When I first began my career working in various forensic settings, particularly with people with offenses, trauma informed care wasn’t at the forefront of everyone’s mind. I could see there was trauma in those who I counseled, yet I still followed the same procedures and protocols to fit everyone. I first began to hear inklings of trauma informed care practices when working with child survivors of physical and sexual abuse that were meeting the criminal justice system for the first time. This can be scary and overwhelming for anyone, and more particularly BIPOC individuals, who already face discrimination and prejudice in this system. Still novice to the work, there always felt to be some level of secrecy; that I could only share so much about what was happening to the family that was so directly impacted by violence.
When being able to engage in training around trauma informed care, the biggest take away were the words predictability and transparency. Transparency and predictability became my new love language. Transparency and predictability have been interwoven into the work with my clients, the colleagues that I supervise, and even the students that I teach. In my work today as the Clinical Coordinator of Victims Assistance Services, I ensure these principles at all levels, and continue to strive towards open and clear communication. This may be something as seemingly small as explaining to client’s what our parking lot looks like and what to expect when they first open the door to our facility. For many folks, entering a new place can be overwhelming and anxiety provoking and I like to ensure easy transitions, and I encourage my staff to do the same with their clients as well.
So how is predictability and transparency, “trauma informed”?
Trauma causes a disruption in one’s system, which can lead to loss of connection with sense of self, community, spirituality and more. When a person has experienced a traumatic event, whether acutely, or chronically, they can have a sense of loss of control. Being a provider who is open, can help mitigate the adverse effects that one might feel when being unsure about a situation or person.
Predictability and transparency are also fundamental principles of creating a psychologically safe work environment. Per the APA (2023), creating a psychologically safe work environment includes having well thought out policies that are shared and collaborated with staff, and encouraging difficult conversations and questions. This will also allow work environments to strengthen as you learn more about the unique qualities of its members and members feel safe to discuss their ideas and challenge the status quo. Without transparency and predictability, it can cause a culture of fear and uncertainty, potentially triggering those who have histories of toxic or chronic stress.
We must all remember that whether it is our client driving to our office, or the person who shares a cubicle with us, we must approach everyone with this level of openness and understanding. I truly believe, being a model of transparency and predictability allows for a safer work environment for clients and colleagues alike. In turn, this impacts the overall service we provide to our clients and increases the effectiveness of our service.
Resources: What is psychological safety at work? Here’s how to start creating it (apa.org)
About the author:
Brielle Nuzzo is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor primarily working as the Clinical Coordinator at WestCOP Victims Assistance Services, while simultaneously running her private practice and teaching forensic psychology courses at local universities. Brielle began her career working with incarcerated individuals, then transitioning to the Child Advocacy center where she not only advocated for children, but also advocated for trauma informed work practices across various disciplines. As a leader at Victims Assistance Services, she has a passion to educate her organization, as well as local community organizations and schools about how the importance of trauma informed practices.