Safety First: Why Trauma-Informed Care Matters for People with Psychosocial Disabilities

When supporting people living with psychosocial disabilities, trauma-informed care (TIC) isn’t just helpful—it’s essential. Many people with conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, and borderline personality disorder (BPD) have a history of trauma that deeply affects how they interact with others, experience the world, and respond to support services.  

Trauma-informed care (TIC) shifts our focus from asking, “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?” It’s a compassionate, respectful way to acknowledge each person’s experiences, recognise the potential impact of trauma on their mental health, and provide safe and supportive care.

In this guide, we’ll explore the fundamentals of trauma-informed care, understand how trauma shapes the experiences of people with common psychosocial disabilities, and discover how adopting a trauma-informed approach can improve care outcomes for people receiving support through the NDIS.

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What is Trauma-Informed Care?

At its heart, trauma-informed care is an approach that recognises and responds to trauma's profound impact on mental health and behaviour.  

Instead of viewing someone’s symptoms or responses solely as part of their condition, trauma-informed care considers these behaviours in the context of past experiences and current coping mechanisms. The approach centres on trauma-informed care’s six core principles:

1. Safety: Creating a physically and emotionally safe environment.

2. Trustworthiness: Building trust through consistency, honesty, and transparency.

3. Choice: Offering people choices and control over their care.

4. Collaboration: Working together with people, respecting their voice and active participation.

5. Empowerment: Supporting people to recognise and build on their strengths.

6. Diversity: Recognising and respecting each person’s unique cultural, historical, and social identity.

This framework encourages caregivers, support workers, and NDIS service providers to deliver care with an understanding of trauma’s impact and the diversity of experiences different people bring with them.  

When used effectively, trauma-informed care makes a significant difference for people living with psychosocial disabilities. By reducing feelings of judgment and promoting security, trauma-informed care creates a welcoming space that respects each person’s autonomy and personal history. This creates the perfect conditions in which to build long-term resilience.  

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Understanding Psychosocial Disabilities and the Role of Trauma

Psychosocial disabilities encompass a wide range of conditions that affect a person’s ability to connect socially, manage emotions, and carry out daily tasks.  

Conditions like PTSD, schizophrenia, and BPD often develop in response to trauma, which means trauma-informed care can have a profound effect on a person’s treatment and overall well-being.  

Let’s examine these three common psychosocial disabilities and explore how trauma-informed care can support those who live with them.

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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Pot-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition that develops after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Those with PTSD may experience flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, and severe anxiety triggered by reminders of the trauma.  

Living with PTSD can feel like living with the trauma over and over again, which can make daily interactions difficult and unpredictable.

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How Trauma-Informed Care Helps

With PTSD, trauma-informed care acknowledges the root causes of the condition and tailors support in ways that reduce the risk of retraumatisation.  

Creating a safe, predictable environment is essential for people with PTSD. Trauma-informed care encourages caregivers and support workers to build a foundation of trust and transparency by clearly explaining routines and giving the person as much control as possible.  

By minimising triggers and offering reliable support, trauma-informed care can help build resilience and increase engagement in NDIS services. For example, an NDIS support worker using trauma-informed care may avoid sudden changes to the schedule, which could feel unsafe for someone with PTSD. Instead, the support worker would keep the person informed and involved in each step of their care plan, reducing anxiety and reinforcing their safety.

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Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a complex psychosocial disability that can involve hallucinations, delusions, disorganised thinking, and emotional blunting. Symptoms of schizophrenia can make it challenging to maintain trust and communication, and past trauma can intensify these symptoms, making the delivery of support even more complex.

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How Trauma-Informed Care Helps

For people with schizophrenia, trauma-informed care works to prevent retraumatisation and minimise stressors that may exacerbate symptoms. Building a strong, trusting relationship with caregivers is essential, as paranoia and distrust can often be prominent. Trauma-informed care focuses on creating predictability, which can improve emotional stability and help people feel grounded.

An NDIS service provider practicing trauma-informed care might be patient and respectful when engaging with someone with schizophrenia, avoiding forceful interventions or rigid expectations.  

By promoting a calm, collaborative environment, trauma-informed care helps build a sense of security and empowerment, helping people manage their symptoms with greater confidence.

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Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is often linked to early trauma and is characterised by intense emotions, fear of abandonment, and difficulty maintaining stable relationships.  

People with BPD may experience extreme emotional swings, impulsive behaviours, and episodes of anger or sadness. Trauma-informed care is particularly beneficial for BPD, as many with this condition have been traumatised by relationships or distressing life events in the past.

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How Trauma-Informed Care Helps

In trauma-informed care, caregivers understand that maintaining consistent boundaries, respect, and trust is crucial for people living with BPD.  

Trauma-informed support workers may use active listening techniques, validate emotions, and work to understand everyone's unique triggers. This approach helps avoid misunderstandings and reassures people that their feelings are heard and valued.

For example, if a person with BPD expresses fears of abandonment, a trauma-informed support will offer supportive communication and aim to build trust in the service, reducing anxiety and building a foundation of security.  

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The Impact of Trauma-Informed Care in Mental Health and Disability Support

Trauma-informed care is transformative for people with psychosocial disabilities, promoting recovery, resilience, and quality of life. By reducing judgement, respecting personal history, and building a sense of empowerment, trauma-informed practices support people in achieving their full potential.

In the NDIS framework specifically, trauma-informed care reduces barriers to treatment, increases engagement with services, and improves trust between clients and caregivers. When care is non-judgmental, safe, and collaborative, it becomes easier for people with psychosocial disabilities to feel understood, respected, and motivated to work towards their personal goals.

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United for Care - Specialists in Trauma-Informed Practices

At United for Care, we believe trauma-informed care is more than a set of principles; it’s a life-changing approach to disability support that provides the compassion, understanding and respect people need to heal and grow.  

Our highly trained team specialises in supporting people with complex care needs and uses a trauma-informed approach to help them develop the stability and resilience needed to live full and rewarding lives.  

To learn more about how our services make a meaningful difference for people with psychosocial disabilities, and how we can better support the people you work with, contact a member of our team today:

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