Finding Hope: Healing From Trauma Through Collaborative Care

Katie always found comfort in spending time with her best friends at their favorite coffee shop every Saturday morning.

But one Saturday morning, behind her warm smile and calm exterior, she couldn’t shake the trauma that still haunts her almost a decade later. She apologized to her friends, excused herself from the table, rushed to her car, and broke down in tears.

Following years of paranoia, nightmares, and crippling anxiety, Katie sought help to process her sexual assault, but finding care in her city proved difficult. Appointments were scattered, providers were distant, and the care felt impersonal.

Katie’s story is uniquely hers, yet many people harboring trauma experience similar frustrations.

That’s why integrating behavioral health services in primary care settings is the ideal solution for treating patients with trauma.

Understanding Trauma-Informed Care

Trauma-informed care helps patients who have experienced trauma feel safer and more empowered in their healing journey. This approach considers a patient like Katie’s traumatic experiences, how it impacts her life, and how providers can help prevent re-traumatization:

Unfortunately, due to inconsistent experiences and difficulty finding appointments, traditional community mental health settings often aren’t equipped to deliver trauma-informed care.

But primary care practices that integrate behavioral health can.

Imagine Seeing a Therapist at Your Primary Care Practice

Having a mental health therapist onsite and in person at the primary care practice you trust is a faster, more effective way to receive care. Thankfully, more and more primary care practices across the nation are partnering with companies like evolvedMD to make this a reality.

A Collaborative Approach to Trauma-informed Care

At the primary care practices we serve, trauma-informed care is seamlessly integrated into the patient experience. Here’s how it works for patients like Katie:

TIC Principle in Action: Safety
During an annual checkup with her Primary Care Provider (PCP), the doctor thought Katie seemed withdrawn and disengaged. After inquiring, Katie briefly disclosed her sexual assault, prompting her doctor to immediately refer her to the on-site Behavioral Health Manager (BHM), a licensed master-level social worker.

TIC Principle in Action: Trustworthiness + Transparency
From the get-go, Katie appreciated how the BHM acknowledged her trauma without making it the centerpiece of her identity. She found she could trust the BHM, like she does her PCP, to help her navigate the trauma while also not making it a centerpiece of her identity.

TIC Principle in Action: Peer Support
Katie found solace in the BHM’s presence, a young woman with a history of her own. Unlike traditional settings, where providers seemed distant, the BHM became a trusted companion who reassured Katie that her feelings were valid, heard, and respected.

TIC Principle in Action: Collaboration + Mutuality
Katie’s PCP and BHM worked with her to develop a care plan. Their mutual understanding of Katie’s unique needs not only strengthened their relationship with Katie but further empowered Katie to take charge of her healing journey. They looped in a Psychiatric Consultant to manage Katie’s medication needs and a Care Coordinator to connect Katie to a local trauma support group.

TIC Principle in Action: Empowerment, Voice, + Choice
At each appointment, Katie’s BHM recognized her strength for actively participating in her healing journey. She also expressed how proud she was of Katie’s resilience and not letting tough days slow her down or give up.

TIC Principle in Action: Cultural, Historical, + Gender Issues
Throughout this experience, Katie’s PCP and BHM understood that treatment isn’t one-size-fits-all. They took her cultural background, gender identity, historical experiences, and goals into account to create a personalized care plan.

The Result – Improved Outcomes

In Katie’s experience, mental health services were not an afterthought but an integral part of her healing journey. She enjoyed markedly improved emotional well-being, learned coping mechanisms to curb distressing moments, gained a restored sense of agency, and empowering support from the trauma peer group. After six months, Katie graduated from her care plan but still checks in with her PCP and BHM at least once a year.

A collaborative approach to trauma-informed care isn’t just better; it’s transformative. It recognizes each patient’s story while personalizing care plans on the path toward healing. So, if you’ve experienced trauma of any kind, talk to your doctor today to begin a new journey where safety, trust, and collaboration intersect.

Harboring unaddressed trauma?
Talk to your doctor about starting mental health services today.