Embodiment as a Trauma-Informed Healer
Guest article contribution by Flow Breathwork Facilitator Raven Bee
The term "trauma-informed" has become ubiquitous in the healing arts. It’s great that there’s an abundance of free and paid resources available to help us understand how “little t” trauma shapes our experiences and impacts the decisions we make. Anyone can take a weekend workshop and instantly add “trauma-informed” to their credentials. But what does it really mean to be trauma-informed, and how can we, as practitioners in the healing arts, approach this work with integrity and genuine care?
Embodiment is Key to Ethical Practice
While training and education are non-negotiable, becoming trauma-informed isn't just about knowledge. It's about embodiment—living the principles we teach and having done our own healing work, while simultaneously understanding that our work is never fully “complete.” The unsettling reality is that even with the best intentions, a well-meaning practitioner can inadvertently cause harm if they are not conscious of their own traumas and triggers.
While there’s no codified blueprint for embodying work as a healer, I wanted to share my personal pillars of embodiment through the lens of my complex PTSD recovery from childhood sexual abuse (CSA), and as a guide supporting women in midlife to reclaim their sensuality after experiencing CSA and sexual assault.
Self-Awareness is a Must
Understanding your own triggers and vulnerabilities is the cornerstone of trauma-informed care. We’re human and we’ll of course have “blind spots.” But check in with yourself on the regular. Acknowledging where you're still growing and how your past experiences might influence your work is key to understanding your boundaries and facilitating safety for you and your clients.
I’ve found that journaling and reflection are the simplest tools to help build self-awareness. In a season when my creative energy is buzzing, I turn my reflections into poetry, visual art, or flash fiction. During quieter times, I’m just making a bullet list. Here are my go-tos for regular self-inquiry:
What emotions have I been feeling most strongly this week, and where do I feel them in my body?
Have I noticed any patterns in my behaviors?
Are there any areas where I feel triggered or activated?
Cultivating self-awareness isn't always easy. You will inevitably encounter resistance or discomfort. In those moments, self-compassion is your BFF. Be patient with yourself, celebrate your progress, and don't hesitate to lean on support (like a mentor, coach, therapist, or trusted friend) when you need to.
By consistently engaging in self-awareness practices and cultivating self-compassion, you'll deepen your understanding of yourself and be better equipped to show up for your clients with authenticity and compassion.
Self-Care is Sacred
Having a consistent self-care practice is vital for trauma-informed healers. It's not just about salt scrubs and bath bombs; it's about intentionally tending to your whole-being so you can show up for your clients from your place of wholeness. (This includes shadow work!)
Breathwork: Breathwork not only calms the nervous system and reduces stress but also helps us to become more present and grounded. Even a few minutes of intentional breathing has been proven to shift your energy and outlook.
Creative Play: Allow yourself to do things that bring you joy and spark your creativity. Painting, drawing, doodling, writing, dancing, or spending time in nature, playfulness nourishes the spirit and builds resilience.
Rest and Naps: Give yourself permission to rest and recharge. Naps aren't just for mini-humans; they’re a natural restorative tool for energy and emotional balance!
Now that I prioritize my Self care, I've found that I no longer become overwhelmed by my thoughts or to-do lists. Instead, I approach each day with more ease and trust, knowing that what needs to get done will get done. When I show up for clients, I'm grounded, calm, and centered, which creates a safe and supportive space for their healing journey.
Experiment with different self-care practices to discover what truly nourishes you. Listen to the wisdom of your body and adjust your practices as needed. Here’s a great resource to help start building your toolkit!
Practice What You Preach
Don’t just talk about it, be about it! Using the tools and techniques you share with your clients is foundational for embodying trauma-informed care. It deepens your understanding of their experiences and enhances your ability to guide them effectively.
Breathwork is a part of my process for others because it was the key to incremental progress in my own healing journey. I use it to establish a baseline of physiological safety in the body, cultivate body literacy, and facilitate a deeper connection to emotions. Practicing breathwork for myself is how I calm my nervous system and connect to my intuition.
Meet Yourself Where You Are
As trauma-informed practitioners, we must recognize our own boundaries; seriously consider where you are in your own healing journey before taking on a client with experiences similar to your unresolved trauma. A good indicator of readiness is when you can reflect on your own experiences as an observer, not a victim, and when you can remain emotionally regulated while witnessing your client as they share their experiences.
If you're unsure whether you're ready to work with certain types of trauma, err on the side of caution. Ask yourself honestly why you want to work with this type of trauma and whether you can truly hold a safe space while supporting someone with it. This is a practice in radical accountability and honesty.
When you encounter a client whose needs are outside your scope, be transparent. Let them know that it would serve them better to work with someone who specializes in that area and offer to refer them to qualified practitioners. This is a marker of professionalism and commitment to an ethical practice and it ensures that your clients receive the best possible care.
Honor Your Lineage
Incorporating spiritual practices into healing work can be incredibly powerful. But it's crucial to approach these practices with respect and cultural awareness.
By honoring the lineage of these practices, we not only show respect for the communities from whom they originate but we also demonstrate cultural competency. I also like to remember that we’re not all entitled to learn certain practices simply because we’re curious about it. This is important if we’re committed to reducing harm caused by cultural appropriation, whitewashing, and expanding accessibility to the communities we serve.
If you're not sure about the cultural origins or appropriate use of a spiritual practice, do some research. Consult with experts, read books and articles by authors from the relevant cultures, and engage in respectful dialogue with willing members of the community.
Ruptures are Valuable Teachers
The reality is that emotional ruptures are a natural part of the process when we’re healing through trauma. Sure, it’s uncomfortable, but these moments can offer opportunities for deeper connection, growth, and emotional safety.
Embodying trauma-informed care means we’ve done the groundwork for ourselves that prepares us to hold space for clients when they become dysregulated. Remember that in some cases, you might be the first person who has ever modeled emotional safety for them.
Trust Yourself and Trust in the Process: Believe in your ability to navigate difficult conversations.
Active Listening: Truly listen to your client's experience without judgment.
Vulnerability: Acknowledge your role in the rupture with compassion.
Curiosity: Seek to understand your client's perspective without needing to fully agree.
When clients feel safe enough to express their needs to you, even when it triggers a rupture, it demonstrates progress in their healing journey. By navigating these moments with grace and empathy, we’re supporting clients to build emotional resilience that empowers them to cultivate healthier relationships within and without – and that’s the goal, isn’t it?!
Embodiment as Right Relationship
At the heart of trauma-informed care is the commitment to being in the right relationship— starting first with ourselves, then our clients, communities, and the world around us. This means honoring our boundaries, practicing humility, and showing up with authenticity and compassion.
Our path as healers is a winding lifelong journey. As we continue to learn and grow, we deepen our capacity to hold space for others with wisdom, integrity, and genuine, nurturing care.
Raven Bee is a Flow Breathwork Facilitator + Mentor, a certified complex PTSD recovery coach, and a certified mystic astrologer. She is a daughter of Filipino immigrants and the first in her lineage born away from The Philippines. Healing through her childhood experiences fuels her current desire for intergenerational healing, ancestral veneration, and the reclamation of our sensual bodies. She loves to play with creative expression through music, writing, and doodling.
Learn more about her offerings at www.ravenbeerosehealingarts.com
