Perspective Shift is Essential to Trauma-Informed Healing

It’s been 15 years since Wellpoint Care Network began teaching Trauma Informed Care to our employees and to other professionals community-wide who serve children and families. Throughout that time, we’ve trained over 75,000 people and counting.

Perspective Shift is an important concept in creating trauma-informed healing.

Because we are passionate about the healing power of Trauma Informed Care, we need to walk the talk of Perspective Shift in our daily work with children, youth and families.

Perspective Shift is one of Wellpoint Care Network’s Seven Essential Ingredients of Trauma Informed Care, and it is essential that we engage people and view their needs and challenges through a supportive and compassionate lens.

We strive to seek to understand, rather than label or judge a person.  

Truly seeing the people whom we serve requires that we explore details — both strengths and challenges — of their life story. The popular Trauma Informed Care paradigm of “What happened to you?” rather than “What’s wrong with you?” is one dimension of Perspective Shift, but it must go deeper than just one question to be authentic and healing.

If I see someone only through their addiction or mental health symptoms, I may miss my responsibility to see them as hungry or homeless, socially-isolated or struggling with physical or mental health issues. Perspective Shift requires that I am curious and humble, engaging with an open mind and heart.

As essential as it is and complex as it might be, sometimes Perspective Shift can begin as we welcome someone into our care: “What would you like me to know about you?” “Tell me what excites you or concerns you?” shifts the perspective to develop a deeper connection.

And, as we engage in a Perspective Shift, the possibilities for positive change grow. And, healing begins.