By Stacie Later, LCSW
If you’re looking for support in therapy and have experienced trauma either from a single event or ongoing series, you may come across terms like “trauma-informed” and “trauma-focused.” These aren’t just buzzwords or interchangeable terms. They describe two different ways that therapists can understand and support people who have been through painful things. Both are valuable and knowing the difference can help you connect to the care that best fits what you need right now.

What Is Trauma-Informed?

Trauma-informed is not a specific type of therapy. Instead, it’s a philosophy and framework for delivering services of any kind (mental health, medical, educational, social services, etc.) with a basic awareness that trauma is common and impactful. It’s care with an understanding and respect for the individual with the possibility they may have an unspoken history of trauma to prevent harm and possible re-traumatization. Any type of therapeutic modality can encompass trauma-informed care, because it isn’t a specific kind of therapy, it doesn’t require specialized training to practice it.

Core Assumptions:

• Trauma is widespread. Many (if not most) people have experienced trauma in some form.
• Trauma affects how people behave. Reactions like anger, withdrawal, mistrust, or startle responses may be trauma related.
• Systems can re-traumatize. Even well-meaning services can unintentionally replicate powerlessness or harm. Trauma informed care aims to prevent harm.

Key Principles:

• Safety: Physical and emotional safety for clients and providers.
• Trust and Transparency: Clear communication and boundaries.
• Empowerment and Choice: Clients are partners in their own care.
• Cultural Humility: Acknowledging historical trauma and systemic oppression.

This approach is helpful if:

• You’re not ready to dive into trauma work yet.
• You’re looking for support with anxiety, relationships, or daily stress, and want a therapist who “gets it.”
• You’ve had difficult experiences with other systems (like school, foster care, or medical settings) and need a space that feels safer.

What Is Trauma-Focused?

Trauma-focused therapy is for people who are ready to work more directly with the effects of trauma. The goal is to help your brain and body process what happened so you can feel more present, connected, and in the driver seat of your life.

Trauma-focused therapy aims to reduce flashbacks, nightmares, emotional overwhelm, or body-based symptoms tied to past events. It’s active, structured, and designed to support deep healing by getting at the roots. Because trauma-focused therapy is a direct and specific form of therapy, specialized training is necessary to ensure it is practiced safely and efficiently.

Trauma Focused Therapies include:

• Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)
• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
• Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
• Trauma-Focused ACT (TF-ACT)
• Therapies with an emphasis on somatic memory reconsolidation

Trauma-focused therapy may be an appropriate fit for you if:

• You feel trapped in survival mode.
• You’re tired of managing symptoms and want to get to the root of your pain points.
• You’re ready to address what happened.

Which One Do You Need Right Now?

You don’t have to know exactly what kind of therapy you need. A good therapist will collaborate with you on a treatment plan. What matters most is that you feel safe, supported, and empowered in the process.

Healing from trauma is not a one-path-for-all journey. Some people start with trauma-informed therapy and later move into trauma-focused work when they’re ready. Others seek trauma-focused treatment right from the get go.

You are worthy and deserving of care that honors your pace, your story, and your strengths.