Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration

• What is Trauma-Informed Care?
• What are Trauma-Specific Services?

What is Trauma-Informed Care?

Most individuals seeking public behavioral health services and many other public services, such as homeless and domestic violence services, have histories of physical and sexual abuse and other types of trauma-inducing experiences. These experiences often lead to mental health and co-occurring disorders such as chronic health conditions, substance abuse, eating disorders, and HIV/AIDS, as well as contact with the criminal justice system.

When a human service program takes the step to become trauma-informed, every part of its organization, management, and service delivery system is assessed and potentially modified to include a basic understanding of how trauma affects the life of an individual seeking services. Trauma-informed organizations, programs, and services are based on an understanding of the vulnerabilities or triggers of trauma survivors that traditional service delivery approaches may exacerbate, so that these services and programs can be more supportive and avoid re-traumatization.

What are Trauma-Specific Interventions?

Trauma-specific interventions are designed specifically to address the consequences of trauma in the individual and to facilitate healing. Treatment programs generally recognize the following:

• The survivor's need to be respected, informed, connected, and hopeful regarding their own recovery
• The interrelation between trauma and symptoms of trauma (e.g., substance abuse, eating disorders, depression, and anxiety)
• The need to work in a collaborative way with survivors, family and friends of the survivor, and other human services agencies in a manner that will empower survivors and consumers

Following are some well-known trauma-specific interventions based upon psychosocial educational empowerment principles that have been used extensively in public system settings. Please note that these interventions are listed for informational and educational purposes only. NCTIC does not endorse any specific intervention.

• Addiction and Trauma Recovery Integration Model (ATRIUM)
• Essence of Being Real
• Risking Connection
• Sanctuary Model
• Seeking Safety
• Trauma, Addictions, Mental Health, and Recovery (TAMAR) Model
• Trauma Affect Regulation: Guide for Education and Therapy (TARGET)
• Trauma Recovery and Empowerment Model (TREM and M-TREM)