For most medical situations, trauma care means the treatment of a bodily injury that’s severe enough to cause disability or death. In fact, the state of Florida is home to more than 25 trauma centers, which are all well-known for their quick response to physical trauma emergencies. These centers are not simply sophisticated emergency rooms. A trauma center has highly trained specialists available at any time and also has access to air emergency services. Trauma centers provide the highest level of physical care possible, with the most cutting-edge technology and resources available.
But what is trauma care like for emotional trauma? Of the almost 500 mental health facilities in the state of Florida, nearly 150, or about 30%, offer post-traumatic stress disorder treatment. However, a diagnosis of PTSD isn’t the only mental health issue that requires a trauma-informed approach. Emotional trauma is the result of experiences that leave people feeling deeply unsafe and often helpless — and it can affect how someone interacts with themselves, the world, others around them, and even how they deal with other mental health issues. Are you looking for trauma care in Florida? Contact Gulf Breeze Recovery Center today by calling 833.551.2304 or contacting our team online.
What Is Trauma Care?
Trauma care, as it relates to mental health, is often also called trauma-informed care. This approach to care shifts the focus from “What’s wrong with the client?” to “What happened to the client?” A trauma-informed approach acknowledges that mental health centers and other similar organizations need to look at the complete picture of a client’s life situation to provide them with effective care that supports a positive health outcome.
Adopting trauma-informed practices can improve not only client engagement for mental health centers, treatment adherence of clients, and chances of positive health outcomes but also the quality of staff wellness. Overall, trauma-informed care seeks to accomplish the following:
- Actively avoid re-traumatization of clients
- Integrate knowledge about trauma into procedures, policies, and practices
- Recognize the signs and symptoms of trauma in clients, their family members, and staff
- Realize the widespread impact of trauma and understand effective paths for recovery
How Does Trauma Care Work?
The trauma-informed approach to care has some recognized core principles, which include the following:
- Collaboration — Power differences between staff and clients, and among administrative staff are leveled to support shared decision-making.
- Empowerment — Client and staff strengths are recognized, built on, and validated.
- Humility and responsiveness: Biases, historical trauma, and stereotypes are recognized and addressed.
- Peer support — People with shared experiences are integrated into the organization and viewed as integral to service delivery.
- Safety — Throughout the organization, clients and staff should feel physically and psychologically safe.
- Trustworthiness and transparency — Decisions should be made with transparency to build and maintain trust.
When Should You Consider Trauma Care?
Many people who struggle with emotional trauma find it difficult to maintain open and productive relationships with healthcare professionals. Even if their diagnoses aren’t trauma-related, their mental health can still be affected by emotional trauma — which can, in turn, affect how they respond to mental health treatment. If this sounds like you or someone you care about, definitely consider looking for a treatment program that uses a trauma-informed approach.
For clients, trauma-informed care offers the opportunity to engage more fully in their healthcare, develop trusting relationships with the staff they interact with in their treatment programs, and improve their chances of overcoming their mental health issues.
Learn More About Gulf Breeze Recovery Center’s Trauma Care
If you’re searching for trauma care in Florida, contact Gulf Breeze Recovery Center today. Call 833.551.2304 or reach out to our team online. We are here to help.
