Trauma-informed care is a phrase that often appears in healthcare settings, but it is worth explaining plainly, as it shapes nearly every interaction a patient has with our team.
The idea behind trauma-informed care.
At its core, trauma-informed care recognizes that many patients have experienced difficult or traumatic events, whether recent or from years earlier, and that those experiences can affect how someone responds to medical settings, authority figures, or even routine questions on an intake form. Rather than asking “what is wrong with this person,” a trauma-informed approach asks “what has this person been through,” and adjusts care accordingly.
What this looks like in a visit
In practice, this might mean a provider explains each step before touching a patient during an exam, offers choices whenever possible instead of dictating every decision, or takes extra time to build trust before asking sensitive questions. It also means recognizing that a frustrated or guarded reaction is often rooted in experience rather than the current interaction.
Why it is part of everything Southeast does
Southeast Healthcare has built trauma-informed, evidence-based practices into our Behavioral Health Services, our Homeless Services programs such as Friends of the Homeless and Bridge to Success, and our Primary Care Services clinics. It is one part of what makes our whole person approach to care possible.
If you are looking for a care team that takes this approach seriously, visit our Who We Are page to learn more about our history and mission, find your nearest location, or call (614) 225-0990.