The majority of people presenting to mental health services have experienced complex trauma (secondary to child abuse, neglect, family/community violence or other adverse childhood events). Often their trauma is not acknowledged, identified or appropriately addressed. It is important to consider the possibility of undisclosed or unaddressed childhood trauma underlying not just mental health presentations, but those accessing a range of human services. This presentation challenges the current system of classification for complex trauma and values practitioners asking the question “What happened to you?” at the core of people’s presentations.
Without addressing the core issues of their trauma many people will continue to ricochet around in the system and will have poor outcomes. This presentation will be based on ASCA’s Practice Guidelines for Treatment of Complex Trauma and Trauma Informed Care and Service Delivery, which were written by the presenter.
This presentation will highlight the need for a public health approach to trauma which incorporates both a trauma-informed approach to care and trauma specific services. A trauma informed approach to care is focussed on those people who are in contact with the system and have a trauma history, while trauma-specific services are those which address the needs of those dealing with the impacts of their trauma.
