How To Be More Trauma-Sensitive

As capitalism continues to polarize us and cause the hoarding of resources - there is an increasing need for trauma-sensitive services in all public and private settings. 

From grocers to surgeons and manual laborers to lawyers, administrative teams should be actively seeking ways to create a culture within their institution that is trauma-responsive. 

This trauma responsiveness should strive to meet the trauma-related access needs of all producers and consumers. 

We are living through global trauma.

We have been living through global trauma. The trauma we experience systemically has become more covert and all-encompassing with each passing generation. 

The time to intervene on our own behalf is now and I believe that folks in every segment of society have the ability to contribute to trauma-sensitive spaces.

If you are an employer or manager or someone with some authority in your organization, the next training you seek out would be best if it were on “How to Transform Your Establishment into a Trauma-Sensitive Space.”

I sincerely believe that caring for our own and each other’s nervous systems by establishing a trauma-sensitive culture is the move we need for radical and life-sustaining change. 

So in the spirit of creating more of what we want,  let’s talk about what trauma sensitivity is and what it is not. 

Trauma sensitivity is not the expectation to be able to heal someone else’s trauma or to resolve the trauma response you may witness in another.

Trauma sensitivity is intentionally creating spaces, cultures, and experiences that prioritize collective and individual care.

Our nervous systems are constantly on alert, seeking out both sources of threat and safety. While it can feel like a tall order to orient our offerings towards the nervous systems of so many different people, there are some key considerations to keep in mind when creating a trauma-sensitive space for your profession or passion projects. 

The underpinnings of providing a trauma-sensitive experience that I use include 5 core elements. These elements were first introduced to me by one of my mentors David Emerson, co-founder of Trauma Sensitive Yoga at the Center for Trauma and Embodiment in Brookline, MA.

The 5 core elements include invitational language, choices, interoception, shared authentic experience, and non-coercion. These elements interweave and build off of each other very naturally. While these elements are potent as stand-alone approaches, when combined - they have the potential to speak to the nervous system in a way many of us are not used to receiving under the coercion of late-stage capitalism.:

Invitational Language

You might choose to think about a time in which you were literally invited to go do something with someone. Notice what that felt like, the experience of being included, wanted, and given the option of participating. It’s rare that we are turned off by an invitation. Invitational language communicates ideas in a way that shares power, rather than hoards it. Some examples of invitational language include “You may choose to explore what we have to offer” or “You’re invited to make a choice about how you want to engage today.” This language sets the stage for people to experience moments of their own agency. 

Access to Choices

Invitational language sets the stage to introduce the power of choice. Being able to offer multiple options to choose from is potent medicine for folks who have been traumatized. Trauma occurs when the nervous system is unable to mobilize towards safety, meaning that it feels stuck and without external options. Often in these moments when safety is not accessible in the world, the nervous system will shut down / collapse. When humans have the ability to access as many choices as possible, they are also able to communicate to their nervous systems that safety is around and accessible. While there is plenty in this world that we do not have a choice over, there are many micro-opportunities we can create to offer more choices for others.

Interoceptive Awareness

Interoception is a fancy trauma/somatic buzzword that basically means having the ability to notice what is happening inside our bodies in real-time. This could look like noticing a tight muscle, a ‘drop’ sensation in my stomach, or being able to feel my own heartbeat. This practice is significant because we’ve learned from brain imaging techniques that when folks are in the depth of a trauma response - their ability to access internal felt sensations diminishes substantially. Our bodies are constantly communicating important information to us about safety through our felt sense, but when we are disconnected from that due to trauma - it can create challenges for making decisions, feeling safe in the world, and being able to ground back in our bodies. The cool part about our nervous systems is that they are scanning for the parameter for other nervous systems to mirror! So when we talk about interoception as being an important component of trauma sensitivity, when we are grounded in a practice of our own felt sense, we can serve as a safe landing place for others. The studies around interoception and trauma also demonstrate that the more folks practice noticing their own felt sensations, the more resilience they can build!

Shared Authenticity

If there is anyone that can pick up on an inauthentic experience, it’s trauma survivors. After surviving trauma, the nervous system can become hypervigilant around detecting signs of exploitation or misguidance. Often this is why a lot of folks who survive trauma may struggle in having close relationships due to the lack of relational trust trauma breeds. If we are feeling uncomfortable, the nervous system of a traumatized person is going to sense it. If we are feeling annoyed, the nervous system of a traumatized person is also going to sense it. In short, there is little we can keep under wraps when it comes to the nervous system’s amazing ability at scanning for safety or threats. Being honest, upfront and human in the face of others is the best way to show up. While it can be vulnerable to share where we are at with others, naming and offering the ways in which we are authentically human can feel much safer than someone trying to cover up what they are actually feeling/experiencing. 

Non-Coercion

Now you may choose to bring to mind a memory of being told what to do - either directly or in a more nuanced communication style. This could look like being pressured to make choices, being asked to make choices under stress, or having someone with enormous power asking you to do something you really didn’t want to do. A lot of times even bringing this experience to mind can create a felt sense of resistance in our bodies. Muscles may tighten, jaw might clench - a sense of dis-ease may be found coursing through us. As humans, it’s pretty true that we do not appreciate being forced to do anything, but power differentials are often the underlying coercive force that drives us to say ‘yes’ when we really mean ‘no.’ Being able to share power by remaining non-coercive is vital in trauma sensitivity because at the root of trauma is an imbalance of power. When someone has more power than we do, there is an instant experience of coercion that takes place. When we fight against the coercive power structures that exist by sharing our power with others through non-coercion, we are helping to create a corrective experience for those who have been harmed by those with more power.

I am developing a program to offer trauma-responsive consulting for folks who are wanting to turn their professions + passion projects into trauma-sensitive gifts to the world!

If you are interested in working together to provide an environment that will improve the overall quality of life for those you come into contact with - feel free to email me at info@topazhealing.com