What Does It Really Mean to Be Trauma-Informed?

“Trauma-informed” has become a popular phrase in recent years. We see it in education, therapy, coaching, workplaces, and even yoga classes. But behind the trend, the concept often gets diluted. Being trauma-informed isn’t just about using softer language or adding a disclaimer that something might be triggering. It’s about understanding how trauma shapes the human experience, and how safety and connection support healing.

To be trauma-informed means recognising that many behaviours, reactions, and emotional patterns are not “problems to fix” but adaptive responses to past experiences of overwhelm or threat. It also requires an understanding of the nervous system: how it organises our survival responses, and how dysregulation shows up in the body and in relationships.

Someone who is trauma-informed should be able to hold space for you with presence, compassion, and curiosity. They can hear your story and your feelings without judgment, and without trying to fix, rush, or diminish what you’re experiencing. Their presence helps your system feel heard, seen, and safe enough to settle.

Today, someone can complete a ten-hour online course and call themselves trauma-informed. That’s why it’s important to approach this term with care. The intention behind the training matters, as does the depth of integration and ongoing self-reflection.

Being trauma-informed isn’t limited to therapists. A teacher can be trauma-informed. A lawyer can be trauma-informed. A physiotherapist, a coach, a manager, anyone who interacts with others can benefit from understanding trauma and the nervous system. In an ideal world, anyone working in service of others would have this foundation.

Trauma-Informed vs. Trauma-Formed

While “trauma-informed” means having foundational knowledge about trauma and its impact on the nervous system, “trauma-formed” or “trauma-trained” refers to a deeper level of professional integration. A trauma-formed practitioner, such as a therapist, bodyworker, or health professional, has completed extensive training in the trauma field, often over several years, and applies this understanding through an established therapeutic or clinical framework.

Being trauma-formed involves both theoretical depth and embodied practice. It includes ongoing supervision, self-awareness, and the capacity to safely guide others through processes where trauma material may surface. In short, a trauma-informed person understands trauma; a trauma-formed practitioner works with it directly.

Choosing a Trauma-Informed Practitioner

As the language of trauma becomes more mainstream, it’s also important to know how to discern who you’re learning or healing with. The field is largely unregulated, and many use the term “trauma-informed” without a deep understanding of trauma and the nervous system.

Ask potential practitioners what trainings or frameworks they’ve completed, how they integrate that knowledge into their work, and what kind of supervision or ongoing education they receive. Don’t be afraid to be curious, and as I often say, it’s okay to be a little “annoying” with the person you want to work with. A trustworthy practitioner will welcome your questions and be transparent about their background and scope of practice.

Working with someone trauma-informed should feel both safe and empowering from the very first conversation.