What are the five principles of trauma-informed care?

What are the five principles of trauma-informed care?

• A. Safety, Trust, Choice, Collaboration, and Empowerment
• B. Safety, Trust, Choice, Collaboration, and Empowerment
• C. Safety, Privacy, Autonomy, and Accountability
• D. Respect, Honesty, Consistency, Support, and Validation

Answer: (B)

Trauma-informed care centers on five guiding principles that shape every interaction to keep people safe and engaged in healing: Safety, Trustworthiness (often paired with transparency), Choice, Collaboration, and Empowerment. Safety means creating both physical and emotional security in the care environment—clear expectations, consistent boundaries, and predictable routines so individuals feel protected. Trustworthiness and transparency involve honest, open communication about what will happen, who is responsible for decisions, and how confidentiality is handled, so people know what to expect and can rely on staff. Offering Choice means honoring personal preferences and providing options, supporting autonomy and control in care decisions. Collaboration emphasizes partnering with individuals rather than doing things to them, sharing power, and working together in planning and delivery of care. Empowerment focuses on recognizing strengths, building skills, and enabling people to take an active role in their healing and in shaping their care. These five principles collectively create a framework that reduces re-traumatization and supports recovery. Other option sets mix in related ideas—such as privacy, accountability, or general honesty and respect—but they do not list the standard five core trauma-informed principles.

Trauma-informed care centers on five guiding principles that shape every interaction to keep people safe and engaged in healing: Safety, Trustworthiness (often paired with transparency), Choice, Collaboration, and Empowerment. Safety means creating both physical and emotional security in the care environment—clear expectations, consistent boundaries, and predictable routines so individuals feel protected. Trustworthiness and transparency involve honest, open communication about what will happen, who is responsible for decisions, and how confidentiality is handled, so people know what to expect and can rely on staff. Offering Choice means honoring personal preferences and providing options, supporting autonomy and control in care decisions. Collaboration emphasizes partnering with individuals rather than doing things to them, sharing power, and working together in planning and delivery of care. Empowerment focuses on recognizing strengths, building skills, and enabling people to take an active role in their healing and in shaping their care.

These five principles collectively create a framework that reduces re-traumatization and supports recovery. Other option sets mix in related ideas—such as privacy, accountability, or general honesty and respect—but they do not list the standard five core trauma-informed principles.