Trauma touches more lives than we often realize. It comes from many places: childhood pain, abuse, loss, or ongoing stress. It leaves a deep imprint on how someone feels, thinks, and connects with the world. And in mental health care, that matters.
Recognizing how trauma affects someone, particularly when working to improve mental health, isn’t just optional—it’s a must-do. Trauma-informed care meets people where they are with compassion, not judgment. It lays the bricks for a foundation of safety and trust, where true healing can begin.
According to a study, around
of U.S. adults have experienced at least one traumatic event in their lives.
What Is Trauma-Informed Care?
Trauma-informed care is a philosophy that shapes how care is delivered. It isn’t a specific therapy or technique. It’s based on the understanding that trauma leaves deep, sensitive wounds on the mind and body, and oftentimes, people in treatment carry those silently.¹
Instead of asking, “What’s wrong with you?” trauma-informed care asks, “What happened to you?” It creates an environment where people feel both emotionally and physically safe, respected, and empowered.
Since it truly acknowledges the past and how that shapes the present, it reduces the chances of retraumatization, creating a space for meaningful change.
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Why Trauma-Informed Care Works in Mental Health Settings
When someone has experienced trauma, their brain and nervous system can remain in a state of high alert.² This often pops up as anxiety, emotional withdrawal, or difficulty trusting others.
With traditional treatment models that lack sensitivity to trauma, those struggles may be unintentionally reinforced.
Trauma-informed care, on the other hand, actively avoids power imbalances and scenarios that could trigger you. It’s designed to help you feel safe and in control, both things that trauma often takes away.
And when you feel grounded and respected, you’re more likely to be better able to engage in therapy, process emotions, and build resilience. So, in a nutshell, this type of therapy is a model that prioritizes healing at its core.
The six trauma-informed care principles foster safety, trust, support, and empowerment for healing.
SAMHSA
SAMHSA’s
Concept of Guidance for a
Trauma-Informed Approach
The 6 Core Principles of Trauma-Informed Care
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recognizes six principles of trauma-informed care:³
1. Safety
Physical and emotional safety come first. When people feel safe, they’re more likely to engage in treatment. This includes maintaining clean, comfortable spaces and having a caring, attentive staff.
Example: Your therapist touches base with you about your comfort levels at the start of each session and allows you to pause or take breaks as you slog through the hard stuff.
2. Trustworthiness and Transparency
Consistency and honesty are integral building blocks of trust, especially for people who’ve experienced betrayal or instability. Being clear about expectations and treatment plans can help with this, reducing anxiety and uncertainty surrounding care.
Example: Your provider walks you through the confidentiality policy right away, answering any questions you might have before treatment begins.
3. Peer Support
Connecting with others who have been in your shoes or experienced any type of trauma themselves can feel incredibly validating. It helps foster feelings of belonging, shared understanding, and a common thread of hope.
Example: You participate in a group session where other participants—who have experienced similar traumas—share how they’ve coped and affirm your progress.
4. Collaboration and Mutuality
Healing isn’t something “done” to you. It’s something done with you. This principle of collaboration and mutuality encourages shared power between providers and clients, rather than a skewed relationship where power is all on one side.
Example: You co-create your treatment goals with your therapist, working together to figure out how you’d like to proceed, rather than having goals assigned to you.
5. Empowerment, Voice, and Choice
Trauma often strips people of control. In trauma-informed care, control is entirely in your hands. It gives you the opportunity to choose how to proceed, validating your strengths and restoring a sense of agency.
Example: Your therapist provides multiple therapy approaches and lets you choose which one feels most comfortable to you.
6. Cultural, Historical, and Gender Issues
Your identity and history matter. Trauma-informed care acknowledges how cultural oppression, racism, gender bias, and historical trauma have affected you. In doing so, it responds with awareness and inclusivity.
Example: Staff receive training in cultural humility and adapt care practices to honor each client’s background and lived experiences.
Healing Begins with Feeling Safe
Safety is the foundation of trauma-informed care. When people feel safe—emotionally and physically—they can begin to build trust, open up, and heal. Creating that safety is the first and most important step toward recovery.
Examples of Trauma-Informed Care in Practice
This form of care can take many shapes. It might look like:
- Giving clients time and space during intake without rushing.
- Asking permission before starting sensitive conversations.
- Offering grounding exercises to manage anxiety or flashbacks.
- Letting clients choose where they sit or how a session flows.
While from the sounds of these, it might seem small, these changes can be profound. They can have a huge impact on your experience of care, shifting the treatment into a space where you feel empowered, not pressured.
Who Benefits from Trauma-Informed Mental Health Treatment?
You might associate trauma-informed care with PTSD. While it can be a powerful tool there, it can benefit anyone whose mental health has been shaped by a distressing life experience.
This includes people who have faced:
- Childhood abuse or neglect
- Domestic violence or intimate partner abuse
- Substance use and addiction
- Grief, loss, or abandonment
- Medical trauma or discrimination
It’s especially helpful for people with complex trauma or dual diagnoses, where the symptoms of mental health conditions and trauma overlap. Trauma-informed care sees the whole person, not just a diagnosis.
"Cornerstone helped me heal from my trauma when no one else could."
S.K.
Alumni
How Cornerstone Uses Trauma-Informed Care in Treatment
At Cornerstone, we know that trauma plays a massive role in many mental health and addiction struggles. That’s why trauma-informed care lies at the heart of everything we do.
We offer:
- Individual and group therapy focused on trauma recovery
- Specialized Virtual IOP options for flexible, at-home support
- Dual diagnosis treatment for co-occurring trauma and substance use
Our team is trained to listen, support and empower, not to judge or push. We strive to, from the first conversation, create an environment where healing feels possible. Because it is.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Trauma-Informed Care and Why Does It Matter?
Trauma-informed care is a way of supporting people that recognizes how trauma affects their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It matters because it creates a safe, respectful space where individuals can begin to heal without fear of being judged or re-triggered. It meets people with compassion, exactly where they are.
What Are the Six Principles of Trauma-Informed Practice?
The six principles are safety, trustworthiness, peer support, collaboration, empowerment, and sensitivity to cultural, historical, and gender factors. These guide every part of care, helping clients feel safe, seen, and in control. It’s about building relationships that honor people’s full experiences and identities.
How Is Trauma Therapy Different from Traditional Talk Therapy?
Trauma therapy goes deeper than talk. It helps calm the nervous system and rebuild a sense of safety before working through painful memories. It often includes methods like EMDR, somatic work, or trauma-focused CBT. The focus is on healing gently, at a pace that feels right for the person.
What’s an Example of Trauma-Informed Care in Action?
A therapist might ask where a client would feel most comfortable sitting, or if they want to take a break during a tough session. These small choices give clients control—something trauma often takes away—and help rebuild a sense of trust and emotional safety.
Does Insurance Cover Trauma Therapy or Trauma-Informed Treatment?
Yes, many insurance plans cover trauma-informed care and therapy when it’s provided by licensed professionals. Every plan is different, so we encourage you to check with your provider or reach out to us. We’re happy to help you explore your options and get the support you need. Fill out our insurance verification form to get started today!
Key Takeaways
- Key Takeaways
- Trauma-informed care places safety, empathy, and empowerment at the center of healing.
- It’s built on six guiding principles that inform every interaction in treatment.
- This model reduces retraumatization and creates space for trust and growth.
- People with all kinds of trauma—including addiction, grief, and childhood abuse—can benefit.
- Cornerstone Healing Center offers trauma-informed care in both in-person and virtual programs designed to support your full recovery.
Begin Healing From Trauma at Cornerstone
Trauma-informed care isn’t just a clinical framework. It’s a compassionate approach that sees the whole you, supporting you wherever you are. With it, you can address the root causes of your pain, morphing healing from a goal into a reality.
If you or someone you care about is seeking support, we’re here to help. You don’t have to walk this path alone.
Reach out today to start trauma therapy, verify insurance coverage, or check out our online therapy options.
We’re here when you’re ready.
