A Trauma-Informed Approach
to Abuse Investigations
Adult Protection and Advocacy Conference
August 21, 2014
Shirley Paceley
Before we begin
• Let’s create an environment where we can
all feel safe and respect each other
In the words of survivors
What is Trauma?
• “Trauma results from an event, series of
events, or set of circumstances that is
experienced by an individual as physically or
emotionally harmful or threatening and that
has lasting adverse effects on the individual’s
functioning and physical, social, emotional, or
social well-being.”
SAMHSA 2014
Trauma -1
• An event overwhelms my ability to cope.
• War, adverse childhood experiences, violence,
disasters, accidents, etc.
• Overloads the brain stress response
• Every person reacts differently
• Can have lasting effects on physical,
psychological, social and spiritual well-being
• Widespread
Trauma - 2
• The earlier in life, the more damaging the
consequences
• People are resilient and can recover even
severe trauma; with supports healing is
possible.
• Can impact the core of one’s identity
Trauma - 3
• Big T trauma
• Little t Trauma
• Little traumas can accumulate and be as
damaging as bigger traumas
The Little t’s Add Up
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A lifetime of people trying to fix you
The trauma of people calling you names
The trauma of invalidation
These can change a person’s core identity
and relationship with self and others
Trauma Responses -1
The Three F’s
• Fight
• Flight
• Freeze
Trauma Responses - 2
• Created for safety and survival
• Worked in the past and in danger
• May cause problems now in many life
areas
• May be viewed as a “behavior”
• May be viewed as part of a person’s
diagnoses
• A response more intense than a situation
warrants is often trauma-based
Coping with Trauma
Hypervigilance
---may be seen as high strung, needy, noncomplaint, inappropriate, difficult
Numbing
---may be seen as detached, non-caring,
unmotivated
Heightened Emotional States
—may be seen as overreacting, attention-seeking,
unreliable
Our Responsibility
 Be aware of our judgments, impatience,
disrespect, misuse of power and control
 Be careful not to re-traumatize people
seeking our services and supports
• We need to presume the clients
we serve have a history of
traumatic stress & exercise
“universal precautions.”
Modas, 2004
Trauma Effects
• Lack of Sense of Safety
• Disconnected
• Powerlessness
To Heal…
CONNECTION
SAFETY
EMPOWERMENT
The Good News
Trauma-Informed Services are good for
everybody, not just those who have
experienced trauma
Trauma-Informed Approaches Key
Elements (SAMHSA 2012)
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Safety
Trustworthiness and transparency
Collaboration and mutuality
Empowerment
Voice and choice
Peer Support
Resilience and strengths-based
Inclusiveness and shared purpose
Cultural, historical and gender issues
Change process
Trauma-Informed Organizations
• Survivors need an opportunity to tell their
stories….. “When the truth is finally
recognized, survivors can begin their
recovery.” Judith Herman
• Staff understand ‘symptoms’ may reflect
an adaptation to trauma
• Confront power, prevent violence and
coercion, and work together for change
Trauma-Informed Services
• Do not re-traumatize
• Remember that the survivor is the expert on their
own life
• Ask person what will help feel more comfortable
and how you can best work with them
• Remember it is hard to give up a behavior that
kept you safe in the past
• Maintaining boundaries contributes to a sense of
safety
• Healing happens in relationships
• Requires us to pay attention to ourselves
What we all need
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To
To
To
To
To
To
To
belong
be needed
be loved and to love
have value
be heard
have some control
have purpose
A Culture of Gentleness
Creating an environment in which our
actions, words and demeanor can put the
people we serve at ease.
Starts with your heart. You are not a
therapist, but can comfort and support
people with a trauma history.
Job is to change yourself, not the person
you serve. “How can I make this person
feel safe and valued?”
Culture of Gentleness Tools
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5.
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When someone gets louder, I get softer
When someone gets faster, I get slower
I convey gentleness with my words
I convey gentleness with my eyes
I convey gentleness with my touch
I convey gentleness with my presence
From: www.healthcareassociates.net
Triggers
• Something that triggers a memory of a
trauma
• Can be internal or external
• May result in a trauma response
• The person and/or others in the
environment may not recognize what is
happening
We did what we had to…
in order to survive
• Coping skills may not longer serve us well
• “It is better to have bad breath than no
breath at all”
• Can you imagine the person without the
problem behavior?
• The question is not, “What’s wrong with
you?”
but “What happened to you?”
Grounding Activities
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Five Senses—Stephanie Covington
Breathing
Heart Chart
WRAP
Mood Board
You have lots of questions for the
person…..here are some questions to
ask yourself.
Ask yourself…..
• How might an investigation make
someone feel?
• How can I support the person to deal with
any uncomfortable feelings they
experience during the interview process?
Ask yourself this….
• How do I provide information that is easy
for the person to understand?
• What choices can I provide?
Ask yourself this….
• How is the victim experiencing my
relationship with her/him?
• Why should this person trust me when the
person they trusted before caused the
harm?
• What can I do to make this experience
easier and more comfortable?
Another question to ask is….
• How do I see this person?
• Do I feel sorry for the person? Do I see
the person’s strengths?
So…what bright ideas do you have?
Trauma-Informed Strategies
• Following trauma, people need a couple
nights sleep, some nourishment and
emotional support
• Rapid-firing of questions is not helpful
• Finding out what the person felt, saw,
heard, smelled, etc. can be very helpful
Trauma-Informed Strategies
• Don’t wear the plastic professional face
• Don’t act like you have all of the solutions
because you don’t
• Work with the person to find the answers
• Show your vulnerabilities
• Ask: What do you want me to do for you?
• Be honest about limitations
Trauma-Informed Strategies
• Allow the person to tell their story in their
own way. Be still and listen.
• Be present.
• Remain calm.
• Offer reassurance. Not alone; safe; hope
• Offer calming words.
• Share common effects of trauma
• Ask what matters to her/him.
Trauma-Informed Strategies
Let person guide the process
Present information slowly
Simplify choices
Repeat yourself as needed
Offer breaks
Reflect feelings of worry, anxiety, sadness,
etc.
• Help with grounding when needed;
breathing, five senses; ask them what helps
them
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Trauma-Informed Strategies
• Respect boundaries
• Give space
• Pay attention to your own feelings; take
breaks for yourself when needed
• Offer way to contact you
• Provide information and follow-up
What is your value?
• “Our net worth cannot be defined by
dollars and cents but can be measured by
how we treat others.” Tammie Johnson
“How wonderful it is that no
one has to wait a single
moment before starting
to improve the world.”
~ Anne Frank
What you do matters
Blue Tower Training (BTT) is a division of Macon Resources, Inc. (MRI) which
provides training, consultation, training materials and resources on a national as
well as international basis.
Shirley Paceley
217-875-8890
spaceley@maconresources.org
Learn more about BTT by logging on to
www.bluetowertraining.com