Trauma-Informed
Care: A Model for OT Practice
John Boharic, OTS Madison Haswell, OTS Nicole Haynes, OTS Stephanie Weir, OTS
Amy Mattila, PhD, OTR/L Sharon Novalis, PhD, OTR/L
Purpose
Examine how the Trauma-Informed Care
(TIC) model is used in various health
professions and the ways in which this
model can be implemented in
Occupational Therapy (OT) practice.
Definition
TIC is a model to help practitioners
understand the effects of physical,
psychological, and emotional trauma and
appropriately respond to such trauma by
addressing the emotional needs of the
client in order to prevent re-
traumatization during care (Hopper, Bassuk,
& Olivet, 2010; Kassam-Adams, 2015).
Literature Review
v Approximately 66% of the general
population has experienced at least
one traumatic event in their lifetime
(Felitti et al., 1998).
v Various health professionals already
use elements of TIC in their practice
(Hall et al., 2016).
v TIC embraces similar concepts to
therapeutic use of self, which is one
of the highest rated skills for
successful OT practice
(Muzik et al., 2013; Taylor, Lee, Kielhofner,
& Ketkar, 2009).
v Health professionals feel uncertain in
their abilities to implement TIC into
practice (Hall et al., 2016; Kassam-Adams,
2015; Taylor et al., 2009).
Methods
v This evidence-based examination
led to an interest in practitioner
knowledge about TIC and whether
or not the TIC model is being
implemented in practice.
v A 20 question survey was
distributed to OT practitioners
through a Facebook group and to
members of the Pennsylvania
Occupational Therapy Association.
Survey Findings
v 63% of respondents believe that
more than half of their clients have
experienced at least one traumatic
event in their lifetime.
v Approximately 50% of
practitioners reported that they
have not been formally trained in
or learned about TIC.
v After receiving a definition of TIC,
over 60% of respondents reported
feeling that they use a TIC
framework in their practice.
Clinical Relevance
v OTs have a role in addressing clients
past traumatic experiences.
v Using a TIC model, practitioners are
able to address clients previous
environments/contexts and how they
impact engagement in occupations
(American Occupational Therapy Association,
2014).
v A TIC model can help to increase
clients well-being and quality of life
during and after treatment (American
Occupational Therapy Association, 2014;
American Occupational Therapy Association,
2016).
Discussion
v Practitioners were informed of past
traumatic event(s) most often through
informal discussion.
v Findings suggest that a majority of
OTs are aware of the potential
presence of at least one traumatic
experience in their clients lives.
v Practitioners are implementing
elements of TIC in practice but are
not explicitly using a TIC model.
v At least half of recently graduated
survey participants reported they
have not received formal education
regarding TIC.
Recommendations
v The TIC model should be integrated
into OT curriculum and offered
through continuing education credits.
v There is a need for more research
involving occupational therapy and
TIC.