What’s in a Name? Everything When It Comes to Describing Trauma Work
You may have come across the terms trauma-sensitive and trauma-informed in descriptions of services and professionals, particularly in the healthcare sector. In recent years, fitness and wellness professionals have also begun designating themselves as trauma-informed facilitators or teachers.
But what do these designations actually mean? And is there any governing body overseeing this space? Quite simply, no. There is no official organisation that determines how much trauma training is required to claim such a designation. To be clear, no such designation exists in the mental health field either—despite the fact that trauma-informed practices are more commonly integrated into mental health work. Perhaps there's an assumption that if someone is a mental health professional, they must already be trauma-informed. However, in my personal experience seeking therapy, I have found this to be the exception rather than the norm.
The Role of Yoga Alliance in Defining Trauma-Sensitive Yoga
In the absence of a governing body, Yoga Alliance has taken some steps to clarify trauma-related designations. If a yoga school offers a course that touches on trauma, it must explicitly state that its trainees do not graduate as Trauma-Sensitive Yoga teachers. This designation is reserved for courses that certify teachers to offer Trauma-Sensitive Yoga as an adjunct therapy to clinical treatment. To my knowledge, only one school currently offers such training.
But what about those who don’t intend to offer Trauma-Sensitive Yoga as a clinical adjunct? What if we could find a middle ground—one that equips professionals with fundamental trauma-awareness skills so they can seamlessly integrate this knowledge into classes for the general public?
Introducing Trauma-Awareness as a Lens, Not a Title
This is how I arrived at the concept of trauma-awareness—not as a formal title, but as a lens through which we can approach our work and integrate these insights into daily life. Various organisations define trauma-related terms differently, but I appreciate how Dr. Maiysha Clairborne describes them. Below is a breakdown, with my own additions in italics for clarity:
Trauma-Aware:
Being trauma-aware means having a basic understanding of trauma, its nature, and its potential impact on individuals. It involves recognising that trauma is widespread and that many people may have experienced traumatic events. A trauma-aware person is mindful of the sensitivities that can activate involuntary, painful responses in trauma survivors.
Example: A movement teacher who is trauma-aware will practise consent, make changes to the teaching space to accommodate for potential triggers (e.g. sound and light) as well as offer options for people who may wish to practise in a different way.
Trauma-Sensitive:
Trauma sensitivity takes awareness a step further by incorporating new skills and practices into interactions. A trauma-sensitive approach fosters an environment of safety, trust, and empowerment.
Example: A trauma-sensitive yoga teacher may work together with a clinic or a school to help develop programmes for specific populations of people, such as those suffering from PTSD. Establishing safety is paramount and avoiding re-traumatisation is a key objective.
Trauma-Informed:
A trauma-informed approach integrates trauma awareness into the core functions of an organisation or community. It recognises the complex ways trauma manifests and works to prevent re-traumatisation while fostering healing and resilience.
Example: A trauma-informed clinic will train staff in delivering trauma-informed care, implement trauma-screening tools, and provides trauma-specific treatment resources from beginning to end.
Note: Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga offers a certification program for providing Trauma-Sensitive Yoga as an adjunct therapy. Based on the definitions above, this training appears to bridge both trauma-sensitive and trauma-informed approaches.
Trauma-Responsive:
Trauma responsiveness is the most dynamic and preventive approach. It builds upon trauma-awareness, trauma-sensitivity, and trauma-informed principles while continuously adapting based on research and lived experiences.
Example: A trauma-responsive organisation may regularly seek feedback from trauma survivors to refine policies, improve services, and enhance program development.
Bringing Trauma-Awareness to Movement Professionals
These concepts can feel overwhelming at first. That’s why, after attending multiple trauma trainings, I teamed up with Jen—my brilliant co-founder at Centred Space—to create a Continuing Education Programme for movement professionals. Our course, Applications of Trauma-Awareness and Decolonisation in Teaching, provides practical tools for integrating trauma-awareness into movement and wellness spaces.
To learn more, visit our website and check out this post where we share the why behind the course.
