Trauma-informed presenter and Speech Language Program Specialist at Broward County Public Schools
Trauma-informed care is the umbrella term to ALL mindsets, policies and procedures, and therapy strategies where reducing harm & not causing trauma is the primary intention. In the speech world specifically, a lot of big SLPs are now talking about trauma-informed care as part of their niche, when actually, it is the overall umbrella. Within the neurodiversity affirming therapy movement, the goal is to avoid causing trauma to the individuals served when previously, the practicing we were teaching, such as masking and punishment for stimming, are proven to cause trauma and harm to the individual we were intending to “help”. If our offices and spaces are not accessible to disabled people, we are actively excluding them and actively causing harm. When I present on trauma-informed care, I often get asked why this isn’t the umbrella of nice-ness or compassion or empathy. Although those “raindrops” are part of the equation and important aspects, niceness does not ensure we are not causing harm. Under the umbrella, you will see terms that are mindsets or approaches to working with people. Ask yourselves “how do these practices ensure we are reducing OUR role in causing harm”? I created this graphic to help all professionals help understand the role in trauma-informed care. What are your thoughts? Like, comment, and share. #traumainformed #personcentered #slp #traumainformedcare #personcentered #childcentered #humancentered #dei #neurodiversity #neurodiversitymovement
