Trauma

Question 1

Define trauma

Answer 1

Trauma is the emotional, psychological, and physiological RESIDUE left over from heightened stress that accompanies experiences of threat, violence, and life-challenging events.

The severity of trauma comes from the sense made of it.

Question 2

List the types of trauma

Answer 2

• simple/acute
• complex
• impersonal
• interpersonal
• attachment
• inter-generational
• historical
• collective
• secondary
• vicarious

Question 3

List some behaviours related to trauma

Answer 3

Avoidance
Aggression
People-pleasing
Absconding
Alcohol/drug misuse
Perfectionism
Regressed communication
Risk-taking
Self-harm
Social withdrawal
Sexualised behaviours
Threats
Untruthfulness/lying
Defiance
Parentified behaviours

Question 4

List the causes of inter-generational trauma for Aboriginals

Answer 4

Stolen generations
Colonisation
Dispossession (land)
Exclusion
Violence & massacres
Abuse (physical, sexual, emotional)
Denial of rights
Separation from culture

Question 5

What are the 3 ways inter-generational trauma is kept alive?

Answer 5

1. Learnt behaviour
2. Vicarious/secondary trauma
3. Epigenetics

Question 6

Describe learnt behaviour in regard to intergenerational trauma

Answer 6

Modelled behaviours are copied by children.
Stolen generations survivors might pass on the impacts of institutionalisation, finding it difficult to know how to nurture their children because they were denied the opportunity to be nurtured themselves.
(Children, grandchildren, future generations)

Question 7

Describe vicarious/secondary trauma in regard to intergenerational trauma

Answer 7

(Indirect, secondhand, empathetic)

A child who witnesses or lives with prolonged exposure to violence, abuse, neglect, or poverty is likely to experience stress levels that cause childhood or developmental trauma.
Can impair brain development and affect wellbeing, social participation, and education.
Living with people experiencing trauma can also trigger high levels of stress in children.

Question 8

Define trauma-informed practice

Answer 8

Trauma-informed practice refers to a model of care and service delivery that recognises the impacts of trauma on the lives of individuals and communities, and actively takes steps to respond to these traumatic impacts.

Question 9

What are trauma-specific interventions?

Answer 9

Client-based, person-centred interventions aimed at alleviating symptoms and increasing daily functioning for individuals and groups who have experienced trauma.

Question 10

What are the 4 Rs/principles of trauma-informed care?

Answer 10

1. REALISE the impacts of trauma and its widespread effects
2. RECOGNISE trauma symptoms
3. RESPOND appropriately to alleviate symptoms through integrating trauma knowledge into service design
4. RESIST re-traumatisation through insensitive practices, policies, or processes

Question 11

List the 6 practice implications related to trauma-informed care

Answer 11

1. Safety
2. Trustworthiness & transparency
3. Peer support
4. Collaboration & mutuality
5. Empowerment, voice, & choice
6. Recognising cultural, historical, & gender issues

Question 12

List factors you need to consider when working with a client who has experienced trauma

Answer 12

• room setup/environment
• greeting/introduction > establish rapport
• time/length of session
• routine/consistency
• characteristics of the therapist (therapeutic use of self)
• cultural considerations
• client age
• provide options/choices
• diagnosis/impairments