Trauma-informed care (TIC) is a framework that integrates safety, agency, and collaboration in therapy that views individuals as more than their traumatic experiences.
TIC integrates resilience and the opportunity for growth while maintaining a deep respect and acknowledgement of the profound impacts that trauma can have.
Why is TIC important in psychedelic therapy?
During psychedelic therapy, individuals with a history of trauma are at risk of worsening symptoms. Psychedelic experiences may evoke intense emotions or unearth traumatic memories that can be distressing to confront. Trauma-informed care is critical to ensure safety in navigating these experiences constructively, to minimize risks, and to enhance the potential for healing and growth.
How is TIC delivered?
Trauma-informed care is present in every interaction between the individual and their care team with a careful attunement to psychological and physical safety. TIC is a patient-centered approach built on creating an environment of trust, inclusivity, and collaboration. One way this is accomplished is by putting the individual at the center of their treatment process and allowing for flexibility in the delivery of care. This means individuals have autonomy in the treatment process: individuals can explore their experiences at their own pace and in a way that feels authentic to them. Individuals collaborate with their care team by communicating their boundaries and preferences.
At the core of TIC is consent and transparency. In order to maximize agency, individuals contribute to an ongoing conversation so the team can adapt depending on feedback. Informed consent is continuous, so therapists will check on preferences and boundaries, and individuals are empowered to voice their needs as they evolve.
Examples of trauma-informed care at Sunstone:
- Elements of the dosing experience can be adjusted to individuals’ preferences.
For example, the blinds can be open or closed, personal items can be present, songs in the playlist can be skipped, eyeshades can be on or off, and objects in the room can be organized to maximize comfort. - Individuals can choose to utilize physical touch as support from their therapist in the exact way they are comfortable with, if any. This element of care is discussed in advance and during the session so the individual can communicate and receive exactly what their boundaries and preferences are related to physical touch.
