Jax Wechsler - Trauma-Informed Design Research

Trauma is common within society at large and is particularly prevalent amongst vulnerable populations, First Nations peoples and people with Lived Experience of mental health issues. Trauma informed practice is a strengths-based framework that supports responsiveness to the impact of trauma, enabling physical, psychological, and emotional safety for both providers and survivors. In this presentation Jax will discuss the five guiding principles of trauma informed practice; safety, choice, collaboration, trustworthiness and empowerment and consider how they may apply within design research contexts

Transcript

1. Jax Wechsler

   jax@stickydesignstudio.com.au | @jacwex
   TRAUMA INFORMED 

   DESIGN RESEARCH
   

   View Slide

2. Jax Wechsler
   jax@stickydesignstudio.com.au | @jacwex
   https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacquelinewechsler/
   

   View Slide

3. Photo by Jesse Bowser on Unsplash
   Talk Overview
   • Lets talk about Trauma
   
   • Key concepts relating to Trauma
   
   • 5 Principles of Trauma Informed Care (TIC)
   
   • How HCD Research can cause harm
   
   • TIC Principles in Design Practice
   
   • Resources
   

   View Slide

4. http://bit.ly/DesignJusticeOverview
   Lets talk about Design Justice
   DISCLAIMER!
   

   View Slide

5. Defining trauma
   “an event, a series of events or a set of circumstances that is experienced
   by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or life threatening and
   that has lasting adverse effects on the individual’s functioning and mental,
   physical, social, emotional, or spiritual well-being.”
   SRC: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. SAMHSA’s concept of
   trauma and guidance for a trauma-informed approach. Rockville2014. (SMA) 14-4884
   Definition.
   Photo by Kristina Tripkovic on Unsplash
   

   View Slide

6. Some types of trauma
   Acute Trauma
   
   Chronic Trauma
   
   Complex Trauma
   
   Relational Trauma
   
   PTSD
   
   Photo by Anandu Vinod on Unsplash
   Intergenerational Trauma
   
   Collective Trauma
   
   Racialised Trauma
   
   Vicarious Trauma
   
   Traumatic Stress …..
   

   View Slide

7. View Slide

8. Loss of control
   Betrayal
   Confusion
   Helplessness
   Pain
   Loss
   Abuse of
   Power
   Circumstances typically involve
   Photo by Paweł Czerwiński on Unsplash
   

   View Slide

9. Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash
   Many people with Lived
   Experience of Mental
   Health challenges have
   experienced Trauma
   

   View Slide

10. Trauma is embodied
    Photo by Goh Rhy Yan on Unsplash
    

    View Slide

11. Trauma healing is relational
    Photo by Egor Myznik on Unsplash
    

    View Slide

12. Trauma is intergenerational
    Photo by Rod Long on Unsplash
    encoded in our DNA, through families”

    - Resmaa Menakem
    “
    

    View Slide

13. Australia by Sergey Demushkin from the Noun Project
    65%
    of Australians are expected
    to experience trauma at
    some stage of their life
    

    View Slide

14. Photo by Ondrej Machart on Unsplash
    …we know we cannot live in the past 

    but the past lives in us’ 

    -Dr Charles Nelson Perrurle Perkins in One Night the Moon 2001).
    “
    

    View Slide

15. Trauma informed practice 

    is a strengths-based framework that supports responsiveness
    to the impact of trauma, enabling physical, psychological, and
    emotional safety for both providers and survivors.
    Photo by Karson on Unsplash
    

    View Slide

16. https://www.aci.health.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/561977/
    ACI-Mental-Health-Trauma-informed-care-mental-health-NSW.pdf
    The 5 Principles of 

    Trauma Informed Care
    

    View Slide

17. Human Centred Design

    Research

    can cause harm for

    people who have 

    experienced trauma
    
    Photo by Kenrith Mills on Unsplash
    

    View Slide

18. Photo by Stefano Pollio on Unsplash
    Trauma interferes with the proper functioning of
    brain areas that manage and interpret
    experience… - Bessel van der Kolk
    “
    

    View Slide

19. Trauma informed practices
    
    are critical for
    
    good HCD practice
    Photo by thom masat on Unsplash
    

    View Slide

20. TRAUMA INFORMED 

    PRACTICE

    Key Concepts
    Photo by Billy Huynh on Unsplash
    

    View Slide

21. • To feel safe
    
    • To feel in control
    
    • To express their emotions
    
    • To know what comes next

    

    (Office for Victims of Crimes, 2001, Using a Trauma-Informed Approach
    Photo by Matthew Waring on Unsplash
    What do trauma survivors need?
    

    View Slide

22. Photo by Jakub Balon on Unsplash
    Appreciative Inquiry
    Being Strength Based
    

    View Slide

23. Photo by Etienne Boulanger on Unsplash
    Disclosure
    

    View Slide

24. Photo by Michael Olsen on Unsplash
    Triggers
    

    View Slide

25. Photo by Aarón Blanco Tejedor on Unsplash
    Re-traumatisation
    

    View Slide

26. Photo by Kat J on Unsplash
    Duty of care
    

    View Slide

27. Photo by Ian on Unsplash
    Vicarious Trauma
    

    View Slide

28. Photo by Claudio Schwarz | @purzlbaum on Unsplash
    Collaboration
    

    View Slide

29. Photo by mostafa meraji on Unsplash
    Cultural Safety
    

    View Slide

30. Photo by Tim Marshall on Unsplash
    All in!
    

    View Slide

31. Signs of Distress
    Physical signs
    
    • a person turning pale
    
    • breathing fast/panting breaths
    
    • dilated pupils
    
    • shivers or feeling cold
    
    • profuse sweating
    Look by Alice Design from the Noun Projec
    Other signs
    
    • Difficulty concentrating
    • Difficulty remembering
    • Confusion
    • Disorientation
    • Irritability
    • Anxiety
    • Restlessness
    Photo by Tim Marshall on Unsplash
    

    View Slide

32. You can help someone move through anxiety and come back to the
    present moment by
    
    (1) asking them to name the objects in the room
    
    (2) state the date and time
    
    (3) invite them to feel their in and out-breath
    
    (4) fidget toys e.g. plasticine - somatic comfort
    First Aid icon by Linseed Studio from the Noun Project
    Meeting Distress
    Photo by Colin Watts on Unsplash
    

    View Slide

33. Lets talk about

    DESIGN PRACTICE
    

    View Slide

34. put the wellbeing of the
    person in front of you before
    your research objectives.
    ALWAYS
    IMMOVABLE RULE
    Photo by Tim Marshall on Unsplash
    

    View Slide

35. The 5 Principles of 

    Trauma Informed Care
    

    View Slide

36. + GETTING THERE
    
    + LOCATION 

    + TRIGGERS 

    + CULTURAL SAFETY
    
    SAFETY
    Photo by Paweł Czerwiński on Unsplash
    
    + INTERVIEWS
    
    + FEEDBACK

    + AFTER
    

    View Slide

37. 

    +STOPPING

    + PARTICIPATION 

    CHOICE
    Photo by Paweł Czerwiński on Unsplash
    
    + OPTIONS 

    + FLEXIBILITY
    

    View Slide

38. + BIAS 

    + CONNECTION 

    + LANGUAGE 

    EMPOWERMENT
    Photo by Paweł Czerwiński on Unsplash
    
    + CAPACITY
    
    + CO-DESIGN 

    + POWER
    

    View Slide

39. + CLARITY 

    + PRIVACY

    + TRANSPARENCY
    
    + CADENCE 

    TRUSTWORTHINESS
    Photo by Paweł Czerwiński on Unsplash
    
    + INTERACTIONS 

    + OPENNESS
    + POWER DIFFERENTIALS 

    + ALLIES
    

    View Slide

40. + OTHERS 

    + REIMBURSEMENT 

    + CULTURAL SAFETY

    + VOICE ELEVATION
    
    COLLABORATION
    Photo by Paweł Czerwiński on Unsplash
    
    + ENGAGEMENT
    
    + FOLLOW THROUGH
    
    + PARTNERING
    

    View Slide

41. Recruit
    Physical 

    Space
    Engage
    After
    Plan
    Design Research Process
    Photo by Nathan Anderson on Unsplash
    
    

    View Slide

42. Identify SMEs,
    allies and
    advocates
    Pre-work /
    sensitisation
    activity
    Trauma
    informed
    charter
    What are my
    assumptions?
    Community
    involvement in
    planning
    Planning by Justin Blake from the Noun Project
    Identify safe
    and appropriate
    locations
    Bring
    broader team/
    client on the
    journey
    Do your
    background
    work.
    Photo by sanjiv nayak on Unsplash
    Plan
    Space for
    adaptation
    Opportunities
    to connect
    

    View Slide

43. Ask what may
    be needed to
    create ease when
    participating
    If not selected
    - not an
    abandonment
    experience
    Clearly
    outline what is
    expected
    Work
    with allies/
    partners -
    channels of
    safety
    Might you
    offer choice in
    how to engage e.g.
    online, in-person
    etc.
    Recruitment by Adrien Coquet from the Noun Project
    Transparency
    about the
    research/project
    Check
    location is
    appropriate and
    culturally
    safe
    A safe
    person/
    worker?
    Flexibility in
    schedule
    Photo by reza shayestehpour on Unsplash
    Recruit
    Ask about
    triggers?
    

    View Slide

44. Door is visible
    Inviting 

    and
    comfortable
    Appropriate

    (not institutional)
    + culturally safe
    Fidget toys -
    things to hold/
    play with

    place by Qomariyah from the Noun Project
    Water
    Allow
    people to sit
    where they
    want
    Photo by Jessica Knowlden on Unsplash
    Physical

    Space
    

    View Slide

45. Longer
    duration of
    interviews
    Show
    hospitality
    Include
    breaks
    Ask for
    permission to
    move to next
    topics
    Go at their
    pace
    Never force
    sharing
    be aware of
    nonverbal
    cues
    Build in
    choice &
    flexibility
    Non-
    linearity
    Visuals
    and art
    “It’s OK to
    stop”
    Be patient
    dialogue by Bernar Novalyi from the Noun Project
    Validate/
    repeat what
    you hear
    Strengths
    Based /
    Appreciative
    Inquiry
    Appropriate
    Language
    Photo by mohammad alizade on Unsplash
    Engaging
    

    View Slide

46. Follow up
    counselling
    services for
    participants
    Team Debriefs Follow up
    counselling
    services for your
    team
    Next by Alice-vector from the Noun Project
    Payment!!!
    Closing the loop
    Photo by Kushagra Kevat on Unsplash
    After
    Writing can
    help you
    debrief
    Ensure
    there is time
    for team self
    care
    

    View Slide

47. Photo by Dan Dimmock on Unsplash
    https://bit.ly/3lokS3s
    Resources On my blog
    

    View Slide

48. # Lets

    start a 

    movement
    

    View Slide

49. Thank You!
    Jax Wechsler | jax@stickydesignstudio.com.au |
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacquelinewechsler/
    @jacwex
    

    View Slide