WHAT IS A TRAUMA-INFORMED APPROACH?

Alliance For Children intentionally chooses a trauma-informed approach. This means our staff’s interactions with children and families incorporate a level of sensitivity that fosters safety and empowerment. After experiencing trauma, especially that of a sexual nature, children often feel anxious about entering a space where they must discuss their experiences in detail. Alliance For Children’s goal is to reduce the child’s fear with each contact and create a trusting environment.

Changing "What's wrong with you?"

to "What's happened to you?"

A trauma-informed approach also ensures that staff understand victims of child abuse do not always respond or act in a way we might anticipate. This perspective allows Alliance For Children staff to see the child as a whole and identify the coping skills the child has learned in order to survive, whether those skills are productive or not. Our therapists then work with the children, teaching them appropriate and beneficial coping strategies to bring healing.

SAMHSA-HRSA Center for Integrated Health Solutions states that a trauma-informed approach helps professionals change their perspective of “What’s wrong with you?” to “What’s happened to you?”. This outlook is not only beneficial for Alliance For Children staff when working with children, but can benefit the entire community of Tarrant County.

References:

https://www.integration.samhsa.gov/clinical-practice/trauma-informed

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