Discover what trust and transparency look like in practice.
Trust and transparency are core principles of The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) six principles of trauma-informed care. But trust in trauma-informed care must extend beyond philosophy — it must be visible in policies, leadership, staff interactions, and daily routines.
When trustworthiness and transparency are embedded into every layer of a treatment program, they create stability and predictability for both residents and staff. Let’s look at how that commitment takes shape in practice.
Our Approach to Implementing Trustworthiness and Transparency
At Acute Behavioral Health, we foster trustworthiness through task clarity, consistency, transparency, and maintaining interpersonal boundaries. Each facet of our program maximizes trust by focusing on our staff’s trauma-informed approach to treatment and our overarching operations. The following are guidelines that help identify a residential behavioral health treatment setting that takes trust and transparency seriously.
General Guidelines:
- The approach makes it clear who will do what, in what timeframe, and with what goals in mind.
- Administration and managers share information openly with staff and residents regarding operations while maintaining resident confidentiality.
- Services are reviewed with each prospective resident, based on clear statements of the goals, risks, and benefits of program participation.
- Residents provide informed consent for treatment and medications.
- There exists a clear procedure to review any allegations of boundary violations, including but not limited to sexual harassment and inappropriate social contacts.
- Communication and expectation of strong and healthy boundaries are encouraged and supported throughout the program.
- There’s a clear cell phone and electronics policy for staff and residents.
- Staff feel supported by other staff during high-risk situations.
- Staff are consistent in their demonstration of healthy boundaries and understand the nuances of appearing friendly versus professional (e.g., personal information sharing, touching, exchanging phone numbers, loaning money, making contacts outside of the facility, etc.).
- A daily schedule and routine is identified and shared with the resident, and is followed and consistent.
Staff Trustworthiness:
- Program directors and leaders have an understanding of the work staff performs, including the potential for emotional burnout and the impact of the work.
- The program directors and leaders consistently validate the importance of staff support and actively encourage self-care.
- All staff members receive training and supervision with support surrounding the difficulties of the job.
- Directors and supervisors make staff expectations clear, consistent, and fair.
- The program’s mission, vision, goals, and objectives are shared among all staff members. There is a shared commitment to remaining trauma-informed and a continued review of the successful application of SAMHSA’s six principles of trauma-informed care.
- Clear communication exists regarding program changes, and if there is a change in plans, the rationale is explained and documented.
- Supervisors listen to concerns from supervisees in a respectful manner.
Transparency builds predictability, and predictability builds trust. These concepts are critical to creating the right environment for healing from trauma.
Creating a Culture of Trust at Acute Behavioral Health
Acute Behavioral Health recognizes that real healing requires more than good intentions. That’s why we’ve built a culture of integrity, openness, and follow-through. We work hard to ensure every resident in our care knows what to expect, feels empowered to ask questions, and trusts the support we offer is genuine and consistent.
Trust is earned, and transparency is the path to earning it. Our commitment to delivering the highest quality trauma-informed care allows us to provide effective care from day one, ensuring our residents and their loved ones receive support, compassion, and confidence in taking the next step toward recovery.
Let’s begin the healing journey together, with trust at the center. If you or someone you know is struggling, reach out to our team today.