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Not long ago, I attended a research community meeting on trauma-informed research, which struck a chord with me. The presentations sparked my desire to contribute to trauma-informed research from a clinical perspective, which has culminated in this series.

As a user researcher and a full clinical member of the UK Council for Psychotherapy, I am acutely aware of not positioning myself as an all-knowing expert. I am compelled to express my concern, not only for research participants but mainly for researchers who may underestimate the gravity of working with a traumatised population. The intention of this series is not to concern, worry, or shame those who haven’t considered the points made here, but rather to provide the necessary support to assist researchers in finding appropriate resources when conducting trauma-informed research.

This series is informed by my five-year MSc psychotherapy programme and reflects my post-graduate training in contemporary trauma practice. Additionally, I actively pursued training in Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) (Shapiro, 1995), a method endorsed by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as a treatment for PTSD, with several studies confirming its efficacy (Etten and Taylor, 1998; Bradley et al., 2005; Bisson et al., 2007). Countless hours spent in clinical practice with individuals have shaped my perspective, heavily influenced by the profound impact of trauma.

Throughout my training, I’ve discovered that trauma, often the underpinning of various mental health issues, isn’t always readily apparent. Indeed, those who’ve survived trauma may hide their reactions effectively, sometimes until it’s too late. This situation poses challenges not just for the person experiencing the traumatic response but also for the observer, in this case, the researcher.

This series provides a concise overview of essential trauma theories using straightforward models. It flags the critical signs of trauma responses and offers practical interventions to halt escalating trauma reactions. My aim is to share my clinical insights to aid fellow researchers in safely navigating the complexities of trauma-informed research. It is important to note that this series serves as a guide and reference, and it is not a substitute for hands-on skills practice.

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