Problem
Scenario: Sally
You are a Mental Health Support Worker for Indigo Inc. All staff have recently undertaken training to support in an organisational shiftto work within a framework of Trauma Informed Care.
Today you are seeing a new client, who presented at intake last week. The intake worker was able to gather the following information.
Sally is a 29 year old women, who is living in a share house with 2 other people. Sally has previously worked in hospitality but is currently looking for work.
Sally's uncle had been sexually abusing Sally for years but had stopped when she was about 14. Sally had tried to keep watch over her little sister to make sure she was safe. Shortly after her abuse stopped Sally saw her little sister being sexually assaulted by her uncle. Eventually she told her mother about the abuse of her sister but not about her own abuse because she was ashamed. Her little sister refused to say anything and Sally's mother made her apologise to Uncle Robert and Aunty Pam for making up stories.
Sally started hanging out with friends who didn't go to school much, were drinking and driving around in cars late at night. One night when she was 16 her drink was spiked and her boyfriend and his mates raped her. They said she was 'up for it' and they all had a lot of fun. Sally stated she often felt numb inside anyway, and didn't tell anyone.
Sally comes to see you because she has experienced chronic depression for the past 10 years, often feels numb, has difficulty maintaining relationships, has previously used alcohol to excess, and has on some occasions used self-harming to manage her level of distress.
A. Explain 2 ways you will use the principles of trauma informed care practice discussed in question 2 to respond client distress.
B. Traumatic stress responses are normal reactions to abnormal circumstances. In the face of traumatic experiences, people learn to adapt to keep themselves safe. List and explain 2 coping strategies that Sally has used and explain how you could support changes in the adaptive responses.
Table: Written response
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Coping response and explanation
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How you could support changes in the adaptive responses
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C. Explain how you will help Sally to explore strengths and resources.
D. Identify 2 barriers to implementing trauma informed care and practice principles.
E. Explain how you could you raise these barriers with appropriate supervisors.