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This post discusses Principle 4: Collaboration & Mutuality of SAMHSA's six key principles of a trauma-informed approach.
Collaboration and mutuality are one of SAMHSA's six key principles of trauma-informed care (TIC). Organizations that emphasize collaboration and mutuality as part of a TIC approach practice shared decision-making, view clients as experts of their own lives, and provide person-centered services. Through a case study review, this post outlines how to implement collaboration strategies with clients experiencing substance use disorder (SUD) and traumatic stress disorders.
Eva, a 25-year-old Latina, has a history of childhood trauma and has been struggling with SUD and PTSD for several years. Eva experienced 4 out of 10 Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), including being raised by a parent with untreated alcohol use disorder. She has recently re-started therapy to address both her trauma and substance use issues. She minimized alcohol use and reported experiencing difficulties trusting previous therapists. When exploring her main support network, client reported, “I don’t trust anyone.” Eva’s therapist is trained in TIC and believes in the power of collaboration and mutuality in the therapeutic process.
Through the collaborative and mutual approach of TIC, Eva feels more empowered and engaged in her therapy. She reports a reduction in trauma symptoms and substance use and an increased sense of control over her life. The mutual respect and shared power between Eva and therapist have created a supportive and effective healing environment.
This case example illustrates how collaboration and mutuality in trauma-informed care can enhance the therapeutic process, leading to meaningful and sustained recovery for individuals with complex needs.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2014). SAMHSA’s Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-informed Approach. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK207204/#part2_ch1.s11
Read the other posts in this series on SAMHSA's six guiding principles of TIC!
Mark Sanders, LCSW, CADC, is an international speaker in behavioral health whose presentations have reached thousands throughout the United States, England, Canada, Spain, Lithuania, West Indies, and Guam. He is the recipient of five behavioral health lifetime achievement awards, including the prestigious NAADAC Enlightenment Award. He is the founder of The Museum of African American Addictions, Treatment and Recovery, which was honored as the 2023 winner of the Faces and Voices of Recovery Innovations In Recovery Award. He is the author of 5 books on recovery and has enjoyed a 30-year career as a university educator.
Isa Vélez Echevarria, PsyD, is a Puerto Rican clinical psychologist. She is the Ohio State Project Manager for the Great Lakes Addiction, Mental Health, and Prevention Technology Transfer Centers managed by the Center for Health Enhancement Systems Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. During her pre-doctoral internship at Children’s Institute in Los Angeles, CA, she was certified as an Interpersonal Psychotherapy Clinician. She was trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Family Therapy. In addition, she provides telehealth services to communities of color in Massachusetts and Puerto Rico. Her clinical work has focused on culturally tailored and trauma-informed services for Latinx communities.