Trauma- and violence-informed framework

A trauma- and violence-informed framework expands on the concept of trauma-informed supervision. It considers the intersecting impacts of systemic and interpersonal violence and structural inequities of a person’s life.^[1] This means that the adverse impacts of family and sexual violence trauma are understood within the broader context of patriarchal social conditions, intersectional oppression, and systemic violence and discrimination.^[2]

This includes taking an intersectional view to highlight current and historical experiences of violence, so issues are not seen as originating within the person. Instead, these aspects of their life experience are seen as adaptations and consequences of trauma and violence.

To apply a trauma- and violence-informed lens to supervision, an organisation must reflect on multiple aspects of the system:

• the physical environment – where people work and meet for supervision
• supervisory relationships and team support – sense of belonging and morale
• openness to two-way communication
• the potential for parallel processes occurring – where systems inadvertently repeat the patterns clients have already experienced
• willingness to highlight instances of parallel processing ‘playing out’ in relationships
• systemic injustice and discrimination, such as racism
• responses to vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue.^[3]

Supervision that incorporates a trauma- and violence-informed approach helps guard against trauma-organised systems developing. Such supervision is underpinned by the above principles and an organisation focused on:

• intending to do no harm and avoiding inadvertent re-traumatising clients and staff
• using a person-centred approach during supervision which harnesses a person’s inherent strengths, autonomy and dignity, maximising their choices and control over their lives^[4]
• understanding the effects of negative stress on the brain (which can impair listening, decision making and self-regulation) and body
• understanding that behaviours during times of stress, can stem from childhood coping strategies which are no longer effective
• understanding that vicarious trauma is inevitable, but this does not mean it will necessarily cause harm
• exploring ways supervisees can use supervision, harness self and collective care, and other supports such as EAP, to reduce vicarious trauma risks
• listening to understand how supervisees make meaning of their responses to trauma, including vicarious and cumulative trauma, within the context of their own lived experience^[5]
• partnering with supervisees and people who have experienced violence and sexual assault
• improving interventions with perpetrators
• surfacing vicarious resilience and compassion satisfaction
• appreciating the importance of, and incorporating, client voices, including those of children and young people
• understanding ongoing structural inequalities for our clients, including children and young people, and our workforces.

There has been criticism about the trauma discourse because it rarely names and addresses systemic injustice and racism^[6] and risks pathologising trauma as an individual’s problem.^[7] Trauma- and violence-informed supervision, however, includes the exploration of systemic injustice and racism. It also offers a space to explore the impact of various stressors and look for signs of vicarious resilience in the work with clients.^[8]