Therapeutic trauma-informed practice for helping professionals in child and adolescent social welfare settings : a semi-systematic review

Abstract

Trauma is considered to be pervasive particularly in child welfare settings. Principles of traumainformed care and practice have become established and numerous efforts have been made to apply these principles when working with children and adolescents who have experienced trauma. However, a comprehensive understanding of how these principles are translated into practice, particularly in child and adolescent welfare settings seems lacking. This paper presents a semi-systematic review using thematic analysis to map and describe how trauma-informed principles are translated into practical, therapeutic skills by professionals in such settings. Nineteen peer reviewed articles published between 2000-2024 were retrieved using the HyDi search portal. The themes portray various skills and interventions considered important when working with trauma in children and adolescents. The practices of integrating embodied and creative expression and systemic interventions in social welfare practice are emphasised. Skills highlighting the power of human connections and the significance of narratives and emotional regulation in trauma-informed practice are also evident in the articles reviewed. As a result of the review, a common process that starts with the establishment of safety and moves toward narrative expression and processing is observed within containing and supportive relationships. Ultimately, this paper advocates for practice and services that are grounded in trauma-informed principles and therapeutic competence. As a result, such services and practices may contribute to meet the complexity of the needs of children and adolescents in welfare settings.