CBHT Trauma-Informed Care 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What are the six key principles of trauma-informed care as identified by SAMHSA?
- Safety, trustworthiness, peer support, collaboration, empowerment, and cultural sensitivity (Correct answer)
- Assessment, diagnosis, treatment, evaluation, discharge, and follow-up
- Observation, documentation, reporting, intervention, review, and planning
- Communication, boundaries, confidentiality, advocacy, support, and education
Correct answer: Safety, trustworthiness, peer support, collaboration, empowerment, and cultural sensitivity
SAMHSA identifies six key principles of trauma-informed care: safety, trustworthiness and transparency, peer support, collaboration and mutuality, empowerment and choice, and cultural/historical/gender issues.
Question 2: Which of the following best describes 'secondary traumatic stress'?
- When a client reexperiences their original trauma during a treatment session
- Stress that develops in caregivers from indirect exposure to clients' traumatic experiences (Correct answer)
- A second traumatic event that occurs after an initial trauma
- The physical symptoms that follow an acute stress response in the client
Correct answer: Stress that develops in caregivers from indirect exposure to clients' traumatic experiences
Secondary traumatic stress refers to the emotional distress that results when helpers are exposed to another person's trauma, experiencing symptoms similar to PTSD.
Question 3: What does the acronym ACEs stand for in behavioral health?
- Acute Crisis and Emergency Situations
- Adverse Childhood Experiences (Correct answer)
- Appropriate Care and Evidence Standards
- Assessment of Clinical and Emotional Status
Correct answer: Adverse Childhood Experiences
ACEs stands for Adverse Childhood Experiences, which are traumatic events occurring before age 18 that can have lasting effects on health and wellbeing.
Question 4: Which question is central to the trauma-informed care approach compared to traditional approaches?
- What diagnosis does this client have?
- What is wrong with you?
- What happened to you? (Correct answer)
- What treatment plan is most evidence-based?
Correct answer: What happened to you?
Trauma-informed care shifts the fundamental question from 'What is wrong with you?' to 'What happened to you?', recognizing that behaviors are often responses to past trauma.
Question 5: When working with a trauma survivor who becomes agitated, which response is most trauma-informed?
- Firmly remind the client of behavioral expectations and consequences
- Approach calmly, use a soft tone, and offer choices to restore a sense of control (Correct answer)
- Immediately notify security to prevent potential violence
- Document the behavior and report it to the treatment team without intervening
Correct answer: Approach calmly, use a soft tone, and offer choices to restore a sense of control
Offering calm presence, a soft tone, and choices helps restore a sense of safety and control, which are fundamental needs for trauma survivors experiencing distress.
Question 6: The 'window of tolerance' in trauma-informed care refers to:
- The time frame allowed for completing intake paperwork
- The optimal zone of arousal where a person can process information and function effectively (Correct answer)
- The maximum number of trauma disclosures allowed per session
- The acceptable range of emotions a client may display in treatment
Correct answer: The optimal zone of arousal where a person can process information and function effectively
The window of tolerance describes the optimal zone of nervous system arousal where a person can process experiences without becoming overwhelmed (hyperaroused) or shut down (hypoaroused).
Question 7: Which of the following is NOT one of SAMHSA's six principles of trauma-informed care?
- Safety
- Empowerment, voice, and choice
- Zero tolerance for emotional outbursts (Correct answer)
- Trustworthiness and transparency
Correct answer: Zero tolerance for emotional outbursts
Zero tolerance for emotional outbursts is not a trauma-informed principle; trauma-informed care recognizes that emotional responses may be trauma-related and responds with compassion rather than punishment.
CBHT Trauma-Informed Care 1
What are the six key principles of trauma-informed care as identified by SAMHSA?