Understanding Trauma-Informed Language: A Guide for Foster Carers

Navigating Trauma-Informed Communication

When supporting children in foster care, our words carry power. Trauma-informed language not only helps us support the emotional resilience and healing of young people but also improves our interactions as carers. In today’s guide, we’ll explore compassionate communication principles, practical language shifts, and effective strategies for integrating trauma-informed language into your daily interactions.

Why Compassionate Language Matters

Language is a powerful tool that shapes our perception and influences how we relate to those in our care. Trauma-informed language acknowledges young people’s experiences and emotional journeys without labelling them in ways that could reinforce negative perceptions. Our goal is to foster (build or encourage) understanding, connection, and mutual respect.

Imagine This: You’re talking to a child who’s just had a challenging day at school. How we describe their behaviour—whether as “acting out” or “signalling distress”—impacts both how we perceive their needs and how they perceive themselves. By shifting our language, we support these young people in developing a stronger sense of self and emotional health.

Core Principles of Compassionate Language

Describe Experiences, Not People
Using language that focuses on the experience rather than labelling the individual helps us to avoid unnecessary judgment.
– Instead of saying “difficult child,” consider: “a child experiencing complex emotional responses.”
– Instead of “problem behaviour,” use: “stress-based survival strategy.”

Recognise Adaptation, Not Deficit
Identify behaviour as a form of communication rather than as manipulative.
– Communicating unmet needs rather than being “manipulative.”
– Seeking connection as opposed to “attention-seeking.”

Contextualise Responses
Label the behaviour by understanding its context.
– Dysregulated instead of “aggressive.”
– Expressing unprocessed emotional experiences over “acting out.”

Language of Development
Focus on the child’s growth journey.
– Instead of “well-behaved” vs “badly behaved,” think: “developing emotional regulation skills.”
– Replace “compliant” with: “learning relational patterns.”

Specific Terminology Replacements

Young People Descriptors
Instead of referring to young ones as “troublesome,” consider phrases like:
– “Young people with complex experiences”
– “Young people developing adaptive strategies”
– “Young people navigating challenging life circumstances”

Foster Carer Interactions
– Swap “controlling behaviour” for “supporting co-regulation.”
– Instead of “managing young people,” try: “supporting young people’s developmental journey.”

Emotional States
– “Emotional expression” can replace “emotional outburst.”
– “Overwhelmed nervous system response” can stand in for “meltdown.”

Organisational Language
– Switch “behaviour management” with “developmental support.”
– Reframe “risk assessment” to “safety and support planning.”

Guiding Questions for Language Use

To ensure the language reflects understanding and empathy, ask yourself:
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?

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.”

Key Linguistic Shifts

– From control to connection
– From compliance to understanding
– From managing behaviour to supporting development
– From problem-focused to relationship-centred

Practical Implementation

To integrate trauma-informed language into your care approach, consider these strategies:
1. Create a family glossary of compassionate terms.
2. Conduct language awareness sessions.
3. Encourage reflective discussions on language use.
4. Update documentation templates to reflect trauma-informed language.
5. Implement peer review processes for nurturing supportive communication.

Why Language Matters

Every word we use in our interactions has the potential to heal or harm. Trauma-informed language recognises this potential and transforms everyday exchanges into opportunities for building trust, supporting development, and strengthening relationships. It’s about making every interaction count as a step towards healing, growth, and connection.

Ongoing Evolution

Remember, this guide is meant to grow with each new insight and experience. Let’s keep learning together, updating our language as our understanding deepens. With every thoughtful conversation, we’re contributing to a supportive environment where young people can thrive.

What are your experiences with trauma-informed language? Please share your insights or challenges in the comments below, and let’s build a community of understanding and support.