Trauma-Informed, Trauma-Competent, and Trauma-Sensitive Leadership

Trauma-Informed, Trauma-Competent, and Trauma-Sensitive Leadership

Deborah Brown | 2025

Abstract

Trauma, the ‘hidden pandemic,’ represents a public health crisis that profoundly impacts local, national, and global levels. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that one in five Americans experiences sexual abuse during childhood. One in four endures physical abuse from a parent, leaving visible marks and bruises on their bodies, while one in three couples engage in physical violence. A quarter of us grew up with an alcoholic relative, and one in eight witnessed their mother being beaten. The US Department of Labor confirms that one in seven occupational deaths is related to workplace violence. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 718 workplace homicides and suicides in 2021. Researchers estimate that about 90% of adults will encounter at least one traumatic event in their lifetime, and approximately 6% of the population will experience PTSD at some point, making trauma one of the most under-recognized epidemics worldwide. The ripple effects of trauma extend not only to those who directly experience it but also to those around them.

According to SAMHSA (2014), trauma encompasses any perceived harm that results in lasting adverse effects on a person’s overall functioning and well-being. Examples of trauma include natural disasters, diseases, physical or emotional abuse, prejudice, and community violence. These often terrifying events significantly impact both personal and public health. Felitti et al. (1998) provide strong evidence showing that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), such as abuse, neglect, and household challenges, are associated with later depression, substance use disorders, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancers. Unfortunately, children born in the early years of the twenty-first century have grown up in a world where mass shootings are a constant reality; this has become their norm, and they will be our future leaders.

A trauma-informed approach can be valuable for tackling workplace conflicts and leadership challenges. Not all wounds are visible. Viewing people through the lens of trauma-informed care can shift the focus from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?” This proactive approach to managing stress and uncertainty and supervising individuals can transform working relationships into more productive and meaningful exchanges rather than being burdened with blame, unproductive or toxic interactions, and unsafe environments. In our current climate, Christian leaders who will transform the world must be trauma-informed, trauma-sensitive, and trauma-competent. They must foster psychologically safe environments and possess both strategic and spiritual foresight to envision the future of leadership through the lens of trauma. There is a changing of the guard. Proverbs 14:11: “Where no counsel is, the people fail: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” Lead well. Lead wisely.