Trauma-informed vs trauma-focused

Although mindfulness is often a helpful skill to learn for those who experience symptoms of traumatic stress, it is not designed to treat trauma.

There are clear distinctions between trauma-informed and trauma-focused ways of working.

Yellow Beacon offers services and works in a trauma-informed way. This means we:

Realise the widespread impact of trauma and understand potential paths for recovery.

Recognise the signs and symptoms of trauma.

Respond by fully integrating knowledge about trauma into policies.

Seek to actively resist Re-traumatisation.

We recognise the scope within which mindfulness can be taught for each individual and when other sources of support may be beneficial.

There are many trauma-focused therapies specifically designed to treat and heal trauma. These involve working with a specially trained professional. Treatments include Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing (EMDR), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT), Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Somatic Experiencing, Internal Family Systems Therapy and Deep Brain Reorienting to name a few. A combination of these and other treatments may be used.

Current National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) Guidelines for treatment of psychological trauma in the UK recommend Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR), both of which are available on the NHS.

If you need professional support or require additional information around this topic, please visit our trauma-focused resources page.

Contact us to book a free 45-minute consultation to find out more and help you decide if this is right for you.

We are able to offer this service UK-wide.