- If you are supporting someone who was abused or traumatised as a child, there is information and support to help you
- People can and do recover from child abuse and trauma, with the right support
- This section of the website provides information to help you find support both for yourself and for the survivor you are supporting
- If you or someone you know is impacted by childhood trauma you can call Blue Knot Helpline on 1300 657 380 between 9-5 Mon-Sun AEST
As children, many survivors, were harmed in relationships with adults or other children. This can make it hard for them to trust people, to feel and be safe and to seek help. If a survivor has reached out to you, you can play an important role in their healing.
Because childhood trauma happened within relationships, healing also happens within relationships. It is important work. It can be confronting, confusing and exhausting. Yet it can also be inspiring and life changing, as we witness healing. And the strength and resilience survivors have. The good news is that people can and do recover from childhood trauma. It doesn’t mean that their trauma goes away. Just that it no longer overwhelms them, as often.
If you’re a family member, friend, partner, neighbour or work colleague, Blue Knot Foundation can support you as you support the survivor you care about. Firstly it’s important to find out as much as you can about childhood trauma and abuse. How it can affect people. And how people cope. It’s also important to find support and information for yourself. Just as survivors often feel isolated and alone, those who support them can feel the same way.
It can help to take a `trauma-informed’ approach. The core principles of safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration and empowerment are simply. Yet they provide a framework for healthy relationships.
Applying the principles can help reduce upsetting and destabilising interactions. Being trauma-informed means understanding that many problems are trauma-related. It helps survivors and their supporters to see the links between `past’ experiences and life challenges in the present. To read more about trauma-informed care, click here.