At Arbor Wellness, we understand that healing happens when individuals feel truly safe, heard, and empowered. Our trauma-informed approach to mental health care recognizes that many of the challenges our clients face stem from past traumatic experiences. 

Trauma doesn’t discriminate—it affects people of all ages, backgrounds, and walks of life throughout Middle Tennessee.

Whether you’re suffering from childhood trauma, recent traumatic events, or the cumulative effects of ongoing stress, our team is here to support you with understanding, expertise, and genuine care.

Call us now at 629-217-2658 or verify your insurance now. 

What is Trauma-Informed Care?

Trauma-informed care is a comprehensive approach to mental health treatment that recognizes the widespread impact of trauma and integrates this understanding into all aspects of service delivery. 

Rather than asking “What’s wrong with you?” trauma-informed care asks “What happened to you?”

This approach acknowledges that trauma symptoms are adaptive responses to overwhelming experiences. 

It recognizes that behaviors often labeled as “difficult” or “resistant” may actually be protective mechanisms developed to survive traumatic situations. 

By understanding trauma’s profound effects on the brain, body, and behavior, we create treatment environments that promote healing rather than inadvertently re-traumatizing clients.

Trauma-informed care shifts the focus from pathology to resilience, emphasizing each person’s inherent strength and capacity for recovery. 

It’s not just a clinical technique—it’s a fundamental shift in how we understand human behavior and approach healing relationships.

The Six Core Principles of Trauma-Informed Care

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has identified six key principles that guide trauma-informed approaches. At Arbor Wellness, these principles form the foundation of everything we do:

Safety

We believe in creating a safe environment where clients feel physically and emotionally secure.

We prioritize creating spaces where individuals can lower their guard and engage authentically in the healing process.

This includes maintaining confidentiality, providing predictable routines, and ensuring that our physical spaces feel welcoming and non-threatening.

Trustworthiness & Transparency

Trustworthiness and Transparency means operating with integrity and maintaining clear communication about our processes, policies, and treatment approaches. We believe that trust is earned through consistent, honest interactions and by following through on our commitments to our clients.

Peer Support

We integrate peer support specialists and group therapy options that allow individuals to connect with others who understand their struggles firsthand. These connections often provide hope and practical insights that complement professional treatment.

Collaboration and Mutuality

We ensure that our clients are active partners in their treatment planning and decision-making.

We recognize that individuals are the experts on their own experiences and work together to develop treatment goals that align with their values and aspirations.

Empowerment, Voice & Choice

We believe in developing each client’s personal strengths. We focus on building skills, fostering resilience, and helping individuals reclaim their sense of agency and control over their lives.

Cultural, Historical, and Gender Issues

Cultural, Historical, and Gender Issues acknowledges that trauma often intersects with systems of oppression and marginalization. We strive to provide culturally responsive care that honors each person’s identity, background, and lived experiences while addressing the broader social contexts that may contribute to trauma.

Why Does Trauma-Informed Care Matter?

Research consistently demonstrates that trauma-informed approaches lead to better treatment outcomes, reduced dropout rates, and improved overall well-being. 

When individuals feel safe and understood, they’re more likely to engage fully in treatment and develop the skills needed for lasting recovery.

Traditional approaches to mental health treatment sometimes inadvertently mirror the power dynamics and control that characterize traumatic experiences.

 Trauma-informed care actively works to prevent re-traumatization by creating collaborative, empowering treatment relationships that respect client autonomy and choice.

How We Implement Trauma-Informed Care at Arbor Wellness

Our commitment to trauma-informed care goes beyond theory—it’s woven into every aspect of our programs.

From the moment clients first contact our office to their ongoing treatment journey, we’ve designed our processes to reflect trauma-informed principles.

Our physical environment prioritizes comfort and safety.

We’ve eliminated potential triggers where possible and ensure that clients always have clear sight lines to exits, helping them feel in control of their environment.

Our clinical team receives ongoing training in trauma-informed practices, ensuring that every staff member understands trauma’s impact and knows how to respond with sensitivity and skill. We regularly assess our own practices and seek feedback from clients to continually improve our approach.

We offer a range of evidence-based trauma treatments. Our therapists work collaboratively with each client to determine which approaches feel most comfortable and effective for their unique situation.

Meet Our Mental Health Experts

Doug Williams, LPC-MHSP-S

Clinical Director

Kristin Rivera, LCSW

Executive Director

Dr. Thompson

Medical Director

Begin Mental Health Treatment in Nashville Today

If you’re ready to begin your healing journey with a team that truly understands trauma’s impact, Arbor Wellness is here to support you. Our trauma-informed approach ensures that you’ll be met with compassion, respect, and evidence-based care tailored to your unique needs and goals.

Recovery from trauma is possible, and you don’t have to navigate this journey alone. Our experienced team is committed to creating a safe space where you can explore your experiences, develop coping skills, and reclaim your sense of empowerment and hope.

Call us now at 629-217-2658 or verify your insurance now. 

TEstimonials

Don’t trust our word, let others share their experience, strength, and hope.

“Arbor Wellness Center for Mental Health will be unlike any other program in Tennessee. The level of dedication they are putting into the program from the start is something all Tennessee residents will be able to utilize.”

“The team at Arbor Wellness is known for going above and beyond for their clients. From the residential center they are building in Nashville to aftercare options and expert therapists, this program is going to change mental health treatment in TN.”

“The need for a quality residential program in Tennessee for mental health has never been greater, which is why residents of Nashville are excited for Arbor Wellness to open. We need to treat mental health seriously.”

“As a mental health professional, when I learned that Arbor Wellness was coming to Nashville, it was something I’d already been hoping for. We need to put mental health first in Tennessee and beyond!”

Don’t hesitate to contact us immediately. In the case of a medical emergency please contact 911 or visit your local emergency department.

We Work With Most Major Insurance

Did you know most major health insurance plans with out-of-network benefits can help cover most of the costs associated with our program? Click below to find out your coverage and treatment options right now.

Visit Us

Nashville, Tennessee

Open Hours

24 Hours
7 Days

Give Us a Call

629-217-2658

Many individuals experience a traumatic experience at least once over the course of their lives. Most of the time, these traumas have a lasting and significant impact on someone’s mental health. Sometimes, an individual may find that the impact of the trauma creates ongoing mental, emotional, and behavioral issues. It can also impact a person’s ability to participate in therapeutic mental health treatment programs. When this occurs, it’s important to seek trauma-informed care.

Trauma-informed mental health treatment is a type of therapeutic approach in which mental health clinicians consider the potential impact of trauma on each patient. In this article, we discuss the foundations of trauma-informed mental health treatment and how beneficial it can be to incorporate it into mental health treatment plans for patients. We also overview the trauma-informed care programs that Arbor Wellness offers for either you or your loved ones.

What Is Trauma-Informed Care?

The basis for trauma-informed care is to ensure that every patient feels safe enough to address their mental health struggles while in a treatment program. One of the biggest impacts that trauma can have on a patient is to instill feelings of distrust, insecurity, and instability. Clinicians who take a trauma-informed approach understand these feelings and try to provide compassionate, secure, safe, and welcoming care. Some of the main components to trauma-informed mental health care include:

  • A solution-based focus – Clinicians focus on what happened to the patient instead of the diagnosis of the patient.
  • Avoiding re-traumatizing events – Therapy can sometimes trigger thoughts and memories of traumatic events and experiences. If that occurs during a session it can create a lot of stress and fear for the patient. Clinicians who are knowledgeable and consider trauma are proactive in avoiding this type of situation from occurring.
  • All levels of staff are educated in trauma-informed care-In a mental health treatment program it is important for every single staff member, even if they do not hold a medical license, to be aware and practice trauma-informed care. Both the clinical and non-clinical team should be working together to create the safest environment possible for the patients.

When the team of care providers at a facility take a trauma informed approach to treatment it gives clients the chance to fully process the events that have occurred in their lives which may be impacting their mental health. 

This woman is getting the most out of trauma-informed care
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The Benefits Of Trauma-Informed Care

When clients have a history of trauma it is important to understand that it can exacerbate any existing mental health illnesses. Trauma can also trigger a secondary mental health diagnosis as well. For example an individual who experiences a traumatic car accident may develop an anxiety disorder, or post traumatic stress disorder. In order for the client to achieve a state of overall wellness the core trauma must be addressed and properly treated.

This is why trauma-informed care is so beneficial. A provider who takes a trauma-informed approach will address both of the dual diagnoses. They will also understand the importance of creating a safe treatment plan that will not trigger the client into experiencing the emotions or trigger flashbacks of the traumatic event itself. Seeking out a trauma-informed clinician is vital to achieving lasting healing from your behavioral health struggles.

The Principles Of Trauma-Informed Care

There are five core principles of trauma informed mental health treatment. The principles aid clinicians in setting up proper procedures and treatment plans for the clients participating in their programs. There five principles are as follows:

  1. Creating Safety For Patients

The number one most important factor in treating individuals who have experienced trauma is creating an emotionally and physically safe environment.

  1. Allow The Patients To Have Choices

Providers need to properly inform patients of the choices that they have during the treatment process. During most traumatizing events a person’s ability to make a choice is removed. Changing the narrative and allowing an individual to regain their choices during the therapeutic process is extremely beneficial. 

  1.  Collaborating With Patients

The patient should be an active participant in their treatment process. Clinicians and clients should work together to create a treatment plan that is comfortable, safe, and effective.

  1. Establishing Trust

During the treatment process clinicians should take the time to establish trust with the patient. Processing trauma is a difficult process, and it is important that the client trusts the person they are working with.

  1. Developing A Client’s Sense Of Empowerment 

Assisting clients develop their sense of confidence and empowerment is the key to a successful course of treatment. Part of overcoming trauma is helping patients rebuild their self-esteem and belief in themselves. 

When mental health professionals utilize the five core principles of trauma-informed treatment they are able to make sure that their care addresses all of the client’s needs. If programs and facilities ensure that clients receive safe, compassionate, and trauma informed care, then they are more likely to achieve long-term success overcoming their mental health struggles.

Trauma-Informed Care In Nashville, TN

Here at Arbor Wellness we take a trauma-informed mental health care approach with all of our clients. We understand that a majority of people who enter into our program have experienced at least one traumatic event.

We take the time to keep our entire staff educated on the best trauma-informed therapeutic treatments and foster a safe environment for every single one of the patients that attend our programs. If you or a loved one is struggling with their mental health due to trauma, call our admissions team today. We will walk through the healing process with you every step of the way and help you achieve long lasting healing and peace.