We hear it a lot now — “trauma-informed.” It’s in therapist bios, organisational policies, staff training manuals. It gets used so often it’s starting to feel like a box to tick, rather than a responsibility to uphold.
But what does it actually mean to be trauma-informed? And more importantly — would the client agree?
True trauma-informed care isn’t just a course you attend or a certificate you earn. It’s not branding. It’s not about adopting a softer tone or adding a few extra questions to your intake form. It’s about how you show up — internally, emotionally, and physiologically — when someone brings their pain into the room.
Clients don’t need scripts. They need regulation. They need to feel that the person in front of them can hold space when the session turns. When there are tears. When there’s silence. When what’s unspeakable finally surfaces.
And that’s the part you can’t fake. You can’t shortcut it. Going on a half-day training doesn’t make you trauma-informed — any more than saying “bonjour” makes you fluent in French.
In the therapy world, it’s easy to fall into language that sounds right. But trauma isn’t listening to your words. It’s listening to your nervous system. If your system is braced, rushed, or reactive, it registers. The client might not be able to explain why they don’t feel safe — but their body will already know.
That’s the core of trauma-informed care: safety that’s felt before it’s spoken. Calm that isn’t just performed. Boundaries that are consistent, not just discussed. And containment that isn’t about control — it’s about not collapsing when the session gets heavy.
This level of presence can’t come from theory alone. It takes supervision, reflection, and lived integration. It’s not always glamorous work. In fact, it’s often slow, steady, and invisible. But the difference it makes in the room is profound.
We need to be careful not to dilute what “trauma-informed” really means. It’s not just another checkbox or professional identity marker. It’s a standard. And if we’re going to keep using the term, we need to honour the weight behind it.
For private, trauma-informed coaching and EMDR therapy, you can find and contact me through the following trusted platforms: