How to Find a Trauma-Informed Provider and Get Safe, Supportive Care

Trauma can have a long-lasting effect on your physical, mental, and emotional health. You may experience chronic conditions, struggle with substance misuse, or develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 

If you’ve experienced trauma — such as abuse, a natural disaster, or community violence — you may want to seek care from a trauma-informed healthcare provider. These types of providers take extra steps to help you feel safe while you’re under their care.

What is trauma-informed care?

Trauma-informed care is a healthcare approach tailored to people who have experienced trauma. 

Trama can be caused by many different life experiences, including (but not limited to):

• Physical or sexual abuse

• Emotional abuse

• Childhood neglect

• Health problems

• Having a family member with a health problem, mental illness, or substance use disorder

• Racism or discrimination

• Observing or experiencing violence in your community, in your family, or while serving in the military

• Poverty

• Natural disasters

• Being separated from your loved one(s)

A healthcare provider who offers trauma-informed care is aware of trauma’s impact on your physical and mental health.

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A trauma-informed provider may spend more time with you to understand your experiences with trauma. They may be more gentle in the way they examine you or change a treatment plan to avoid retraumatizing you. They should also be open to your input regarding your treatment plan.

Trauma-informed gynecologists, for instance, may provide a safe and supportive environment for survivors of sexual abuse. They may also explain procedures before and during an exam. 

In mental health settings, a trauma-informed counselor can help you work through your past trauma. They can help you build coping skills to deal with trauma triggers and reduce your symptoms. They’ll also use evidence-based trauma psychotherapies to treat your symptoms. And they’ll help you process traumatic memories safely.

Why is trauma-informed care important?

One of the goals of trauma-informed care is to provide you with a physically, emotionally, and mentally safe space to get healthcare. The safer you feel, the more likely you are to seek healthcare, which can help prevent worsening symptoms later.

For trauma survivors, regular healthcare can be particularly important. People with a history of trauma may be at higher risk for several mental and physical health conditions. These can include:

• Heart disease

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

• Fractures

• Liver disease

• Major depression

• Substance use disorders

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

• Sexually transmitted infections

• Eating disorders

• Autoimmune diseases

Another important goal of trauma-informed care is to protect you from retraumatization. Retraumatization is the reliving of a previous traumatic event. It can sometimes bring back the same feelings that you experienced when you were first traumatized — like fear, anger, or helplessness.

Providers who aren’t trauma informed may be more likely to retraumatize you without meaning to. For example, they might minimize your memory of an abusive incident. Or they might demand that you follow a treatment plan without giving you a say. These responses may leave you feeling powerless and disrespected.

In primary care settings, studies have shown that opening up about trauma may help forge a stronger relationship between you and your provider. This can lead to better health outcomes.

What are the 6 principles of trauma-informed care?

Trauma-informed providers use six guiding principles to create a secure environment for people who seek their care. You can use these principles to help you find a healthcare provider: 

1. Safety: You should feel physically and emotionally safe when you visit a healthcare facility. Your interactions with everything from the office building to the staff members should feel comfortable and welcoming.

2. Trust and transparency: Discussions between you and your provider should be open and honest to help build trust. 

3. Peer support: A trauma-informed provider may encourage you to find social support as part of your treatment plan. Peer support connects you with others who understand what it’s like to experience trauma. It can help empower you to take charge of your health.

4. Collaboration: Interactions with your provider and their staff members should feel like a team effort. Each person has a role to play in your recovery and treatment, including you.

5. Empowerment: Your provider should support your choices and goals that move you toward healing and recovery. You should feel heard and not coerced. 

6. Cultural, historical, and gender sensitivity: Your provider and staff members should promote practices with cultural understanding. This can include an understanding of cultural identities such as race and ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and disability. 

An example of trauma-informed care

Let’s look at an example of trauma-informed care during a physical exam: 

• Your provider may start by asking about your overall health, as well as your history with trauma and how it has affected you. 

• If they need to do a physical exam, they may ask for permission. They should also explain clearly why they were suggesting the exam, so that you can make an informed decision about whether to proceed. 

• During the exam, your provider would explain what they are doing, so you don’t have any surprises. They will also honor your request if you want to stop or take a break.  

• Finally, they will ask for your input regarding a treatment plan.

Getting trauma-informed care

There are several resources online that can help you find a trauma-informed mental healthcare provider. They include:

• International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS): The ISTSS clinician directory can help you find a mental health provider based on your zip code.

• Attachment & Trauma Network (ATN): ATN’s directory will connect you to a counselor or therapist who has training in trauma and attachment styles.

• National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN): The NCTSN has a list of members and organizations that may be able to refer you to a trauma-informed practitioner.

To find a trauma-informed provider in physical healthcare, you may have to research on your own. Look for words such as “trauma-informed care” or “patient-centered trauma care” on provider, clinic, and hospital websites.

Make sure you call potential providers before you make an appointment. Tell them you’re looking for trauma-informed care in your initial call. If you wait until your visit to ask questions, you may freeze up, especially if you’re triggered.

Certain questions may help you determine whether a provider really does have training in trauma-informed care. Ask questions such as:

• Are you a trauma-informed care provider? What training or experience do you have?

• Do you screen for a history of trauma?

• What kind of experience do you have working with people who have gone through physical or sexual abuse? 

• What kind of experience do you have working with people who have gone through historical, racial, or gender-based trauma?  

In addition, you could ask a provider how they screen for trauma. You could ask, for example, if they use a trauma history assessment like the Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) questionnaire. The form includes 10 questions about traumatic experiences in your past. Sample questions include:

• Did you lose a parent through divorce, abandonment, death, or other reason?

• Did your parents or adults in your home ever hit, punch, beat, or threaten to harm each other?

• Did you live with anyone who went to jail or prison?

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Written by:

Ana Gascon

Ana Gascon has over 15 years of writing and editing experience, with 8 years in health and medical content work. She is a versatile health and medical content creator who writes about acute conditions, chronic diseases, mental health challenges, and health equity.

Edited by:

Renée Fabian, MA

Renée Fabian is the senior pet health editor at GoodRx. She’s worked for nearly 10 years as a journalist and editor across a wide range of health and well-being topics.

Reviewed by:

Sarah Gupta, MD

Sarah Gupta, MD, is a licensed physician with a special interest in mental health, sex and gender, eating disorders, and the human microbiome. She is currently board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

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