The New Healing War: Who Gets to Be “Trauma-Informed”?

What Does “Trauma-Informed” Even Mean?

Here’s the kicker: there’s no single universal definition. It’s more of a concept than a certification.

One definition (from the CDC) describes trauma-informed care as:

A programme, organisation, or system that realises the widespread impact of trauma, recognises the signs and symptoms, and responds by integrating knowledge into policies, practices, and procedures.

Another definition (from SAMHSA) boils it down to six principles:

• Safety

• Trustworthiness and transparency

• Peer support

• Collaboration and mutuality

• Empowerment, voice, and choice

• Cultural, historical, and gender issues

Pretty broad, right? Sounds like common sense with a fancy bow.

Enter the Gatekeepers

Now, instead of using “trauma-informed” as a compass for compassion, the healing industry has weaponised it as a marketing badge. I’ve seen programmes boldly declare:
“This is the only trauma-informed training you’ll ever need. Every other coach is a danger to your nervous system.”

Really? The only one? What an interesting coincidence that the only real trauma-informed programme is also the one with a $3,000 price tag and a Facebook group.

Why It’s a Problem

Here’s the issue: when everything turns into a certification war, the people who need support get stuck in analysis paralysis.

• Am I in the “right” programme?

• Is my therapist “trauma-informed enough”?

• What if I’ve been following the wrong Instagram expert all along?

Instead of healing (or better yet, living), women end up doubting themselves, questioning their choices, and buying yet another shiny promise.

My Confession

I fell for it too. I slapped “trauma-informed” on my offerings once, thinking it made me sound more credible, more legitimate, more… sellable. After all, my programmes included all of these principles - safety, trustworthiness, empowerment, voice, and choice. Plus I built trust and compassion through my intimate personal knowledge of abuse and the afermath.

And then I removed the phrase from my offerings. Why? Because I saw all the arguing about what trauma-informed actually is, who's doing it right, why someone else is not doing it right, etc. and  I realised that trauma-informed had fallen victim to the healing industry.

Sadly, trauma-informed has become just another overused, worn out phrase similar to narcissist, codependent, nervous system dysregulation that keeps women stuck.

Here’s the truth: you don’t need the stamp of “trauma-informed” to live. You need honesty, boundaries, and the guts to choose your life without waiting for the right label.

Enough Already

The new war isn’t about trauma. It’s about branding. And like every good healing industry battle, it keeps women endlessly circling the problem instead of stepping into freedom.

So here’s my take:

• Trauma-informed is fine as a concept.

• It’s toxic as a credentialing war.

• And it’s bullshit as a sales tactic.

The woman you’re becoming doesn’t need another label. She needs rebellion.

So if you’re done with the trauma-informed wars, the labels, and the endless gatekeeping, start your rebellion where it truly begins: with my book. ENOUGH: A Woman’s Rebellion Against Healing, Narcs, and Labels is the manifesto the healing industry doesn’t want you to read. It’s your permission slip to stop buying into the trap and start building a life that’s unapologetically yours.