Learn the value of physical, emotional, and interpersonal safety as part of the healing process.
Trauma affects the entire person. Those who have experienced trauma often display physical and emotional distress, which can result in interpersonal struggles and a lack of trust with others. To create space for healing and recovery, it’s essential to consider an individual’s full trauma history and how past events impact their present-day perceptions and experiences.
Because of this, a safe environment is foundational to shifting one’s perspectives and attention toward healing. Although the trauma-causing event may be in the past, its effects often create a need and a focus of energy to achieve a sense of safety in the present. The healing process may require distancing oneself from threats and creating a safe space to focus on their recovery.
In alignment with SAMHSA’s trauma-informed care model, safety is a key principle of delivering trauma-informed care at Oakwood Treatment Center and foundational to creating a safe and healing environment. Building on a strong base of safety, other pillars include trustworthiness and transparency, peer support, collaboration and mutuality, empowerment, and cultural, historical, and gender responsiveness. In this blog series, we will cover each of these principles in-depth. All are important, with safety as a priority to promote and support the healing journey.
Let’s explore what safety means in the context of Trauma-Informed Care and how to identify a residential behavioral health facility that prioritizes safety as part of their trauma-informed treatment process.
Safety in Trauma-Informed Care, Defined
In behavioral health, safety is defined as protecting an individual’s physical, psychological, and emotional well-being throughout all phases of treatment.
According to SAMHSA’s nationally recognized approach, it is imperative that the treatment process itself does not become re-traumatizing. This is a foundational aspect of trauma-informed care – ensuring that those seeking support and treatment are not exposed to situations and experiences that can become traumatic. For example, reenacting trauma with restrictive interventions (e.g., seclusion, restraints), verbal aggressiveness, or minimizing one’s experiences can re-traumatize individuals — and may limit or compromise the progress that is made in treatment.
However, by prioritizing safety and embedding trauma-informed care principles into all policies, procedures, and practices, behavioral health providers can help create a recovery-focused environment where an individual feels comfortable participating in their care. They can confidently share and explore their experiences in a supportive environment without re-traumatization.
How Safety Plays a Role in Trauma-Informed Care
Safety refers to experiencing an absence of immediate harm or danger. For those who have experienced trauma, danger or harm can take many forms including physical, psychological and emotional aspects
In a trauma-informed setting, the physical surroundings should create a safe and welcoming environment that includes protections such as privacy, cleanliness, and security from harm. Further, staff should recognize the signs and symptoms of trauma and respond with effective and therapeutic procedures and practices that promote healing. Finally, treatment programming and protocols that emphasize safety related to self- and other-harm further create a caring and responsive culture within the overall treatment process. Treatment programming which helps to inform safety includes providing specific valid psychometric assessments of trauma and self-harm to every resident; utilizing evidenced-based group modalities that focus on building resident skills and help establish the experience of safety; and tracking treatment progress and outcomes.
Identifying Safety Measures in a Behavioral Health Facility
When considering a residential behavioral health program, keep in mind that a trauma-informed approach can help create the experience of safety. As you and/or a loved one tour a facility, explore the practices and procedures where safety plays a key role.
Ask: To what extent do the program’s activities and settings ensure the physical, personal, and psychological safety of residents and staff members? Some of the questions below may seem basic, but they add to the overall feeling and experience of being safe:
Physical Aspects
- Is the infrastructure (e.g., sidewalks, hallways, bathrooms, green spaces) free and clear of physical hazards? Are the areas neat and tidy?
- Is the walk to and from any buildings a safe walk?
- Are outdoor areas, such as parking lots and greenspaces, well lit?
- Is there sufficient indoor lighting and temperature controls?
- Are exits clearly marked and accessible?
- Are doors locked or unlocked? How do guests and residents access various spaces?
- Have past events occurred that impacted residents’ physical safety?
- Is there a process where visitors have to sign in or register to gain entry?
Personal Safety
- Are there cameras monitoring exits and common areas? Are residents made aware of these cameras?
- How are visitors monitored while in the building?
- How and when are residents accessible to connect with each other?
- Are staff checking in on the residents? How and when is this done?
- Are there additional levels of support that can be provided if the resident is struggling?
- Will the treatment team contact family in the event the resident is struggling?
- Are residents provided with appropriate monitoring with visitors?
- Do staff offices have support in urgent or emergent situations, that may include panic buttons, phones, and emergency systems?
- Are there lockers available to visitors to store items such as cell phones before visitation?
- Are there clear descriptions of the program?
- Are items that are allowed, or not allowed, within the program detailed in a resident and family handbook?
- Are there appropriate staff available for medical needs, including nursing?
- Are there detailed processes explained to family members for how they can contact their loved ones?
- Is there a privacy officer available for questions related to releases of information?
- Is there an ability for a resident to file a grievance or concern easily?
Psychological and Emotional Safety
- Are staff attuned to signs of distress and able to respond with compassion and verbal de-escalation techniques?
- Have staff been trained in providing trauma-informed care within the setting?
- Have staff been trained in how to be supportive and therapeutic versus portraying an overly disciplinarian approach?
- Are staff respectful and inclusive with all individuals and their families? When touring be sure to observe interactions between the staff and residents, and between staff.
- Are there designated quiet spaces for use by residents and staff?
- What is the intake process like? Is it welcoming, respectful, and informational?
- What support is offered to new residents?
- Do staff conduct a thorough assessment of outings, passes, etc., to ensure residents will return to a safe environment?
- Is there a formal program that emphasizes safety throughout the treatment including individual, group, and family therapies?
All of these safety considerations also apply to staff members. When staff feel secure and supported, they can be more supportive and impactful in their day-to-day work with residents.
Fostering a Culture of Safety at Oakwood Treatment Center
Building a culture of safety requires an intentional, proactive and ongoing approach that is woven into the fabric of the care team. The team is trained to understand how perceptions of physical, psychological, and emotional safety impact outcomes to enable the delivery of effective resident-centered care that fosters resilience and healing for those entrusted in our care.
At Oakwood Treatment Center, we are committed to creating a culture of safety for every adolescent in our short-term residential treatment programs. With a trauma-informed care approach and a dedication to continuous improvement, we create the safety and tools our residents need to heal, recover, and thrive.
If you or your teen is struggling, take the first step toward healing by reaching out to us today. We’re here to support your entire path to recovery.