Let’s be real.
When it comes to supporting survivors of human trafficking, good intentions aren’t enough. You can’t just roll up with a clipboard, throw around some buzzwords, and expect someone to unpack a lifetime of pain at your convenience.
This isn’t charity. It’s sacred ground. And if you’re not walking in with a trauma-informed approach, you might be doing more harm than good.
I’ve lived it. And I’ve watched it happen to others.
Let’s Define It: What Is Trauma-Informed Care, Anyway?
At its core, trauma-informed care means understanding that survivors have been through hell—and that hell has a way of rewiring the body, the brain, and the way we see the world.
It’s not about pity. It’s about safety, trust, choice, collaboration, and empowerment. It’s about asking what happened to you instead of what’s wrong with you. It’s about giving people back the control that was ripped away from them.
And yes, it applies to everything—from how you speak to someone, to how you decorate a waiting room, to whether or not you respect a survivor’s “no.”
Here’s the Thing About Trauma...
It doesn’t clock out when the rescue happens. Trauma doesn’t magically disappear once the handcuffs are off the trafficker or the door’s been kicked in.
No. Trauma lingers.
It shows up in panic attacks, in a paralyzing fear of authority, in distrust of even the most well-meaning advocates. It shows up in silence. In anger. In not showing up to that appointment. Again.
And if your response is judgment instead of compassion, you've just reinforced the very thing they’re trying to heal from.
Why It Matters in the Anti-Trafficking World
Because survivors aren’t fragile—they’re fiercely resilient. But they’re also human. And for many, the systems meant to help them have retraumatized them.
Think:
Law enforcement that doesn’t believe them.
Shelters with strict rules that mimic their trafficker’s control.
Professionals who demand disclosure without trust.
Social workers who want quick results over slow healing.
I’m not saying it’s easy. I am saying we need to do better.
What a Trauma-Informed Approach Looks Like in Practice
🔹 It looks like asking permission before touching or hugging someone.
🔹 It looks like flexible policies instead of rigid punishments.
🔹 It looks like listening more than talking.
🔹 It looks like believing survivors—even when their stories are messy.
🔹 It looks like training every damn staff member, not just the therapist.
It’s not a checklist. It’s a mindset. A way of showing up for people with gentleness, dignity, and fierce, protective compassion.
Survivors Deserve More Than Safety—They Deserve Sovereignty
Being trauma-informed isn’t just good practice. It’s justice. It’s about restoring what trafficking tried to steal: voice, choice, and humanity.
If you're in this work, this fight, this calling—don’t just show up. Show up right.
Let the survivor lead. Let healing take its time. Let your care come with humility.
Because when survivors are met with respect instead of control, care instead of compliance? That’s when the real healing begins.
Let’s do this better. Together.
Survivors are not broken. They are brilliant, bold, and burning with stories that can change the world—if we’re brave enough to listen the right way.
#ThatJerseyGirl
#TraumaInformedEverything
#SurvivorStrong
#EndHumanTrafficking