Many people carry the effects of past trauma, whether or not they ever talk about it. Trauma can shape how someone sleeps, eats, handles stress and even how they feel in a doctor’s office. Trauma-informed care is a way of practicing medicine that keeps this in mind at every visit.
What trauma-informed care means
Trauma-informed care is not a single treatment. It is an approach built on a few simple principles:
- Safety: patients should feel physically and emotionally safe
- Trust and transparency: we explain what we are doing and why, before we do it
- Choice: you decide what you are comfortable with, including pausing or stopping an exam
- Collaboration: your plan is built with you, not handed to you
- Respect: we avoid judgment about how you have coped with hard experiences
Why it matters
Trauma is linked to higher rates of anxiety, depression, chronic pain, sleep problems, heart disease and substance use. People with a trauma history may also avoid medical care because visits feel overwhelming. When care feels safe, patients are more likely to come in, speak openly and stay with their treatment plan.
How it shows up at Hill Family Medicine
Our mission is to heal the whole human, so trauma-informed care is part of every visit, not only mental health appointments. That means longer conversations, plain explanations and a plan that fits your life.
For patients who want to go deeper:
- Sacred Medicine is our program for understanding the emotional patterns, fears and coping habits that often develop after trauma
- Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy may be offered within Sacred Medicine for carefully selected patients after a medical review
- For PTSD specifically, see our guide to PTSD symptoms and treatment
We also refer patients to trauma-focused therapists when that is the right next step.
If you are in crisis, call or text 988, or call 911.
We are here when you are ready
Book a visit or call (512) 428-5764. You can tell us as much or as little as you like.
