What do You Mean by “Trauma-Informed”?

"Trauma-informed" is a phrase you’ll see a lot in therapy spaces—and for good reason. But what does it actually mean? And how does it change what happens in a session?

Being trauma-informed is more than a buzzword or a checkbox. It’s a commitment to safety, dignity, and healing. It means understanding how trauma affects the brain, body, and behavior—and making sure therapy doesn’t accidentally repeat or reinforce those experiences.

It Starts with Safety—Real and Felt

In trauma-informed art therapy, the first priority is to create an environment that feels safe, not just looks safe. That includes physical space—calm lighting, non-threatening materials, and gentle language—but also relational safety: being heard, seen, and never rushed or judged (Herman, 2015; Malchiodi, 2020).

Clients are always given choice. You won’t be forced to talk about trauma or create art about it. You won’t be expected to explain your story before you're ready—or at all. You’ll never be pushed to re-experience something that overwhelms your nervous system. That’s because trauma-informed care is consent-based care.

Understanding What Trauma Actually Is

Trauma isn’t just about what happened. It’s about what happened inside you—especially if your body or mind didn’t have the support, resources, or control it needed to process the experience (van der Kolk, 2014). Trauma can result from violence, abuse, neglect, accidents, loss, or sustained stress. It can also show up in more invisible ways: growing up in chaos, never feeling safe in your body, or being constantly misunderstood.

Art therapy honors the whole spectrum. It meets people where they are—whether they name their experience as trauma or not.

Supporting the Brain and Nervous System

Trauma-informed care means we understand how trauma lives in the body. That’s why we use materials intentionally. Some art supplies can help soothe a hyper-alert nervous system (like soft pastels or gentle painting), while others support grounding and body connection (like clay or textured materials) (Hinz, 2020; Lusebrink, 2004).

Sessions often include regulation strategies woven into the creative process—breathing, movement, sensory awareness, or pause breaks. You’ll be supported in learning what helps you feel calm, connected, and in control again.

Respecting Lived Experience and Identity

Trauma-informed also means culturally responsive. There is no one-size-fits-all path to healing. Therapists who are trauma-informed stay curious about how your experiences of culture, race, gender identity, neurodiversity, disability, or family system may shape your story—and how therapy must honor those identities, not erase them (SAMHSA, 2014).

You are the expert in your own life. Your art therapist’s role is to walk beside you, not lead the way.

A Gentle Reminder

If you’ve experienced trauma, healing may not be a straight line. Some days might feel easy and open. Others might feel vulnerable or unfamiliar. That’s okay. A trauma-informed space allows for all of that, without pressure to fix or finish.

Art therapy offers more than insight. It offers rhythm, regulation, and relationship—three of the deepest antidotes to trauma.

References

Herman, J. L. (2015). Trauma and recovery: The aftermath of violence—from domestic abuse to political terror (2nd ed.). Basic Books.

Hinz, L. D. (2020). Expressive therapies continuum: A framework for using art in therapy (2nd ed.). Routledge.

Lusebrink, V. B. (2004). Art therapy and the brain: An attempt to understand the underlying processes of art expression in therapy. Art Therapy, 21(3), 125–135. https://doi.org/10.1080/07421656.2004.10129496

Malchiodi, C. A. (2020). Trauma and expressive arts therapy: Brain, body, and imagination in the healing process. Guilford Press.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2014). SAMHSA’s concept of trauma and guidance for a trauma-informed approach. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

van der Kolk, B. (2014). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Viking.