Work with a Trauma Psychologist

A trauma psychologist is a mental health professional who is qualified to provide trauma therapy. Trauma psychologist qualifications can include an academic degree in psychology and training or experience in providing EMDR trauma therapy. The most important quality of a trauma psychologist is that they know how to work with individuals and groups who have experienced or are experiencing trauma. Trauma psychologists help people process and heal from trauma, enabling these individuals and groups to lead more mentally-healthy and enjoyable lives.

The long-term negative effects on functional capacity and well-being as a result of a traumatic experience are what qualify as psychological trauma. As the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services and Administration (SAMHSA) defined it in their Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach 2014 manual,

“Individual trauma results from an event, series of events, or set of circumstances that is experienced by an individual as physically and emotionally harmful or life-threatening and that has lasting adverse effects on the individual's functioning and mental, physical, social, emotional, or spiritual well-being.”

Signs that you need trauma therapy include the following:

• Intense, uncontrollable emotions, memory, consciousness, and self-perception (Yadav, McNamara & Gunturu, 2024, Trauma-Informed Therapy)

• Impaired physical, emotional, mental, psychological, or interpersonal functioning

• Persistent feelings of fear and mistrust towards other people (Kimberg & Wheeler, 2019, Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care)

• Overwhelming sense of not being safe or secure

• Sleep disturbances such as nightmares and insomnia

Trauma shows up differently in each person. If you have a distressing symptom that isn’t mentioned in the list above or think trauma therapy would be helpful to your well-being, you can still seek trauma therapy or the assistance of a trauma psychologist.

A trauma-informed psychologist is a psychologist who follows a trauma-informed approach in their delivery of mental health services such as therapy. First proposed by Maxine Harris and Roger D. Fallot, the trauma-informed approach was further expanded on by SAMHSA.

Trauma-informed psychologists realise the effects of trauma and events in the person’s life on their mental health condition and respond to this realisation by applying the 6 principles of a trauma-informed approach (SAMHSA, 2014):

• Safety - Trauma-informed psychologists ensure that the people they help feel physically and psychologically safe in their physical settings and interactions.

• Trustworthiness and Transparency - Trauma-informed psychologists build and maintain trust with the people they help.

• Peer Support - Trauma-informed psychologists offer ways for the people they help to establish healthy relationships with their peers.

• Collaboration and Mutuality - Trauma-informed psychologists and the people they help are partners in the latter’s well-being, collaborating towards the best outcome.

• Empowerment, Voice, and Choice - Trauma-informed psychologists empower others to develop their strengths and sense of self, share their opinions, advocate for themselves, and make shared choices regarding their mental health.

• Cultural, Historical, and Gender Issues - Trauma-informed psychologists address historical trauma, recognise cultural factors, and provide gender-responsive services.

Trauma therapy is focused on treating the trauma that an individual or group has experienced or are currently experiencing. Trauma-informed therapy is therapy provided in a trauma-informed manner. For example, if a person seeking therapy (but not explicitly seeking trauma therapy) goes to a psychologist who provides therapy in a trauma-informed manner, then that person is receiving trauma-informed therapy. However, this doesn’t mean those seeking trauma therapy won’t also receive trauma-informed therapy. Whether or not the therapy is trauma-informed depends on the manner in which it is provided.