Trauma-Informed: More Than Just a Buzzword

“Trauma-informed” has become one of those phrases you hear everywhere. Wellness practitioners, coaches, even whole organisations are using it to describe themselves. And on the face of it, that’s brilliant – it shows we’re finally talking openly about how past experiences shape the way people show up in the world.

But here’s the thing: words matter. And when it comes to trauma, they really matter.

What Trauma-Informed Actually Means

In simple terms, being trauma-informed means recognising that trauma can change how people think, feel, and respond – not just in their minds, but in their bodies and relationships too. A trauma-informed approach is built on six key principles:

• Safety – people feel physically and emotionally safe.

• Trust – boundaries are clear, reliable, and consistent.

• Choice – individuals get to decide what feels right for them.

• Collaboration – working with someone, not doing things to them.

• Empowerment – focusing on strengths, not just struggles.

• Cultural awareness – respecting identity and lived experience.

That’s the theory. But in practice, it takes training, reflection, and a lot of self-awareness. It’s not just a box you tick.

The Risk of Over-Promising

Here in the UK, “trauma-informed” is not a legally protected term. That means anyone can say it – whether they’ve done three years of specialist training, or they’ve just read an Instagram post.

This is where we need to be careful. If you tell someone you are “trauma-informed” but you haven’t really built that understanding into your work, you could do more harm than good. At best, you’re giving people false reassurance. At worst, you risk re-traumatising someone who came to you for safety.

What You Can (and Can’t) Say

Legally, you can describe yourself as trauma-informed if you genuinely embed those principles in your practice. But what you cannot do is make claims that amount to offering regulated mental health treatment unless you’re qualified and accredited to do so.

That means:

• Don’t say you “heal trauma” unless you’re clinically trained to make that claim.

• Don’t blur the line between support and therapy. Be clear on what you offer.

• Do be upfront about your training and accreditation (if you have it). Transparency builds trust.

Walking the Talk

I’m not saying we shouldn’t aim to be trauma-informed. We absolutely should. In fact, every practitioner working with people would benefit from learning more about trauma. But let’s not turn it into a badge for marketing.

Instead, let’s treat “trauma-informed” as a responsibility. It’s a commitment to:

• keep learning,

• create safe spaces,

• and stay humble about what we can and can’t do.

That way, when we say it, the words actually mean something.