Trauma-Informed Practice
Content Warning: Examples of different types of trauma and abuse.
It’s more than just a tattoo.
Tattoos have a mystical and marvelous way of transforming our experiences — they heal, empower, and change us in beautiful ways.
From memorials of loved ones to finding closure after an assault, tattoos have been helping people find meaning and healing wounds for a very long time. There are many academic studies on the power tattoos have to support people in their wellbeing journeys.
Safety
Feeling safe means that your physical, emotional, spiritual, and cultural wellbeing is fully supported. Safety also means feeling comfortable in an environment that celebrates your identities and honours your past, present, and future.
Trust
An environment that implements trauma-informed practices understands why you may not trust that environment. It also doesn’t put the onus on you to build that trust. Rather, the environment is supportive of restoring that trust so you feel safe.
Peer Support
Connection is at the root of many pains in life. Peer support is the profession that understands a connection based on mutual experiences has massive potential to promote healing and provide support for similar challenges you have faced.
Collaboration & Mutuality
It wouldn’t be trauma-informed practice if it wasn’t a two-way street. Open communication is prioritized, and you should feel heard and your opinions valued. The space and everyone in it is inclusive and open to feedback. We work together to build whatever has been torn down.
Empowerment & Choice
You are the expert on yourself, and therefore you get to choose the direction you go in your wellness journey. Trauma-informed services leave you feeling empowered and refreshes your sense of agency and autonomy. You have the final say on what works for you.
Historical, Cultural, & Gender Issues
We have to acknowledge intersectionality and how oppression has affected different people. In trauma-informed practice, we make ourselves aware of historical, cultural, and LBGTQ+ issues that affect how individuals have been treated and how we support growth.
So what is trauma-informed tattooing?
Ideally, one day it will just be known as tattooing — a body art experience where you are undeniably safe and respected. Unfortunately and fortunately, the tattoo industry is only just beginning to acknowledge trauma-informed practice. Being a trauma-informed tattoo artist means asking clients for permission before touching them, to honour when a client is unable to continue with the tattoo, to hold space for the emotional experience of body art — and so much more. It is an evolution of the self and society.