Transforming Society: A Comprehensive Introduction to Understanding Trauma, Adversity, & Becoming a Trauma-Informed Organisation

By Little Brighouse

"Transforming Society" delves into the heart of a pervasive social issue affecting us all-trauma and adversity. In a world marked by the far-reaching consequences of these experiences, spanning generations and crossing social boundaries, the imperative to address and understand trauma has never been more pressing. Within the pages of this comprehensive introduction, a nuanced exploration unfolds, illuminating the current landscape where trauma, adversity, and their aftermath reverberate through societies. While research, best practices, and educational initiatives are gaining momentum, a disconcerting lack of cohesion has emerged, resulting in isolated pockets of trauma-informed knowledge and care. These well-intentioned efforts, however, often clash, yielding a counterproductive impact that hinders progress in addressing the underlying issues.
"Transforming Society" rises to the occasion as a synthesis of concepts, strength-based approaches, frameworks, and evidence-based research surrounding trauma and adversity. It stands not as a scholarly tome relegated to experts but as a guiding light for individuals at any level of familiarity with the subject. The book's core mission is to initiate every reader into the journey of becoming trauma-informed, laying the foundation for a broader societal transformation. Readers are invited to traverse a landscape rich with insights, anecdotes, and practical strategies. The book dismantles the complexities surrounding trauma, offering a clear pathway to understanding its multifaceted nature. From the conceptual frameworks shaping our perception of trauma to evidence-based practices guiding effective intervention, "Transforming Society" bridges the gap between theory and real-world application.
What sets this book apart is its universal appeal. It reaches beyond academic circles and engages individuals from all walks of life. Whether one is a healthcare professional seeking to enhance patient care, an educator aiming to create trauma-informed classrooms, or an individual striving for personal growth, the book provides tools and perspectives to catalyze transformative change. The narrative unfolds with a compelling argument: the issue of trauma is not isolated but intricately woven into the fabric of our shared existence. Through this lens, "Transforming Society" demonstrates why readers should care about the profound societal implications of trauma, inviting them to recognize their stake in a collective journey towards healing and resilience.
Put simply, "Transforming Society" is not just a book; it is a blueprint for societal change. Its interdisciplinary approach, practical insights, and commitment to accessibility make it a beacon for those seeking to navigate the intricate terrain of trauma and adversity. As readers embark on this enlightening journey, they discover a newfound understanding of trauma's impact, and, more importantly, the power each individual holds to contribute to a more compassionate and informed society. The transformative power of this book lies not only in its introduction of trauma's far-reaching implications, but also in its call to action, inviting you to embark on a mission of personal growth, collective healing, compassion, and societal rejuvenation.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Grosvenor House Publishing
• Release date: Feb 22, 2024
• ISBN: 9781803818313

Little Brighouse

Little Brighouse, a dedicated advocate in trauma research and care, embarked on a transformative journey from survivor to a leading voice shaping stories of resilience, healing, and empowerment. Founding an online survivor community while pursuing a psychology degree, they seamlessly blend personal experiences with academic rigor. This convergence of lived experiences and scholarly pursuits, coupled with their resilience in managing a dissociative disorder, has fortified their extensive understanding of trauma and positioned them as a thought leader in trauma-informed advocacy. Currently pursuing an MSc in Neuroscience and Psychology of Mental Health, Brighouse brings a unique blend of personal insights and specialized knowledge, offering a nuanced perspective on trauma. Actively contributing to the Traumatic Stress Wales initiative, they serve on the local steering group for their region and co-chair a subgroup committee of experts-by-experience. Working as an elected official in the Local Authority, Brighouse intertwines their experience in policymaking and governance with trauma awareness and academic expertise, adding a crucial real-world dimension to their work. Their multidisciplinary approach spans community building to canons of scientific and psychology knowledge, reflecting a commitment to holistic well-being. Focused on evidence-based insights, they envision a compassionate society through trauma-informed practices. Beyond their upcoming book, Brighouse's ongoing advocacy aims to meaningfully contribute to societal transformation, rooted in empathy, resilience, and a profound understanding of the human experience.

Book preview

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Dedicated to the lives that we have lost along the way, and to the survivors whose voices were silenced by the world.

Also to

Ade, Amanda, Kya, Pete, Tania for their constant patience, encouragement and guidance.

CONTENTS

Dedication

Acronyms

Terminology

Preface

Introduction

Background

Trauma and Adversity

How Do We Define Trauma and Adversity?

How Does Trauma and Adversity Impact Our Lives?

In the Home

In the Workplace

In the Community

In the Global Context

What Is ’Re-traumatisation’?

Trauma-informed Care & Practice

Trauma-informed Care

Trauma-informed Practice

Guiding Principles of TIP & TIC

Safety

Trustworthiness

Choice

Collaboration

Empowerment

Culture

The Four Rs

The Impact of Trauma-informed Care and Practice

In the Home

In the Workplace

In the Community

In the Global Context

The Welsh Trauma Framework

Trauma-informed Organisations

Cost of Becoming Trauma-informed?

Trauma-informed Organisational Models

Approach

Key Development Areas

Domains of Organisational Change

Governance and Leadership

Stage of Implementation

Taking the Next Step

Additional Resources

Books to Discover

Current Reports

References

Copyright

ACRONYMS

ACE – ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EVENTS

CPTSD – COMPLEX POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

PTSD – POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

SAMHSA – SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

TIC – TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE

TIP – TRAUMA-INFORMED PRACTICE

TSW – TRAUMATIC STRESS WALES

TERMINOLOGY

ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES (ACE) STUDY A ground-breaking research study conducted by Dr Vincent Felitti, Dr Rob Anda and colleagues that showed the high prevalence of adversity in childhood (ACEs), and a relationship between ACEs and negative health outcomes through the lifespan.

ADVERSITY A difficult or unpleasant situation, set of circumstances or experiences.

BURNOUT A gradual process of a staff members experiencing feelings of hopelessness, fatigue and being overwhelmed because of a lack of support, excessive workloads and unrealistic expectations.

CHAMPION An individual or individuals who are trained specifically to take on roles such as educator, trainer, mentor, coach and/or advocate for a trauma-informed approach to ensure overall sustainability.

CHRONIC STRESS A sustained and consistent feeling of being pressured and overwhelmed. This occurs over a long period of time as opposed to acute stress, which is a physiological and psychological reaction to a specific event.

COGNITIVE APPRAISAL A thought process that interprets and evaluates new experiences, situations, potential threats and emotional responses to stimuli in the environment.

COMPASSION FATIGUE (CF) A combination of secondary traumatic stress, vicarious trauma and/or burnout that manifests in a worker.

COMPLEX POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (CPTSD) A condition that can arise following exposure to a major traumatic event, commonly after prolonged exposure or exposure to multiple events. In addition to the symptoms of PTSD, people with CPTSD experience difficulties controlling their emotions, feel negatively about themselves and have difficulties in relationships with other people.

DOMAINS OF CONSIDERATION Domains of organisational change that the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) cross-walked with trauma-specific content and the values and principles of trauma-informed care. These domains provide a framework for organisational change structures within each of this manual’s key development areas.

GUIDING VALUES AND PRINCIPLES A framework and a lens proposed by Dr Roger Fallot and Dr Maxine Harris for individuals, organisations and systems to consider their day-to-day activities in a way that prevents re-traumatisation. Includes safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration and empowerment.

KEY DEVELOPMENT AREAS Ten specific aspects of organisational functioning that need to be addressed through a trauma-informed lens to best create overall trauma-informed organisational change: a key component of the trauma-informed organisational model.

PERSON-CENTRED APPROACH Where the individual is placed at the centre of the service and treated as a person first. The approach takes a co-productive, collaborative, cross-sector approach to identifying, understanding and supporting the person’s needs and promotes psychological and physical safety by promoting choice, collaboration, transparency and autonomy.

POST-TRAUMATIC GROWTH (PTG) The process of making meaning out of one’s experience of trauma and experiencing a positive change as a result.

RECOVERY The journey to being able to live in the present without being overwhelmed by traumatic events in the past. Recovery does not necessarily mean the complete freedom from the effects of trauma or adversity.

RESILIENCE The process of adapting to trauma and adversity; the ability to bounce back or return to the level of functioning before the trauma or adversity occurred.

RE-TRAUMATISATION When a policy, procedure, interaction or the physical environment stimulates someone’s original trauma literally or symbolically triggering the emotions and thoughts associated with the original experience.

SANCTUARY MODEL An evidence-based approach for changing organisational culture to be more trauma- informed and responsive that was created by Dr Sandra Bloom and her colleagues.

SECONDARY TRAUMATIC STRESS (STS) The onset of trauma-related symptoms in a worker because of witnessing the trauma or adversity of another.

SOCIAL DETERMINANTS The broad social and economic circumstances that together influence health throughout a person’s life course.

STAGES The first component of the trauma-informed organisational model that defines the things to consider, needs and resources for trauma-informed organisational change. Includes Pre-Implementation, Implementation and Sustainability.

STRENGTHS-BASED A focus on the positive attributes of a person or a group