While studying Social Work, I completed placements at Youth Justice, working with youth to reduce recidivism, and at The Park Centre for Mental Health, assisting patients with complex diagnoses and criminal offenses. After graduating, I joined the High-Risk Adolescent team with Child Safety in Southeast Queensland. These experiences ignited my passion for understanding those often misunderstood, recognizing that extensive trauma is a common factor among the diverse demographics that I had been working with. Working in behaviour support has been even more eye-opening, as I can see the effects of trauma that the majority of my clients have experienced early on in their lives. It's heartbreaking to witness the impacts of trauma on people with disabilities, especially when it continues to unfold before my eyes.
The Impact of Trauma
Approximately 1 in 3 children with disabilities have experienced some form of trauma in their lives. Trauma impacts individuals in various ways, including emotional distress, mental health issues, relationship struggles, physical health problems, cognitive impairments, and behavioural issues. One of my biggest learning curves was understanding the effects of trauma on infants. Even at such a young age, when they cannot comprehend the events occurring around them, trauma can have lasting effects on their brain development. Early abuse and neglect profoundly affect a child's ability to adapt to stable and secure environments, as their brains become wired to survive in unpredictable and hostile conditions. Trauma leads to structural changes in the brain and affects neuroplasticity, resulting in difficulties with emotional regulation, memory, cognitive and emotional development, and relationships.
What is Trauma-Informed Care
Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) is an approach that recognizes the impact of trauma and emphasizes creating a safe environment for those who have experienced trauma. This involves the key concepts of Awareness, Safety, Trustworthiness and Transparency, Connection, Collaboration, Empowerment, Humility and Responsiveness that take on a strengths-based approach and aim to prevent re-traumatisation.
How does Trauma-Informed Care and Behaviour Support Correlate?
I integrate my knowledge of trauma into behaviour support by conducting assessments on trauma expression, asking key questions to primary caregivers, and training carers and supports on the core principles of Trauma-Informed Care. I believe that understanding an individual's trauma history is the most important aspect of behaviour support. I've encountered workers who speak negatively about their clients due to their behaviours, using phrases like, "He's just a naughty kid who needs a firm hand," or "She's so manipulative and vindictive." By explaining a client's trauma history, diagnoses, and background, we gain insight into why they behave the way they do. While their behaviours may seem manipulative or self-sabotaging, these are often coping mechanisms developed through a lifetime of traumatic experiences. Providing caregivers with an understanding of a client's life history fosters compassion, enabling them to provide better care. This perspective allows individuals to step back, reflect, and view behaviours in a different light. Completing training on the core principles of Trauma-Informed Care is essential for effective service provision.
Summary of this Blog
My goal is to teach others how to respond to and care for individuals who have experienced trauma, thereby increasing the likelihood of improved outcomes and a better quality of life for those affected. Education is key to addressing many issues; by informing others about the impacts of trauma and effective care strategies, we can disrupt or break the cycle of intergenerational trauma, ultimately making a difference in at least one person's life.