By Dr. Lynn Morrison, CEO Brandywine Counseling and Community Centers
As humans, we occasionally make decisions that have miserable consequences. But knowingly doing something that negatively impacts our lives is often rooted in more than just a snap decision.
The inclination to go down a negative path or engage in self-destructive behavior can be deeply rooted in our experiences and – perhaps most significantly – the traumas we might have undergone in our lives.
Because those observing from the outside have historically framed behavioral and substance abuse issues only as “poor decision making” on the part of those affected, those facing these issues have long been stigmatized, faced societal isolation and been discriminated against. But as understanding of these individuals – and human psychology in general – has developed and evolved, it has become clear within the treatment community that these behaviors are deeply rooted in trauma. One-quarter to three-quarters of people who have survived abuse or violent traumatic experiences report problematic alcohol use.
The concept of trauma-informed care has resulted from this understanding and forms the basis how treatment centers like BCCS relate to our clients. Put simply, rather than asking, “What’s wrong with you?”, we ask, “What’s happened to you?” The story of what an individual has experienced, we now understand, lays the groundwork for the often destructive mechanisms they use to cope with those experiences.
Through trauma-informed care, we acknowledge that trauma has a widespread impact. We seek to understand the paths to recovery while recognizing the signs and symptoms of trauma in clients, their families, and treatment center staff. And because trauma-informed care only works when it is implemented at both the clinical and organizational levels, we work to fold this knowledge of trauma into everything we do as an organization while actively avoiding re-traumatizing our clients.
We accomplish this in multiple ways.
- Safety – We create an environment where an individual feels safe. This includes physical space and the atmosphere/culture of the organization.
- Choice – No one wants to be told what to do; we all want to have a say in what happens to us. Clients have choices in their recovery process.
- Collaboration – Counseling is working with the client to assist them in understanding all their choices and the possible outcomes associated with those choices rather than telling them what they need to do.
- Trust – Boundaries are key to creating a safe environment. Respecting an individual and the choices they make builds trust.
- Empowerment – Building up an individual’s faith and trust in themselves.
Other key elements of trauma-informed care include peer support, through which individuals with experiences similar to those of our clients are integrated into the organization and viewed as integral to service delivery; and recognizing and addressing historical trauma, biases and stereotypes.
By taking these steps, we help build healthier, more open relationships between our staff and clients. For providers, this helps form the basis of more effective treatment, helps prevent burnout, and may reduce staff turnover. Meanwhile, the clients themselves can take a larger role in their own care, creating better relationships with their providers, resulting in more positive outcomes in the long run.
In short, we have always worked to approach each client as a whole person, considering what is on the inside in addition to what we see on the outside. Our treatment at BCCS reflects this understanding of each person’s uniqueness, and our insight into their journey informs every level of formulating their treatment plan and the care we provide.
At BCCS, our goal is – and always has been – to approach each client’s challenge with care and distinction to show them that we appreciate their story and are ready and willing to help. By actively listening to their experiences and understanding the path that brought them to us, we can provide treatment and care that addresses not just the symptoms that have brought them to our door, but the root causes of those symptoms.
