What is trauma-informed therapy?

Many people live with the ongoing effects of difficult or distressing experiences. For some, these experiences were sudden and overwhelming, while for others, they occurred repeatedly over many years. 

Trauma-informed therapy recognises how these experiences may have shaped your emotional, physical and psychological wellbeing, and offers a structured and compassionate approach to healing.

How past trauma shapes present experiences

Many people come to trauma-informed therapy with experiences that have shaped the way they cope, connect and navigate daily life. 

Let’s imagine 3 patients: 

• Jenna grew up with emotionally unstable parents. Small things could quickly escalate, leading to shouting and verbal abuse. She often felt scared and confused and learnt to mistrust affection as she never knew when the mood would change. As an adult, Jenna finds conflict overwhelming and often agrees to things she doesn’t really want simply to avoid tension. 
• Michael experienced a serious car accident a few years ago. Since then, he feels constantly on edge and finds himself avoiding busy roads or situations where he feels out of control. This is limiting his social and professional opportunities.
• Samira spent her 10 years in a war zone before coming to Australia as a refugee. Although she is now physically safe, she’s struggled with poor sleep, anxiety and depression and her body often reacts as if danger is still present.  

Although their stories differ, Jenna, Michael and Samira are responding to trauma in understandable ways. Trauma-informed therapy helps them recognise these patterns, feel safer exploring their experiences, and learn new, more supportive ways of coping.

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Understanding trauma-informed therapy

Trauma-informed therapy is an approach that acknowledges the widespread impact of trauma and prioritises safety, trust and empowerment in every interaction. Instead of focusing only on symptoms, it considers you as a whole person - your history, environment, relationships and coping strategies. 

In essence, trauma-informed therapy asks not “What is wrong with you?” but “What has happened to you?” From there, your therapist might help you explore how those experiences shaped you, what you had to do to keep yourself safe, and how those behaviours are affecting you now. 

This shift in perspective helps create a therapeutic environment where you feel respected, heard and supported at a pace that feels manageable.

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How trauma-informed therapy differs from other forms of therapy

Trauma-informed therapy is not a specific modality. Rather, it is a framework that can be integrated into various therapeutic approaches. Its differences include:

A focus on safety

Emotional and physical safety are central. A trauma-informed therapist works with you to create boundaries, routines and practices that help you feel secure during sessions.

A collaborative approach

Instead of directing treatment, a trauma-informed therapist partner with you. Choice, consent and transparency are built into every stage of the process.

Awareness of trauma’s impact

Trauma can affect sleep, mood, memory, behaviour, relationships and physical health. Trauma-informed therapy recognises this wide-ranging influence and adapts the therapeutic process to avoid re-traumatisation.

Respect for coping strategies

With trauma-informed therapy, behaviours often seen as ‘resistant’ or ‘avoidant’ are instead understood as adaptive responses that helped you survive. They were coping mechanisms that helped you through extremely difficult experiences. Trauma-informed therapy treats these behaviours with compassion, not judgement, then helps you develop healthier ways forward.

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Trauma-informed therapy techniques

Because trauma-informed therapy is a framework, not a single method, several evidence-based techniques may be used.

‍Strength-based approaches

Trauma-informed therapists help you recognise your resilience, coping skills and personal strengths as part of the recovery process. 

Trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy

This approach helps individuals identify and reframe unhelpful thinking patterns, develop emotional regulation skills and gradually process traumatic memories in a structured, supportive way.

Somatic and body-based techniques

Trauma is stored not only in thoughts but in the body – that’s where somatic (body) therapy comes in. Techniques may include grounding, breathwork, gentle movement, body awareness or sensory strategies that reduce physiological stress responses.

Stabilisation and skills-building

Before exploring past experiences, individuals learn techniques such as:

• grounding to manage flashbacks or overwhelm
• relaxation and pacing strategies
• emotion regulation and distress-tolerance skills
• developing routines that support predictability and safety.
  

Narrative and meaning-making work

For some, therapy involves slowly and safely examining the story of what happened and how it has shaped their beliefs about themselves and the world.

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Who may benefit from trauma-informed therapy?

Trauma-informed therapy can support people who have experienced a single traumatic event or ongoing exposure to distressing or unsafe environments. 

Childhood experiences

If you grew up in a home with chronic conflict, emotional neglect or inconsistent caregiving, you may struggle with trust, self-worth or boundaries as an adult. Trauma-informed therapy helps you explore these patterns with compassion and stability.

Interpersonal trauma

If you’ve experienced an abusive relationship, you may avoid conflict, over-adapt to others’ needs, or experience physiological symptoms when interacting with authority figures. Trauma-informed therapy offers a safe space to understand and re-shape these responses.

Sudden or unexpected events

If you survived an accident, medical emergency or natural disaster, you may continue to feel on edge, disconnected or hypervigilant. Trauma-informed techniques help to provide grounding, regulation and a structured path towards recovery.

Health-related or chronic stress

If you’re living with long-term illness, have frequent, invasive medical procedures or other ongoing stressors, you may find that trauma-informed therapy helps you understand the emotional load these experiences have created.

Intergenerational experiences

For some people, trauma is not from a single moment but a legacy passed through family systems across generations. Trauma-informed therapy provides a way to explore these inherited patterns without blame.

Cultural and collective trauma

Some people carry trauma linked to events that affected their community or ancestors. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, this can include the enduring impact of colonisation, removal from Country and cultural disruption. Others may be shaped by war, displacement or persecution in their country of origin. 

Trauma-informed therapy acknowledges these histories with sensitivity and helps you explore how they influence your wellbeing today.

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Why trauma-informed therapy matters

Trauma is a bit like an octopus whose tentacles reach into every area of your life, affecting your relationships, mood, decision-making, physical health and sense of safety. 

Trauma-informed therapy acknowledges these realities and guides you through a tailored, gentle and structured healing process. By focusing on safety, empowerment and collaboration, this approach helps you understand your experiences, build meaningful coping strategies and move forward at a pace that honours your needs.

If you would like help exploring whether trauma-informed therapy is suitable for your situation, please contact us today.

📅 Schedule a consultation: www.botaniqal.com.au/enquiry

Disclaimer

All information is general and not intended as a substitute for professional advice.  

References

• Blue Knot, Trauma-informed services, https://professionals.blueknot.org.au/resources/trauma-informed-services/, [Accessed 24 November 2025]
• Harvard Health, What is somatic therapy? https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/what-is-somatic-therapy-202307072951, [Accessed 24 November 2025]