By Gina Fusco, Psy.D., Corporate Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Acute Behavioral Health
Trauma affects everyone differently, but its impact on children and adolescents can forever impact their mental health, behaviors, and interactions. Often, children are exposed to traumatic situations, and in return, do not receive the right tools or skills to understand and cope with what they’ve experienced. This can lead to a cycle of emotional turmoil that goes far into adulthood.
Consider these facts: At least one in seven American children have faced abuse or neglect in the past year – and this is likely an underestimate. Every day, more than 1,000 youth are treated in emergency departments for physical assault-related injuries. Evidence shows that trauma is not an isolated issue – it’s a public health crisis in the U.S.
At Acute Behavioral Health (ABH), we understand that addressing trauma is key to helping adolescents build healthier and brighter futures. The exposure to trauma and the subsequent challenges of coping can result in difficulty regulating emotions, negatively internalizing (“this is my fault”), externalizing behaviors, minimizing potential future dangers such as self-harm, substance abuse, or high-risk behaviors that could endanger their well-being. To support these needs, we are committed to the principles and approaches of the trauma-informed care (TIC) model to create a care environment that focuses on recovery and healing every patient we serve.
What is Trauma-Informed Care?
Leaders within the field have established ground-breaking approaches and philosophies defining TIC as a transformative approach that reshapes how healthcare providers interact with patients. Moving away from solely focusing on symptom or behaviors, TIC emphasizes understanding the impact of trauma on an individual’s life and how this impact may affect their everyday perception, experience, and life. It’s not about asking, “what’s wrong with you?” but rather, “what happened to you?” SAMHSA identifies six core and key principles to TIC to include: Safety, Trust and Transparency, Peer Support, Collaboration, Empowerment/Voice/Choice, and recognizing the cruciality of culture, historical trauma, and gender. This shift of focus helps to create an environment of safety, empathy and empowerment with the goal of the patient experience feeling understood and supported.
Following this model, ABH is committed to making and continuing this shift of focus throughout our services. Fundamental to TIC is patient-centered care emphasizing the unique experiences of each adolescent we serve to tailor a unique, individualized approach. Our philosophy is holistic moving beyond symptom presentation with the aim to address the overall impact of trauma. We are forming a comprehensive treatment model which will utilize evidence-based practices such as Seeking Safety and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills groups while investing in innovative technology to improve treatment efficiency.
In action, our aim as we implement TIC includes:
- Physically and psychologically safe recovery environments
- An assessment process that incorporates trauma inventories as standard
- Concurrent with treatment, objective symptom measures to gauge treatment impact and efficaciousness
- Approach that embeds the avoidance of re-enactment of trauma
- A counseling approach rooted in empathy, empowerment, and understanding
- A peer advisory council that helps inform processes across the system and promotes collaboration and trust
- Integrated care across physical and behavioral health
- Constructive education and routine
Importantly, adolescents in TIC receive the individualized care they need while maintaining an open line of communication with families to support the patient’s holistic journey.
The Impact of Trauma-Informed Care
TIC has far-reaching benefits that go beyond immediate treatment outcomes. For adolescents struggling with the aftermath and often life-altering impact of trauma, this approach offers a self-directed choice inclusive path to help reclaim their lives. Key outcomes typically include:
- Increased engagement in treatment. Adolescents are more likely to engage in their treatment when they feel understood and safe.
- Improved mental health. By addressing the root causes of trauma, TIC helps ameliorate symptoms of anxiety, depression, and behavioral issues.
- Prevention of re-traumatization. TIC focuses on minimizing the risk of additional trauma by creating a supportive, non-judgmental space where patients can explore their experiences without fear or stigma.
- Further family involvement and support. TIC extends its benefits to families and caregivers, offering education and support to help them understand their loved one’s trauma. Actively involving families in the treatment process is essential for creating a home environment that supports long-term recovery and healing.
Implementing Trauma-Informed Care
At ABH, we are committed to the integration of the TIC approach in all our programs to help support our patients, and our staff. Our emerging approach is designed to not just meet, but to exceed standards ensuring that each patient receives the most comprehensive and effective care possible. Our teams incorporate concepts such as:
- Holistic treatment plans. Every patient follows an individualized care plan that incorporates psychiatric services, individual and group therapy and family counseling. These plans are mapped to each patient’s unique goals.
- Innovative and evidence-based care. We are implementing , evidence-based treatments that apply the latest advancements in mental health care. Our investments in technology and therapeutic techniques ensure that adolescents receive high-quality care tailored to their unique needs. This includes an engagement with a platform that assesses progress across time allowing for impactful treatment interventions and change where indicated.
- Improved lengths of stay. Our short-term residential treatment model aims to provide an optimal length of stay. With early and consistent family engagement, this balance allows patients to make significant progress without feeling disconnected from their family and life.
- Continuity of education. Our program offers accredited educational programs to ensure that a young person’s schooling isn’t disrupted during treatment, ensuring that patients continue progressing academically while receiving care. With support of our clinical team, consistent care is provided across our systems. This helps ease their reintegration into school post-treatment and reduces the stress of falling behind.
Our Commitment to Trauma-Informed Care
TIC is not just an approach, it’s a commitment to understanding and supporting individuals and their experiences. For adolescents grappling with the complexities of trauma, completing a residential treatment experience that integrates TIC can be forever life changing. This goal fuels the mission of ABH: to preserve a young person’s relationship with themselves, family and community.
If you or a loved one is struggling, take the first step toward healing by reaching out to us today. We’re here to support you or a loved one on the path to recovery, every step of the way.
Gina Fusco, Psy.D., is the Corporate Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Acute Behavioral Health, a behavioral health platform for psychiatric residential treatment facilities dedicated to helping adolescents navigate their mental health journey. She has a 25-year career in behavioral healthcare with extensive executive, clinical, and operational experience.