Trauma-Informed Practice
Trauma-informed practice recognises the profound and wide-reaching impact of trauma on individuals’ lives – physically, emotionally, psychologically, spiritually and relationally. It emphasises creating safe, empowering environments while actively working to avoid retraumatisation.
What Is Trauma?
Trauma is not defined solely by an event or series of events, instead by how experiences overwhelm an individual’s capacity to cope – particularly when support, choice, or safety were lacking. Trauma can result from a single overwhelming incident or from repeated adverse experiences, when there was too much (e.g. chaos or threat) or too little (e.g. care or connection). Examples include:
- Abuse or neglect
- Violence or accidents
- Loss and grief
- Developmental or relational disruptions, including insecure attachment
- Emotional neglect or the absence of needed care (also known as relational or developmental trauma)
- Oppression, discrimination, or systemic harm
- Persistent bullying
Trauma can be where someone has been unwitnessed, unsupported, powerless, and without choice. Some may not identify their experience as trauma but rather as chronic stress, which overlaps significantly with trauma.
Physiologically, trauma activates the body’s survival response—fight, flight, freeze, fawn, and flop (shutdown). These responses are intelligent and adaptive in the moment, designed to protect us. However, when the nervous system remains stuck in survival mode long after the threat has passed, it can lead to chronic nervous system dysregulation which negatively impacts our health and wellbeing and ability to thrive.
Learn more about Nervous System Regulation via the link below:
Effects of Trauma on the Brain and Body
Trauma has many impacts, including affecting the brain’s structure and function. Research shows:
- Amygdala activity often increases, leading to heightened threat perception and emotional reactivity
- Hippocampus volume may reduce, affecting memory and contextual awareness
- Prefrontal cortex functioning can be disrupted, impacting decision-making, impulse control, and self-regulation.
Trauma also impacts physical health and can be associated with chronic health conditions such as persistent pain (also known as chronic pain), ME/CFS, Long Covid, and PoTS. It often disconnects people from their bodies, emotions, and relationships, and leaves a legacy of shame, fear, and disempowerment. It’s important to recognise that physical and mental health are deeply interconnected – they cannot truly be separated.
The 6 Key Principles of Trauma-Informed Practice
A trauma-informed approach integrates the following key principles into every interaction, system, and environment:
- Safety – prioritising physical, emotional, and relational safety
- Trustworthiness and Transparency – clear boundaries, honesty, and consistency
- Choice– empowering individuals with autonomy and options
- Collaboration – building healing relationships through partnership
- Empowerment – focusing on strengths, skills, and resilience
- Cultural, Historical and Gender Awareness – Recognising systemic influences and ensuring sensitivity for lived experience.
You can read more about the 6 key principles here:
Trauma-Informed Versus Trauma-Sensitive
- Trauma-sensitive approaches demonstrate awareness of trauma and aim to avoid harm but may not be fully integrated into individual services or across a whole organisation or system
- Trauma-informed practice is comprehensive, embedding trauma understanding across policies, practices, and relationships, offering deeper, tailored support.
The 4 R’s & Trauma Informed Practice
The 4 R’s were first outlined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and form a foundational framework for trauma-informed care. I was introduced to them through trauma training and trauma-sensitive mindfulness approaches, where they are applied in practical, supportive and relational ways.
The 4 R’s:
- Realising the widespread impact of trauma
- Recognising the signs and symptoms of trauma
- Responding with informed, supportive practices
- Resisting (or avoiding) Retraumatisation.
In practice, this means:
- Acknowledging that trauma is likely present in many settings
- Recognising survival behaviours as intelligent adaptations, not dysfunctions
- Understanding trauma’s varied manifestations
- Responding with compassion, curiosity, and flexibility
- Adapting practices to support nervous system regulation and individual needs
- Using tools such as the Window of Tolerance to help individuals increase awareness & self-regulate
- Being aware of the potential for retraumatisation and taking steps to prevent it.
Ann’s Approach
Ann weaves trauma-informed principles into every aspect of her individual and group work. Her style is compassionate, inclusive, and rooted in deep respect for each person’s unique experience. She recognises that healing unfolds within safe, supportive relationships, and brings a steady, attuned compassionate presence to help nurture a sense of safety. Through co-regulation, gentle empowerment, and a strong emphasis on choice, Ann supports clients in reconnecting with their bodies, cultivating self-compassion, and gradually rebuilding inner trust and a sense of safety.
Ann does not engage in trauma processing (which is the domain of psychological therapy), but she works alongside therapists when appropriate to support clients in building the resources that support healing.
Her work primarily focuses on:
- Cultivating safety and self-awareness
- Developing a personal toolkit of practices for regulation & building capacity
- Supporting embodiment, presence, and agency
- Encouraging self-compassion & inner-trust
- Befriending the body
- Recognising and building on existing strengths
A Strengths-Based Philosophy:
Ann’s approach is also informed by positive psychology and is strengths-based. This means attending to distress while also helping clients connect with what is working, what is possible, and who they are beyond their symptoms and trauma. By highlighting resilience and innate capacity, Ann supports clients in reconnecting with wholeness and potential for growth.
Next Steps
If this information resonates with you, know that you’re not alone — many others feel this too, and meaningful changes are possible. Whether you’re looking to understand your nervous system, build a sense of safety, or explore somatic and embodied practices that honour where you are, your pace and needs, I’m here to walk alongside you.
You can book a free 15 minute call to see if working together feels like a good fit, there is no pressure to book an appointment after this. Email Ann info@untiyphysio.co.uk, or call 07871240188, or send a contact form from the contact us page by clicking book now in the blue box below.
The appointments page is linked below along with the Nervous System Regulation page if you would link to learn more:
Location
You can arrange a virtual appointment for anywhere in the UK or an in person appointment in North Hykeham, Lincoln.
Get in touch
If you would like to find out how Ann can help manage and change fatigue, do what you love, live well and thrive again get in touch to book your appointment, or a free 15 minute call to help you decide if working with Ann is right for you.