Everyone experiences some level of trauma within their lives. 70% of adults in the US have experienced a form of trauma at least once in their lifetime and more than two thirds of children report that they have experienced at least one traumatic event by the age of 16. The American Psychological Association defines trauma as “an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, major life event or natural disaster” and it is understood that experiencing trauma can result in a wide range of responses from none at all to major health or behavioral consequences. Trauma Informed Care is the intentional decision to provide services and care in a highly personalized, unique, person-respecting manner. 

Trauma Informed Care is characterized by four core commitments: 

(1) acknowledge trauma and its potential impact 

(2) ensure safety and trust 

(3) promote choice and shared control 

(4) emphasize skill building

At Bright Minds Interventions, these core commitments influence our interactions from the very start during the Intake process and continue through the entirety of the therapeutic relationship. By adopting trauma-informed practices we see an improvement in client engagement, as well as outcomes.