Why is Trauma Informed Care Important?
If you’ve been through trauma, whether in childhood, relationships, or even medical settings, it’s important to know that it can have a real impact on how your body feels—including how you experience pain. Trauma can keep your nervous system on high alert, making your body more sensitive to pain signals. This is why conditions like chronic headaches, pelvic pain, or digestive issues can sometimes feel overwhelming or unpredictable. When the body has been through a lot, even small sensations can feel bigger than they should, like the volume on pain has been turned up.
On top of that, if past experiences have made you feel dismissed or unheard by healthcare providers, getting the right care can feel exhausting or even impossible. But here’s the good news: understanding this connection can be the first step toward relief. Trauma-informed care recognizes these patterns and focuses on helping you feel safe and supported while working toward healing. You deserve care that acknowledges your experiences and helps you manage pain in a way that feels empowering and respectful.
Trauma-informed care can be a game-changer for both patients and providers. If you’ve ever felt dismissed, rushed, or misunderstood in a medical setting, trauma-informed care offers a different approach—one that prioritizes safety, trust, and collaboration. Providers who practice trauma-informed care take the time to listen, explain, and offer choices, making healthcare feel less overwhelming and more like a partnership.
This approach not only helps patients feel more comfortable and in control, but it also leads to better health outcomes, like improved pain management, reduced anxiety around medical visits, and more effective treatment plans. For providers, it creates stronger connections with patients, reduces frustration, and even lowers burnout by fostering a more compassionate and understanding work environment. When healthcare is built on respect and awareness, everyone benefits—patients get the care they need without fear of retraumatization, and providers can offer more effective, meaningful support.
Understanding Trauma and Its Effects
What is Trauma?
Trauma is anything that overwhelms your sense of safety, leaving you feeling powerless, afraid, or deeply affected—emotionally, physically, or both. It’s not just about what happened, but how your body and mind experienced it. Trauma can come from a single event, like a car accident or a difficult medical procedure, or it can build up over time, like ongoing stress in childhood or an unsafe relationship. Sometimes, people don’t even realize something was traumatic until they notice its effects later—like feeling hyper-alert in certain situations, struggling with medical visits, or experiencing pain that doesn’t seem to have a clear cause.
Different Types of Trauma
Acute Trauma – A single distressing event, like an accident, assault, sudden loss, or natural disaster.
Chronic Trauma – Repeated or long-term exposure to stressful experiences, like childhood neglect, abuse, discrimination, or living in an unstable environment.
Medical Trauma – Fear or distress related to healthcare experiences, such as painful procedures, feeling ignored by providers, or being treated without consent.
Interpersonal Trauma – Harm caused in relationships, including domestic violence, sexual assault, betrayal by a trusted person, or emotional abuse.
Systemic or Generational Trauma – The lasting effects of discrimination, racism, historical oppression, or family patterns of trauma that impact future generations.
No matter what type of trauma you’ve experienced, your feelings are valid. Trauma isn’t just about the past—it can shape how you respond to stress, pain, and even healthcare today. That’s why trauma-informed care matters—it helps create a safe space where your experiences are respected, and your healing can begin on your own terms.
How Trauma Affects Physical and Mental Health
Trauma doesn’t just live in the past—it can leave lasting imprints on your body and mind. If you’ve ever felt like your anxiety, pain, or health struggles don’t quite “make sense,” you’re not alone. Trauma can change how the nervous system, immune system, and even gut function, making the body more sensitive to stress, pain, and illness. It’s not all in your head—your body remembers, and sometimes it reacts in ways that can feel frustrating or out of your control.
The Link Between Trauma,Chronic Illness, and Mental Health
🔹 Chronic Pain & Illness: Trauma can keep the body stuck in a state of high alert, increasing inflammation and making conditions like migraines, fibromyalgia, IBS, and pelvic pain more intense. When the nervous system is constantly activated, even small sensations can feel amplified, leading to ongoing discomfort.
🔹 Mental Health Challenges: Trauma increases the risk of anxiety, depression, PTSD, and difficulty regulating emotions. It can make everyday stress feel overwhelming, affect sleep, and contribute to feelings of hyper-vigilance or emotional numbness.
🔹 Autoimmune & Digestive Issues: Studies show that people with a history of trauma are more likely to develop autoimmune conditions and gut disorders like Crohn’s disease or IBS. Stress and trauma affect gut bacteria, digestion, and immune function, creating a ripple effect on overall health.
🔹 Reproductive & Hormonal Health: Trauma can disrupt hormone balance, impacting menstrual cycles, fertility, and even menopause. Chronic stress can also affect how the body processes pain and sensations, leading to discomfort during medical exams, intimacy, or daily activities.
The good news? Healing is possible. Recognizing the connection between trauma and health is the first step toward finding care that truly supports you. Trauma-informed care helps by creating a safe space where you’re heard, your experiences are validated, and treatment is tailored to support both your physical and emotional well-being. You deserve care that understands the full picture of your health—not just your symptoms.
The Role of Healthcare in Addressing Trauma
Healthcare should be a place of healing, but for many people who have experienced trauma, it can feel like the opposite—overwhelming, unsafe, or even re-traumatizing. Whether it’s a rushed appointment, a provider who doesn’t listen, or a procedure that feels invasive, these experiences can make it harder to seek care when you need it. This is why trauma-informed care is so important.
Why Providers Must Recognize Trauma’s Impact on Patient Care
🔹 Trauma Is Common: Many patients, whether they talk about it or not, have lived through experiences that shape how they approach medical care. A history of trauma—whether from childhood, relationships, medical experiences, or discrimination—can affect how someone feels in a doctor’s office, responds to treatment, or even experiences pain.
🔹 Fear and Avoidance of Care: Patients with trauma histories may delay or avoid healthcare altogether because of past negative experiences. For example, someone who felt ignored or dismissed by a provider might hesitate to bring up new symptoms, and a person with a history of assault may struggle with exams that feel invasive.
🔹 Trauma Impacts the Body: The effects of trauma don’t just stay in the mind; they show up in the body as well. Chronic pain, digestive issues, autoimmune conditions, and reproductive health challenges can all be linked to trauma, making it essential for providers to take a whole-person approach to care.
🔹 A Safer, More Supportive Healthcare Experience: When providers recognize the impact of trauma, they can create a medical environment that fosters trust, choice, and emotional safety. This means explaining procedures, asking for consent, offering choices, and being mindful of how power dynamics in healthcare can affect patients.
Healthcare shouldn’t add to your stress—it should be a space where you feel seen, heard, and supported. Trauma-informed providers understand this and work to make every interaction one that builds safety, confidence, and better health outcomes for their patients. If you’ve ever felt dismissed or uncomfortable in a medical setting, know that you deserve care that respects your experiences and meets your needs.
The Principles of Trauma-Informed Care
Trauma-informed care is built on a foundation of understanding, respect, and empowerment. It isn’t just about knowing that trauma exists—it’s about shaping healthcare so that it feels safe, supportive, and accessible for all patients. Below are the six core principles that guide this approach and help create a healthcare experience that feels validating rather than overwhelming.
🔹 Safety: Creating Secure Environments for Patients and Staff
A trauma-informed approach starts with physical, emotional, and psychological safety. Many people have had medical experiences that felt frightening, dismissive, or even harmful. Providers who practice trauma-informed care work to ensure that patients feel secure during their visits by:
✔ Explaining what to expect before an exam or procedure.
✔ Creating a welcoming environment with calming spaces and patient-centered communication.
✔ Allowing patients to set boundaries and opt out of anything that feels uncomfortable.
For patients, this means knowing that your comfort and well-being come first, and you should never feel forced into care that doesn’t feel right for you.
🔹 Trustworthiness & Transparency: Building Confidence in Care Through Clear Communication
Many people with trauma histories struggle with trusting medical providers, especially if they’ve had experiences where they weren’t believed or respected. Trauma-informed providers work to build trust by:
✔ Being honest and clear about procedures, treatments, and options.
✔ Explaining things in simple, understandable terms instead of medical jargon.
✔ Following through on commitments so patients know what to expect.
For patients, this means you deserve to have your concerns taken seriously and to feel informed rather than pressured or confused about your care.
🔹 Peer Support: The Importance of Shared Experiences in Healing
Healing from trauma doesn’t happen in isolation. Connecting with others who have had similar experiences can help patients feel less alone and more supported. In healthcare, peer support might look like:
✔ Advocacy groups and online communities where patients can share experiences and recommendations.
✔ Trauma-informed practitioners who have also navigated healthcare with a trauma history.
✔ Support groups for managing chronic pain, PTSD, or medical trauma.
For patients, this means knowing that your experiences are valid and that others have walked this path before you. You are not alone in your journey.
🔹 Collaboration & Mutuality: Working with Patients as Partners in Their Care
Trauma-informed care shifts the dynamic from “doctor knows best” to “let’s work together.” Patients are not just passive recipients of care; they are active participants in decision-making. Trauma-informed providers:
✔ Ask about patient preferences rather than making assumptions.
✔ Encourage open dialogue about symptoms, fears, and treatment options.
✔ Respect lived experiences as valuable sources of knowledge in shaping care.
For patients, this means you should never feel like your voice doesn’t matter. Your input is essential in creating a care plan that works for you.
🔹 Empowerment, Voice & Choice: Encouraging Patient Autonomy in Healthcare Decisions
One of the most damaging effects of trauma is feeling powerless—especially in medical settings where patients may already feel vulnerable. A trauma-informed approach helps restore a sense of control by:
✔ Asking for consent before touching or performing an exam.
✔ Providing multiple options for care whenever possible.
✔ Encouraging questions and allowing patients to set their own pace.
For patients, this means you have the right to say “I need a moment,” “I’d like to bring a support person,” or “I don’t feel comfortable with that.” You deserve to be heard.
🔹 Cultural Humility & Responsiveness: Recognizing Diversity and Addressing Biases in Care
Trauma doesn’t affect everyone the same way. People from marginalized communities—including BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and those with disabilities—often face additional layers of discrimination and bias in healthcare. Trauma-informed care means:
✔ Recognizing how systemic trauma (racism, sexism, ableism, etc.) impacts health.
✔ Ensuring care is inclusive, respectful, and adapted to diverse needs.
✔ Actively addressing biases in medical settings to provide equitable treatment.
For patients, this means you should never feel dismissed, judged, or “othered” in your healthcare. If something feels off, you have the right to seek a provider who respects your identity and experiences.
The Bottom Line: You Deserve Care That Feels Safe and Supportive
Trauma-informed care is not just a set of guidelines—it’s a commitment to treating patients with dignity, respect, and compassion. Whether you are navigating chronic pain, medical trauma, or past experiences that make healthcare feel difficult, you deserve care that meets you where you are.
If you’ve ever felt dismissed, overwhelmed, or unsafe in medical settings, please know: it’s not your fault. You have the right to providers who listen, respect your choices, and create a healthcare experience that feels safe, not stressful.
The Benefits of Trauma-Informed Care
Trauma-informed care (TIC) isn’t just about making healthcare feel better in the moment—it leads to real, lasting improvements for both patients and providers. When care is built on safety, trust, and collaboration, patients are more likely to seek help, providers feel more effective, and health outcomes improve. Below are some of the most important ways TIC makes a difference.
🔹 Improved Patient Trust and Engagement: How TIC Fosters Better Patient-Provider Relationships
For many people, healthcare can feel intimidating—especially if past experiences have left them feeling dismissed, unheard, or unsafe. Trauma-informed care changes this by prioritizing trust and respect in every patient interaction.
When providers take time to explain, listen, and offer choices, patients:
✔ Feel safer and more in control, reducing anxiety around medical visits.
✔ Are more likely to ask questions, leading to clearer communication and better understanding of treatment options.
✔ Follow through with care plans, because they feel like active participants in their health.
For patients, this means that healthcare doesn’t have to feel like a battle—it can become a space where you feel heard, respected, and supported.
🔹 Reduced Risk of Re-Traumatization: Preventing Harm Through Thoughtful Care Approaches
For people with trauma histories, medical settings can be triggering—whether it’s the environment, a provider’s tone, or a procedure that feels invasive. TIC actively works to reduce distress and prevent harm by:
✔ Offering clear explanations before exams or procedures.
✔ Asking for consent and checking in throughout the visit.
✔ Providing choices and control, so patients never feel trapped in a situation that’s overwhelming.
For patients, this means your concerns are taken seriously, and you don’t have to “push through” discomfort to get care. You deserve a medical experience that feels safe, not stressful.
🔹 Better Health Outcomes: The Long-Term Effects of TIC on Physical and Mental Well-Being
When patients feel safe and respected, they are more likely to seek regular care, follow treatment plans, and communicate openly about their symptoms. This leads to:
✔ Earlier detection and treatment of medical conditions.
✔ Better management of chronic pain and illness, as patients feel more comfortable discussing their needs.
✔ Improved mental health, since TIC helps reduce healthcare-related anxiety and stress.
For patients, this means that your health isn’t just about your symptoms—it’s about your whole experience. Feeling safe and supported in healthcare leads to better outcomes in both the short and long term.
🔹 Lower Provider Burnout and Increased Job Satisfaction: How TIC Benefits Healthcare Professionals
Trauma-informed care doesn’t just help patients—it also creates a better work environment for providers. Many healthcare professionals experience burnout from rushed visits, patient mistrust, or feeling unable to provide the care they truly want to give. TIC helps by:
✔ Improving patient-provider relationships, making interactions more meaningful and less adversarial.
✔ Reducing patient distress, which lowers the emotional toll on providers.
✔ Creating a sense of purpose and connection, leading to greater job satisfaction.
For healthcare professionals, this means TIC isn’t just “extra work”—it’s a way to make medicine more fulfilling, effective, and sustainable.
The Bottom Line: Trauma-Informed Care Benefits Everyone
When healthcare is safe, compassionate, and patient-centered, everyone wins. Patients feel more comfortable and empowered, providers feel more connected and effective, and overall health outcomes improve. Whether you are a patient looking for better care or a provider striving to create a more supportive practice, trauma-informed care sets the foundation for healing and trust—one interaction at a time.
Steps to Providing Trauma-Informed Care to Patients
Creating a Safe and Trusting Patient Experience
Feeling safe in a healthcare setting isn’t just about physical safety—it’s also about emotional and psychological comfort. Many people with trauma histories experience heightened stress in medical environments, whether from past medical trauma, difficult experiences with providers, or other life events.
Healthcare providers can create a more secure and trusting space by:
✔ Explaining what will happen before exams or procedures, so patients aren’t caught off guard.
✔ Asking for consent before touching a patient and checking in regularly.
✔ Offering choices, such as positioning options during an exam or the ability to pause at any time.
✔ Being mindful of power dynamics, so patients don’t feel pressured or coerced.
For patients, this means you have the right to care that feels respectful and collaborative—where you are seen as a person, not just a condition to be treated.
🔹 Communicating with Sensitivity and Awareness
The way providers communicate can make or break a patient’s healthcare experience. A rushed, dismissive, or cold interaction can feel invalidating or even retraumatizing, while thoughtful, patient-centered communication fosters trust and connection.
Trauma-informed communication includes:
✔ Using clear, simple language instead of medical jargon that can feel confusing or overwhelming.
✔ Practicing active listening, making eye contact, and responding with empathy.
✔ Validating patient concerns, instead of minimizing symptoms or emotions.
✔ Avoiding phrases that can feel dismissive, like “It’s all in your head” or “Just relax.”
For patients, this means you deserve to be heard, understood, and treated with respect—not rushed through an appointment or made to feel like a burden.
🔹 Empowering Patients in Their Care Journey
One of the most important aspects of trauma-informed care is giving patients back a sense of control over their healthcare. Many people with trauma histories have had experiences where choices were taken away, making medical settings feel especially vulnerable. Empowerment in healthcare means giving patients the knowledge, options, and confidence to make informed decisions about their own bodies.
Providers can encourage patient autonomy by:
✔ Explaining all available options and ensuring patients understand their choices.
✔ Respecting boundaries, including if a patient declines a procedure or asks to stop.
✔ Encouraging questions and giving patients time to process information before making decisions.
✔ Supporting self-advocacy, so patients feel confident in voicing their needs.
For patients, this means that your voice matters in your healthcare. You don’t have to just “go along with it” if something doesn’t feel right—you have the right to ask questions, set boundaries, and make choices that feel safe and comfortable for you.
The Future of Trauma-Informed Patient Care
The movement toward trauma-informed healthcare is growing, and for good reason—patients deserve care that feels safe, respectful, and empowering. As more providers recognize the deep impact of trauma on health, they are shifting their approach to one that prioritizes trust, consent, and collaboration. But this shift isn’t just happening inside clinics and hospitals. The ability to receive compassionate, patient-centered care is increasingly being threatened by political attacks on healthcare access, particularly for marginalized communities.
At Inclusive Care, we believe that trauma-informed care must include fighting for healthcare that is safe and accessible for everyone—including LGBTQIA+ individuals, people of color, those with disabilities, and anyone who has been historically ignored or mistreated by the medical system. As policies emerge that threaten bodily autonomy, gender-affirming care, and reproductive rights, it’s more critical than ever to advocate for healthcare that centers dignity, respect, and well-being for all.
🔹 Expanding Access to Trauma-Informed Healthcare
Trauma-informed care is no longer just an idea—it’s becoming a standard in more hospitals, clinics, and medical training programs. More providers are recognizing that patients who feel safe and respected are more likely to seek care, communicate their needs, and follow through with treatment.
Many institutions are implementing TIC principles by:
✔ Training providers on how trauma impacts health and how to create safer experiences for patients.
✔ Revising policies to reduce harmful practices like forced exams or dismissive language.
✔ Redesigning healthcare spaces to feel less clinical and more welcoming.
But while these changes are promising, access to trauma-informed care is not yet universal—and political forces are actively trying to make it harder for some people to get the care they need. Bans on gender-affirming care, abortion restrictions, and the dismantling of reproductive rights are all direct attacks on bodily autonomy. These policies not only harm individuals but create an environment of fear, distrust, and avoidance of healthcare, which directly contradicts everything trauma-informed care stands for.
At Inclusive Care, we are committed to ensuring that everyone—no matter their gender identity, reproductive choices, or background—has access to healthcare that is affirming, safe, and empowering.
🔹 Encouraging Healthcare Providers to Lead with Compassion
Trauma-informed care doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. Even small shifts in how providers approach patient interactions can make a significant impact on trust and healing. Leading with compassion means:
✔ Asking for consent before an exam or procedure.
✔ Explaining things clearly and without judgment.
✔ Recognizing how power dynamics affect patient experiences.
✔ Advocating for policies that protect all patients, not just those with privilege.
These simple actions can mean the difference between a patient feeling safe and respected or feeling unheard and retraumatized. And in today’s political climate, providers must do more than just treat symptoms—they must also stand up for the rights of the people they serve.
The Bottom Line: Trauma-Informed Care is a Commitment to Health Equity
Trauma-informed care is more than just an approach to medicine—it’s a human right. As healthcare access continues to be threatened, it is critical for both providers and patients to demand care that is inclusive, affirming, and trauma-sensitive.
At Inclusive Care, we are actively working to train providers, advocate for patient rights, and fight for a healthcare system that treats every person with dignity and respect. The future of trauma-informed care is one where no one is denied the healthcare they need because of their identity, experiences, or circumstances.
If you’ve ever felt dismissed, unsafe, or unwelcome in a medical setting, know this: you are not alone, and you deserve better. We will continue to fight for a future where trauma-informed care is not just an option—it’s the standard
