How Trauma-Informed Language Transforms Care
Compassionate Language Principles
When caring for foster children who have experienced trauma, our language plays a crucial role in shaping their healing journey. Here, we guide you through trauma-informed language principles designed to nurture understanding and connection.
Describe Experiences, Not People
Avoid labelling children by their behaviours. Instead, describe their experiences:
– Avoid: “difficult child”
– Use: “child experiencing complex emotional responses”
– Avoid: “problem behaviour”
– Use: “stress-based survival strategy”
By focusing on the experience, we acknowledge the root cause rather than assigning blame.
Recognise Adaptation, Not Deficit
Children’s behaviours are often adaptations to unmet needs:
– Avoid: “manipulative”
– Use: “communicating unmet needs”
– Avoid: “attention-seeking”
– Use: “seeking connection” or “signalling distress”
Shifting our focus helps us foster connections by understanding the intent behind the behaviour.
Contextualise Responses
When children act out, try adding a trauma-informed perspective:
– Avoid: “aggressive”
– Use: “dysregulated” or “experiencing a protective response”
– Avoid: “acting out”
– Use: “expressing unprocessed emotional experiences”
This approach allows us to view behaviours as responses needing empathy and support.
Language of Development
Replace judgmental terms with language focused on growth:
– Avoid: “well-behaved” vs “badly behaved”
– Use: “developing emotional regulation skills”
– Avoid: “compliant”
– Use: “learning relational patterns”
This shift promotes a focus on the child’s developmental journey.
Specific Terminology Replacements
Young People Descriptors
– 
Troublesome
– 
Young people with complex experiences
– Hard to reach-
Young people developing adaptive strategies
– Challenging
– Young people navigating challenging life circumstances
Using these terms provides space for understanding and empathy.
Foster Carer Interactions
– Controlling behaviour
– Supporting co-regulation
– Managing young people
– Supporting young people’s developmental journey
These adjustments reflect a supportive and constructive approach.
Emotional States
– Emotional outburst
– Emotional expression
– Meltdown
– Overwhelmed nervous system response
Recognising emotional expressions reframes the narrative to one of support and soothing.
Organisational Language
– Behaviour management
– Developmental support
– Challenging Behaviour
– Responses
– Risk assessment
– Safety and support planning
Reframing organisational language creates an environment that values support over control.
Guiding Questions for Language Use
When communicating, consider these questions:
1. Does this language recognise the young person’s underlying experience?
2. Am I describing a behaviour or judging a person?
3. Does this terminology reflect understanding or blame?
4. Would I be comfortable being described this way?
Reflective language ensures our words contribute positively to a child’s care environment.
Examples of Transformed Paragraphs
Before (Problematic)
“The difficult child was acting out, causing problems for staff and disrupting the home environment.”
After (Trauma-Informed)
“The young person was experiencing significant emotional dysregulation, signalling unmet developmental needs that required compassionate, co-regulatory support.”
Transformations like this demonstrate the power of language in promoting understanding and healing.
Key Linguistic Shifts
– From control to connection
– From compliance to understanding
– From managing behaviour to supporting development
– From problem-focused to relationship-centred
These shifts are essential in creating nurturing environments for foster children.
Practical Implementation
1. Create a Family Glossary: Develop a shared list of trauma-informed terms for everyone involved in the child’s care.
2. Conduct Language Awareness Training: Regular sessions can help reinforce compassionate communication.
3. Encourage Reflective Discussions: Create spaces for carers to discuss language use and its impact.
4. Update Documentation Templates: Reflect trauma-informed practices in all written communications.
5. Develop Peer Review Processes: Implement procedures to ensure language remains ongoingly compassionate and supportive.
By applying these strategies, we can foster a more empathetic and understanding environment for foster children.
Why Language Matters
Language is not just about words—it’s about perception, relationships, and the human experience of being understood. Trauma-informed language recognises that every interaction is an opportunity for healing, connection, and developmental support.
Ongoing Evolution
This guide is a living document. Language evolves, and our understanding deepens. Regularly review and update these guidelines with input from young people, carers, and emerging research.
Trauma-informed language can transform how we view and respond to the children in our care. Start implementing these shifts today and witness the profound connections you can build. We hope this guide helps you create a nurturing and healing environment for the young people in your life.
Call-to-Action: Share your experiences or questions in the comments below. What language shifts have made the most impact in your caregiving journey? Explore more resources to deepen your understanding and continue this transformative work. Remember, the small changes we make today build a brighter future for the children in our care.
