Attorneys are used to words having multiple meanings. "Trauma" is one of them; so is "trauma-informed" care. Many facilities, institutions, health care centers, schools, and even states have declared themselves to be "trauma-informed" and mandate trauma-informed care and practices. But what does the term really mean?

What Is Trauma?

The National Center on Law and Elder Rights addresses the issue of trauma-informed care. In an article, "Trauma Informed Lawyering," the author notes: "The central goals of trauma-informed lawyering are to reduce re-traumatization and to improve legal advocacy by recognizing the role trauma plays in the lawyer-client relationship."