Trauma-informed practice isn’t just about understanding others — it’s about choosing how we show up in every interaction.
Every day, in every conversation, we have a choice:
To walk the path of alignment, compassion, and light — or to fall into the unconscious patterns that perpetuate harm.
Even those who intend to help can become part of the problem when awareness slips. And that’s why I’ve been reflecting deeply on TRUST — the framework that underpins my trauma-informed work — and its shadow opposite.
Because everything that heals can also be inverted to harm.
The TRUST Framework
(A Trauma-Informed Approach)
T – Trigger Recognition
Awareness of what activates fear, pain, or defensiveness — in ourselves and others — so we can regulate before we respond.
R – Reassurance
Offering calm, consistent presence that tells the nervous system: “You’re safe now.” Reassurance rebuilds trust where fear once lived.
U – Understanding
Seeking to understand the why behind behaviour, not just the what. It’s choosing empathy over judgment and compassion over control.
S – Safety
Creating physical, emotional, and relational environments where people feel seen, heard, and safe enough to heal.
T – Truth
Honesty with self and others. Congruence. Saying what we mean and meaning what we say — because truth and safety cannot exist without each other.
This is the path of awareness, compassion, and connection — the path of light and alignment. It’s how we heal, lead, and create genuine change.
The Shadow of TRUST
(A Trauma-Perpetuating Approach)
T – Trigger Recognition
Still present — but used manipulatively. Recognising what provokes others, not to heal but to control.
R – Reactivity
Acting from fear or ego. Escalating rather than calming. Reacting to protect self-image instead of building safety.
U – Undermining
Eroding another’s confidence or sense of self to maintain dominance or superiority.
S – Suppression
Silencing truth, emotion, or individuality. Valuing compliance over authenticity.
T – Transactional Thinking
Conditional care: “I’ll support you if you behave the way I want.”
Relationships become about control, not connection.
This is the path of power, fear, and disconnection. It can look confident on the surface, but it’s a fragile strength — built on defence, not integrity.
The Choice
Every one of us stands at this crossroads, especially when we’re tired, triggered, or under pressure.
We can respond from trauma — or from truth.
From fear — or from love.
Being trauma-informed isn’t about perfection; it’s about presence.
It’s about noticing which version of TRUST we’re embodying in any moment — and having the courage to choose again.
When we walk the path of alignment, our energy becomes restorative rather than depleting.
We repair what we once repeated.
We regulate, reconnect, and rebuild — one conscious choice at a time.
Which path are you on in your journey?
Do you ever switch between the two? When does that happen?
What do you see in yourself — and what do you see in the world around you?
Self-awareness is the path to happiness.