Trauma-Informed Health Care: A Reflective Guide for Improving Care and Services

Trauma-Informed Health Care is a comprehensive, reflective resource that delves into the values, principles, and practical applications of trauma-informed care within the healthcare system.

This book introduces various forms of trauma, including medical and health-related trauma, and examines the impact of adversities, social inequalities, and stress on both health outcomes and the relationship between individuals and healthcare providers. It addresses crucial topics such as cultural humility, secondary and vicarious trauma, burnout, and moral injury. Additionally, it explores organisational trauma, highlighting how practices can unintentionally traumatise or re-traumatise individuals, and emphasises the importance of cultural awareness, language, leadership, staff well-being, and the physical environment in promoting healing.

Drawing on real-world experiences from both service users and healthcare practitioners, Trauma-Informed Health Care covers a wide range of settings, from doctors’ offices and hospitals to allied health services. It emphasises that “every interaction can be an intervention,” offering practical examples, visuals, and reflective exercises to help bring about meaningful change in care practices.

This book is an essential read for anyone working in healthcare, including midwives, nurses, doctors, dentists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, radiographers, psychologists, dieticians, speech and language therapists, and many more.