to look at can be veey helpful to allowing the conversation to flow.

Avoid usage of complex language while dealing with a client. Speak with clarity and avoid unambiguous interrogation. Embrace the use of trauma-sensitive language void of blaming, judging, or minimizing the client's trauma as much as possible. This will aid their healing process.

Telling someone to "get over it" has got to be the worst thing to say. I've found it helpful for people when I explain that what they are experiencing can be symptoms of PTSD, depression or anxiety and encourage them to get help from a medical professional. "You are worth so much more than how you have been treated. This isn't your fault."

Telling a rape survivor they should have got up and walked out or fought harder etc is not the right way to do things. Neither is Telling them that they lack sexual boundaries or accusing them of being a sexual risk because their baby was present during the rape. Social workers say they don't re-victimise or victim blame but they do especially where domestic abuse is concerned. If you don't understand trauma and the impact of it then educate yourself to avoid the above. Plus stop continuing the abuse the victim has already endured

It is incredibly important for survivors of trauma to understand that they aren't going crazy, what they are experiencing is normal for those who have experienced trauma. I have found it very helpful to explain why symptoms of PTSD happen, why they occur, how our brain is trying to protect us and how we need to change our internal dialogue to those reactions.

This is good advice. However, you can't force a survivor to participate in therapy or hold it against them if they're not ready to attend

A neuroscience informed education can be helpful to assist clients to learning how the brain has been affected by trauma and in understanding how therapy can work to improve the brain function. By using a neuroscience explanation, it can support a client to validate their experiences, normal them and realise they are occurring due to biological functions that can be unconscious or uncontrolled. It can move further to showing the value of therapy and how this empirically can work for them.

Let's be honest here social workers do not gain feedback from clients because they think they know better than the clients and that they're always right. Plus, they refuse to amend inaccurate paperwork or amend the wording on paperwork. This is often to the clients detriment. Plus your clients probably don't trust any professionals so any feedback would probably be based on their feelings regarding the entire system rather than your interaction with them

Continuing professional development is important to remain up to date on evidence based practice, particularly in this field as it is a constantly evolving area.

Seeking feedback and supervision helps the social worker to identify their strengths and area of improvement. It portrays eagerness to learn thus improving performance. It helps gain insights on how we are perceived by others and how our actions impact those around us.

It is important for us to recognise our triggers. Work through your personal experiences if you know such memories will trigger emotions in you. When your client experience your calmness and openness, he/she knows it is a safe space for healing. Do not walk this journey alone. Work with peers and check in with your clinical supervisor.

Adapting your communication style to meet the needs of clients who have experienced trauma is crucial in various professions, including counseling, therapy, healthcare, and even customer service. Trauma can significantly impact an individual's emotional state, cognitive functioning, and ability to engage in meaningful conversations. You are adapting your communication style to meet clients' needs after trauma is a continuous process of learning, empathy, and flexibility. By creating a safe and supportive environment and being mindful of their unique needs, you can help trauma survivors on their path to healing and recovery.

Always remember, we don't know everything. We can see triggers only sometimes. Consulting other professionals is always a great idea.

From a clinical perspective, when communicating with individuals who have experienced trauma, it is imperative to avoid language, words and phrases that might evoke negative emotions or past memories. In suggestion, it is best to use language that empowers and uplifts. By focusing on our clients' strengths and resilience, we help them see their own courage and capabilities, fostering a sense of hope, self-empowerment and confidence as they navigate throughout transition.