mindset.

Credit: Sandra Bloom et al. and John Bowlby et al.

Note: This post was drafted with the support of ChatGPT on 10 June 2025.

Summary:

Trauma Theory explores how overwhelming experiences—especially those involving threat, loss, or harm—can disrupt a person’s emotional, psychological, and physiological functioning. The concept helps us begin to explore how trauma shapes behavior, relationships, identity, and even systems.  Trauma Theory is a way of understanding how adverse experiences affect the brain, body, and feelings, even long after the bad thing is over. It explains that:

• People who’ve been through trauma might feel scared, angry, or shut down, even when things seem okay.
• They might act differently—not because they’re “bad,” but because their brain is still trying to stay safe.
• With kindness, safety, and support, people can heal and feel better over time.

Trauma Theory teaches us that trauma is not just about what happened—it’s about how people experience, respond to, and recover from overwhelming stress.  Understanding trauma helps us lead, teach, support, and care in more compassionate, effective ways.

Based on Mary Boyle and Lucy Johnstone’s, Power Threat Meaning Framework (PTMF), the following questions are helpful to make sense of “what has happened” in the life of another:

• ‘What has happened to you?’ (How is power operating in your life?)
• ‘How did it affect you?’ (What kind of threats does this pose?)
• ‘What sense did you make of it?’ (What is the meaning of these situations and experiences to you?)
• ‘What did you have to do to survive?’ (What kinds of threat response are you using?)
• ‘What are your strengths?’ (What access to power resources do you have?), and
• ‘What is your story?’”

Concept detail:

• Trauma Is the Response, Not Just the Event. Trauma is not only about what happened (e.g. violence, loss, abuse), but how the person experienced and internalized it. Two people can go through the same event but respond very differently based on context, support, and resilience.
• Trauma Overwhelms the Nervous System. Trauma activates the fight, flight, freeze, or fawn responses. When the stress is too much, the brain gets “stuck” in survival mode, affecting memory, focus, decision-making, and emotional regulation.
• Trauma Affects the Body as Well as the Mind.  The body “remembers” trauma. Chronic tension, sleep problems, gut issues, and other physical symptoms can stem from unprocessed traumatic stress.
• Trauma Alters Brain Development and Function.  Especially in children, trauma can impact how the brain develops—affecting learning, impulse control, and the ability to feel safe in relationships.
• Trauma Shapes Relationships and Trust. Trauma can make it hard to trust others, ask for help, or feel safe being vulnerable. Survivors may seem distant, guarded, or reactive—but these behaviors are protective.
• Re-Traumatization Can Occur Easily. Certain environments, words, or experiences (even unintentionally) can trigger trauma responses and recreate feelings of helplessness or threat.
• Trauma Is Often Rooted in Systems, Not Just Events. Structural trauma (e.g. racism, poverty, colonization) affects individuals and communities over generations. These “slow traumas” are just as real and harmful.
• Healing Is Possible—Through Safety, Connection, and Empowerment.  Recovery begins when people feel safe, seen, and supported. Healing relationships, choice, and consistency are crucial for rebuilding trust and regulation.
• Trauma Responses Are Adaptive, Not Pathological. Behaviors like aggression, numbness, withdrawal, or hypervigilance often begin as smart survival strategies—not signs of brokenness.
• Trauma-Informed Approaches Are Essential for Systems and Leaders. Schools, workplaces, healthcare systems, and governments must adopt trauma-informed policies that prioritize safety, dignity, and healing.

Real world application:

Lessons for leaders include:

• Safety First. Make people feel physically and emotionally safe. Safety is the first step toward healing and trust.
• Assume There’s a Story Behind the Behavior. Before judging someone’s reaction, pause and wonder: “What might have happened to them?”
• Believe in Recovery and Growth. With support, people can heal and thrive. Be someone who sees their strength and potential—even when they can’t.
• Stay Calm and Grounded. Your calm energy helps others feel safe. Leaders set the emotional tone in the room.
• Consistency Builds Trust. Be reliable. Trauma makes people wary of unpredictability, so keep your word and your schedule.
• Give People Control and Choice. Trauma can make people feel powerless. Letting them make decisions helps rebuild confidence.
• Don’t Re-Traumatize People. Avoid surprises, shaming, or forcing people to relive painful experiences. Check in often.
• Listen More Than You Talk. People need to be heard—deeply. Listening is one of the most powerful healing tools.
• Be Curious, Not Critical. Ask gentle questions instead of making assumptions. Curiosity creates connection.
• Care for Yourself, Too. Being around trauma can be draining. Leaders need self-care to support others well.