What is a trauma-informed massage?

Author: Daniela Tromp  |  Last update: Tuesday, June 10, 2025

Trauma-informed means a client-centered approach to massage therapy. It is collaborative and acknowledges that you are the expert on your body.

What are the 5 principles of trauma-informed practice?

Key principles of trauma-informed practice. There are 6 principles of trauma-informed practice: safety, trust, choice, collaboration, empowerment and cultural consideration.

What kind of massage releases trauma?

Somatic massages help you release trauma in your body by working with the nervous system. When you receive a somatic massage, the therapist will work to release any patterns of tension that may be stored in your body. This can help to break down any barriers that have been preventing you from processing trauma.

What is an example of a trauma-informed practice?

Examples of Trauma-Informed Care

Or actively avoiding retraumatizing interactions or care experiences by being aware of patient triggers, taking note of body language, and promoting holistic, person-centered, culturally aware, and strengths-based care.

What are the 5 R's of trauma-informed practice?

Our review of existing programs and literature suggests that these programs are better described as operating across '5 Rs': Repatriation, Resettlement, Reintegration, Rehabilitation, and Resilience. In this brief, we describe these 5R domains.

Trauma-Informed Massage & Bodywork - Dr. Scott Giacomucci & Diane Matkowski, The Massage Mentor

What are the basics of trauma-informed therapy?

Trauma-informed therapy takes a holistic approach, focusing on safety, compassion, and support to help clients make long-lasting changes. The therapist works to understand the client's coping skills, past trauma, and develop healthy new strategies, rather than solely addressing presenting behaviors.

What are the 4 C's of trauma-informed care?

These 4 Cs are: Calm, Contain, Care, and Cope 2 Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care Page 10 34 (Table 2.3). These 4Cs emphasize key concepts in trauma-informed care and can serve as touchstones to guide immediate and sustained behavior change.

What is trauma informed practice in a nutshell?

Trauma-informed practice in education focuses on understanding trauma's impact, supporting affected students, and creating inclusive, safe environments. Trauma-informed approaches to managing behaviour start by asking 'What has happened to you?' rather than 'What have you done?' .

What is trauma-informed care for physical therapists?

The American Physical Therapy Association House of Delegates position "Recommended Education on Trauma-Informed Care Across the Physical Therapy Profession" (HOD P07-24-04-08), which states that APTA "recommends education for physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and students about trauma-informed care to ...

What are examples of traumatic events?

What is a traumatic event?
  • Sexual or physical abuse or assault.
  • Serious vehicle accidents.
  • Combat or war zone exposure.
  • Serious medical events.
  • Seeing death or dead bodies, including while at work.
  • Unexpected death of a loved one.
  • Natural disasters.
  • Arson or house fires.

Why did I cry after my massage?

Massage induces biochemical and energetic shifts by alleviating physical tension. This release can stir emotions and lead to tears, signaling a healthy, natural process of stress relief and emotional balance.

What kind of massage is best for trauma?

Trauma massage therapy is a specialized form of massage designed to help individuals heal from physical and emotional trauma. It integrates various techniques to address deep-seated tensions and promote overall well-being. This therapy aims to release stored trauma in the body, facilitating a holistic healing process.

How do you release trauma held in the body?

Body-based methods like yoga and massage help release muscle tension stored from trauma. Yoga incorporates mindful movement and breathing, which calms the nervous system, while massage therapy targets deeper muscle layers, alleviating physical stress and promoting relaxation.

What are the 4 R's of trauma-informed practice?

The trauma-informed approach is guided four assumptions, known as the “Four R's”: Realization about trauma and how it can affect people and groups, recognizing the signs of trauma, having a system which can respond to trauma, and resisting re-traumatization.

What are the two emotional extremes felt due to traumatic stress?

Traumatic stress tends to evoke two emotional extremes: feeling either too much (overwhelmed) or too little (numb) emotion. Treatment can help the client find the optimal level of emotion and assist him or her with appropriately experiencing and regulating difficult emotions.

What is the Blue Knot trauma-informed approach?

Trauma-informed care is a strengths-based service delivery approach “that is grounded in an understanding of and responsiveness to the impact of trauma, that emphasizes physical, psychological, and emotional safety for both providers and survivors, and that creates opportunities for survivors to rebuild a sense of ...

What is trauma-informed massage?

Summary: Trauma-informed massage therapy is an approach to practice and not a massage technique. It's built upon four principles: trauma awareness, safety and trust, collaborative choice and connection, and strength-based skill-building.

What does a trauma-informed therapist do?

Trauma-informed therapy focuses on recognizing trauma symptoms and understanding their root causes. The therapy provides a safe and supportive environment for patients, addressing their individual experiences and needs and fostering healing and resilience.

What are the symptoms of trauma?

Fear, anxiety, anger, depression and guilt are all common reactions to trauma.

What is an example of trauma-informed care?

Trauma-Informed Care in Practice

Other examples of trauma-informed care might include allowing an anxious person to have a friend or partner in the room during an exam for support, asking consent before beginning a procedure, or responding with compassion if a person expresses resistance or hesitation to treatment.

What are the three pillars of trauma-informed care?

This care involves actions to strengthen three pillars: safety, connections, and managing emotional impulses.

How do you explain trauma-informed?

Trauma-informed care acknowledges the need to understand a patient's life experiences in order to deliver effective care and has the potential to improve patient engagement, treatment adherence, health outcomes, and provider and staff wellness.

What are the 5 stages of trauma-informed care?

The five guiding trauma-informed values and principles proposed by Drs. Maxine Harris and Roger Fallot are safety (physical and emotional), trustworthiness, choice, collaboration, and empowerment.

What does tic stand for in trauma?

Addressing Childhood Trauma Through Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) | American Medical Association.

What are the ABC of trauma care?

The No. 1 consideration in managing the trauma patient is to establish and maintain an effective airway, ventilation, oxygenation and circulation.

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