Understanding Trauma-Informed Care: Why It Matters for Mental and Physical Health
Published July 28, 2026
By Shalina Covington, MSW Candidate
Trauma affects millions of people across the lifespan and can result from experiences such as abuse, neglect, violence, accidents, natural disasters, discrimination, or the sudden loss of a loved one. While many people associate trauma with mental health conditions like anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), research has shown that trauma can also have significant effects on physical health. A trauma-informed approach recognizes these connections and provides care that promotes healing while minimizing the risk of retraumatization.
What Is a Trauma-Informed Approach?
A trauma-informed approach is a framework that assumes a person may have experienced trauma and integrates that understanding into every interaction. Rather than asking, "What's wrong with you?" providers ask, "What happened to you?" This shift encourages empathy, reduces stigma, and fosters a collaborative relationship between providers and clients.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), trauma-informed care is guided by six core principles:
Safety
Trustworthiness and transparency
Peer support
Collaboration and mutuality
Empowerment, voice, and choice
Cultural, historical, and gender responsiveness
These principles help create an environment where individuals feel respected, supported, and empowered throughout the helping process.
The Connection Between Trauma and Health
Trauma affects much more than emotional well-being. Chronic exposure to stress activates the body's stress response system, releasing hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. When this stress response remains activated for long periods, it can contribute to a variety of physical health problems, including:
Heart disease and high blood pressure
Diabetes
Chronic pain
Gastrointestinal disorders
Sleep disturbances
Weakened immune functioning
Headaches and migraines
Trauma can also influence health behaviors. Individuals with unresolved trauma may struggle with substance use, smoking, unhealthy eating patterns, self-harm, or difficulty adhering to medical treatment plans. These behaviors often serve as coping strategies rather than intentional acts of noncompliance.
Why Trauma-Informed Care Improves Health Outcomes
When healthcare and behavioral health professionals adopt a trauma-informed approach, they create opportunities for better engagement and improved outcomes. Clients who feel emotionally safe are more likely to participate in treatment, communicate openly, and build trusting relationships with providers.
Trauma-informed care can improve health by:
Increasing patient engagement and trust
Reducing anxiety during medical and mental health appointments
Improving treatment adherence
Strengthening therapeutic relationships
Supporting emotional regulation and resilience
Reducing the likelihood of retraumatization
Instead of viewing challenging behaviors as resistance, providers recognize that many behaviors may represent adaptive responses to previous traumatic experiences.
Trauma-Informed Practice in Social Work
Social workers are uniquely positioned to implement trauma-informed care across healthcare, schools, community agencies, and mental health settings. During assessments and interventions, social workers strive to:
Provide clear explanations about services and confidentiality.
Offer clients choices whenever possible.
Build on client strengths rather than focusing solely on problems.
Respect cultural backgrounds and lived experiences.
Screen for trauma while avoiding unnecessary retraumatization.
Connect clients with evidence-based trauma treatment when appropriate.
By recognizing the lasting effects of trauma, social workers can advocate for compassionate, client-centered care that supports both mental and physical well-being.
Final Thoughts
Trauma-informed care is more than a clinical technique—it is a philosophy of care that recognizes the widespread impact of trauma and promotes healing through compassion, collaboration, and respect. As research continues to demonstrate the relationship between trauma and physical health, integrating trauma-informed principles into healthcare and social work practice becomes increasingly important.
When professionals understand how trauma influences health, they are better equipped to support recovery, improve treatment outcomes, and empower individuals on their journey toward healing.
References:
American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.; DSM-5-TR). American Psychiatric Association Publishing.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). About adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). https://www.cdc.gov/aces/about/index.html
Felitti, V. J., Anda, R. F., Nordenberg, D., Williamson, D. F., Spitz, A. M., Edwards, V., Koss, M. P., & Marks, J. S. (1998). Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults: The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 14(4), 245–258. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0749-3797(98)00017-8
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2014). SAMHSA's concept of trauma and guidance for a trauma-informed approach (HHS Publication No. SMA 14-4884). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://store.samhsa.gov/product/SAMHSA-s-Concept-of-Trauma-and-Guidance-for-a-Trauma-Informed-Approach/SMA14-4884
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2023). Trauma and violence. https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health/trauma-violence
