How can you create a supportive environment for trauma survivors?

When we hear another person share about their challenges or traumas, we often get uncomfortable and tend to want to give advice or suggestions, in part to calm our own nervous system. If we fail to actively listen and instead offer advice or solutions (i.e. "When something similar happened to me, I found it helpful to...") we are essentially invalidating their personal experience and making it about our own expertise rather than their pain. Be mindful and remain present, listening compassionately instead of jumping ahead to formulate solutions.

The person who experienced the trauma is looking for a way to let go of the emotions attached to the experience. Each time they share their story (about what happened) they are reliving the trauma emotionally. Let them talk, let them know you care how they feel, ask them how you can support them and allow them to be where they are in the moment. If you feel overwhelmed when they share their experience with you, keep it to yourself. Support their decision to talk to someone who can show them the inward journey of letting go of the pain.

Treat everyone as an individual. Let those we support decide which part of their experience is traumatising. Ask for permission before moving forwards and regularly check in to explore the impact of your care. Moving people forwards is not about minimising the events or ‘getting over it’, but is about creating a safe and compassionate environment where people can find acceptance.

Trauma-informed therapy proceeds via a 3-phase approach: 1) safety & stabilization 2) processing 3) integration. How can the environment support trauma survivors? Focus upon safety: understand the consequences of trauma can be pervasive and defining. They can affect every aspect of how we perceive and experience the world, and in turn, how we behave. Dissociation serves a protective function often when a survivor is triggered or threatened in the present. Trauma survivors may also be hyper-aroused or hypo-aroused. Here 'arousal' refers to the nervous system where hyper is wound-up and hypo is slowed down. Hyper-vigilance heightens awareness of possible dangers like a radar dish on high alert. Best not to judge or try to fix it or solve it!

Be sure that you understand what empathy is and practice it. Brene Brown describes empathy as having four qualities: (1)Taking the perspective of the other person, including their thoughts, feelings, and experiences; (2) remaining nonjudgmental; (3) recognizing the emotions of the other; and (4) sharing your understanding. To do all of this, requires a level of presence and mindfulness. Equally important is to be aware of empathy blockers and to make sure you are not inadvertently practicing these. Empathy blockers can 'feel' like empathy. They include: fixing or offering solutions; disagreeing; analyzing or interpreting; sympathizing; sharing your own feelings or experiences; and reassuring.

To create a supportive environment for a trauma survivor show acceptance and give space to them respectfully. You may listen for nonverbal and verbal communication. That way you can have a sense what and how they want to share their story. Avoid giving sympathy. They may not want others to feel sorry for them. Avoid giving advice unless they want it. Listen for feelings and needs. Validate their feelings verbally or just by being quiet and nodding. Ask them if they want something from you. Quite often all survivors long for is a listening heart in order to share their story.

This is where techniques like Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) can help as you don't need to share anything you don't want to

I agree that when supporting someone dealing with trauma, it's crucial to follow their lead and respect their needs. Sometimes, simply being there in a non-intrusive manner, offering your presence and support, can be incredibly valuable, even if they're not ready to talk. This can help create a safe and trusting environment for them to open up when they feel comfortable.

As shared above, making the offer of assistance with no strings attached. Creating a safe space for the other person to turn down our offer with a simple "no" without explanation or worrying about our feelings.

Absolutely! And help out / accompany during tasks needing offline public interactions. More of presence without directions or interferance in what they want to do is appreciated extremely.

Sometimes getting started on self-care is the hardest part. An invitation to join you in a simple task, such as a walk or stretching, provides some momentum in that direction.

The effects of trauma are profound and multifaceted. We usually focus on the behavioral and emotional impact without understanding the origin of these changes or symptoms. Studying transgenerational, familial, cultural, personal, and other types of trauma, as well as the effects on the brain, development, personality, etc. contributes to a much greater understanding of a person's presentation of trauma. from this space, we have less judgment and assumptions and more compassion and empathy.

Another way to be Trauma Informed is to be vulnerable enough to tackle our own Trauma. We can then truly relate and empathise with our client as our understanding is sourced from our own real lived experience and our own journey, not just technique or theory??

Always balance education with the reality what you learn may not be 100% applicable for your family or friend. Sometimes, without intention, education may turn into a "should" for the other person. Respect their lived experience and your new knowledge equally.

Those who experience vicarious trauma can display the same symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder as the person who experienced the trauma. Education about trauma is critical, and working with a professional or support group for caregivers or families is very helpful. Couples, family, and group therapy is also effective in undertanding and helaing dynamics in dysfunctional relationships that contribute to and exacerbate trauma. Trauma, like addiction, tends to be a disease that affects everyone. In the workplace, education and open discussion are key. Secrets equal shame for the person experiencing the effects of trauma.

I like this advice since it reminds us as therapists to practice self care. We cannot support our patients if we are unable to care for ourselves. I have found the most support from fellow therapists because they understand and can easily relate.

Boundaries go both ways and it takes a village to support someone post-trauma. Make sure to encourage a circle of support. Somedays you may need to hand off to another person in the circle.

Understand that Coping through Suppression of any emotion- through activity, specific negative self talk, consumption of drugs or even prescription anti depressants, comes with side effects. Instead seek out non suppressive methods of emotional support. Bach Flower Essences are over the counter, non addictive, non suppressive forms of energetic healing that harmonize the emotions. This set of 38 flower essences are available online and in many health food stores. Customizing a personal formula with up to 7 different essences is easy, affordable and convenient. Essences to consider for Trauma: Star of Bethlehem, Rescue Remedy, Honeysuckle, Walnut. 2 drops of each essence into 1 ounce dropper bottle, sipped 4x a day minimum.

Be intentional and authentic in how you approach and speak to them, and avoid the use of sarcasm, off-colored humor, and/or surprises (unpredictable actions, “gotcha” conversations, or playing tricks, for example; no matter how harmless they may seem). Trauma survivors who’ve made the decision to do the difficult work of recovering and regulating need the reassurance of real, reliable, non-threatening conversations and behavior from others.

One critical practical example is to announce potentially trigger words/stories/cases/examples. Of course, you would require to know the triggers. In case you are a manager, you may want to complete a MH at work Wellbeing and Recovery plan and conversion. These work but it's critical that you do not become a maintainer in the formulation etc, ideally the subject should be engaging with formal MH treatment, either EMDR or TF-CBT. Don't be insensitive...

Learn about situations that triggers trauma like movies lyrics conversational topics places holidays Etc must be easy about asking questions in a non-invasive way

I agree with the comments. Obviously they came from very knowledgeable helping professionals. I would add that you will develop a helpful therapeutic relationship more effectively with affective empathy than with cognitive empathy. Therapy is about reparenting and Transactional Analysis is a theory I use to help with this reparenting process.