1st Edition

Trauma-informed Care for Nurses and Allied Healthcare Professionals

Edited By Sarah Housden Copyright 2026
176 Pages 2 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

176 Pages 2 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

This practical book equips nurses and healthcare practitioners with essential knowledge and skills for understanding and supporting people who are experiencing mental and emotional distress as a result of the unresolved effects of past trauma.

The book explores why people experiencing stress or distress due to adverse events in the distant or recent past, may use what are sometimes called ‘maladaptive’ coping mechanisms to relieve the intensity of their feelings. The skills-based approach of the book addresses key topics around adverse childhood events and trauma in ways which demonstrate the humanity of people living with mental health diagnoses or mental and emotional distress. Supporting readers to respond effectively and compassionately to people experiencing this type of distress, this book is informed throughout by anonymised service user perspectives and includes examples of good practice, suggestions for small changes that make meaningful differences, and reflective activities.

Promoting practice that enables people who have experienced trauma to feel safer, more hopeful, and function at their best, this guide is an essential read for all health professionals.

Series Preface

Sarah Housden

 

Chapter 1        Introduction

Sarah Housden

 

Chapter 2        What is Trauma?

Claire Moran

 

Chapter 3        The Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences Across the lifespan

Rebecca Turner

 

Chapter 4        Understanding and Working with People with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Hannah Bailey

 

Chapter 5        Effective Support for People with Complex PTSD and those Diagnosed with a Personality Disorder

Sharon Martin-Brown

 

Chapter 6        Supporting Traumatised Individuals: Covering the B.A.C.E.S

Tamsin Black and Sarah Housden

 

Chapter 7        Health and Care Services and the Risk of Retraumatisation

Trudii Isherwood and Lou Cherrill

 

Chapter 8        Trauma Informed Care: Principles, Practices, and Benefits

Hannah Bailey

 

Chapter 9        The Traumatised Practitioner: Self-Awareness, Supervision and Reflective Practice

Sarah Housden

 

Chapter 10      Conclusion

Sarah Housden

Biography

Sarah Housden is an occupational therapist and Associate Professor in Health Sciences at the University of East Anglia (UEA), passionate about improving healthcare practice for all.