Trauma-informed Design
Myths and Facts
There are a lot of misconceptions about Trauma-informed Design (TiD).
Hover over the boxes below to debunk some of the most common.
TiD is mostly about finishes.
Myth
Reality
TiD starts with developing an understanding of the users of a space to identify and mitigate stressors and potential triggers in three speres: policy and practice, the design process itself, and the built environment.
TiD is only appropriate when designing for people who have been traumatized.
Myth
Reality
The goal of TiD is to reduce stress in the built environment. Since toxic levels of stress are what can cause a difficult event to be experienced as traumatic, TiD is appropriate for all projects, as it can prevent a person from becoming traumatized.
Including TiD in a project costs more.
Myth
Reality
When a TiD approach is built into the design process from the beginning, it does not have to cost more than a traditional design process.
Cool and earth-based colors are best for TiD environments.
Myth
Reality
The way a person perceives color is greatly impacted by culture and their lived experiences. Even when accounting for cultural considerations, TiD incorporates activating as well as calming spaces.
TiD is just "good design."
Myth
Reality
TiD is an approach to design practice with the primary goal of reducing stress for users, not only in the built environment, but also throughout the design process and the interactions that take place within the space.
There is no scientific basis for TiD.
Myth
Reality
TiD is evidenced-informed and grounded in evidence-based trauma-informed care practices, including the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's principles and other clinical practices that have been shown to be effective.
There are Big "T" and little "t" truamas.
Myth
Reality
Trauma is defined as any adverse event that a person believes put their life or wellbeing at risk and that has lasting negative effects on their life. Given this definition, it is clear that there is no gradient to trauma. If it has long-term impacts, it is traumatic.
TiD is just a current fad.
Myth
Reality
TiD is a key component to designing for health and wellness. Traumatic experiences result in significantly increased risk of poor health and mental health outcomes, and TiD is one way to prevent traumatic experiences and reduce stress responses and retruamatization.
TiD moves from "What is wrong with you?" to
“What happened to you?”
Myth
Reality
TiD should identify the strengths of individuals and organizations and build on those strengths. This "what's right" approach is more holistic, provides building blocks for resilience development, and avoids pathologizing those we serve.
TiD can be boiled down to a handful of design features.
Myth
Reality
TiD requires practitioners to identify and mitigate stressors and potential triggers in three spheres--policy and practice, the design process, and the built environment. This can only be done by cultivating an understanding of intended users and their lived experiences.