What does it mean to be trauma-informed?

Being a trauma-informed RMT (Registered Massage Therapist) means approaching massage therapy with an understanding of how trauma—especially psychological or physical trauma—can affect the body, mind, and nervous system. It’s about creating a safe, respectful, and empowering environment for clients who may have experienced trauma, without necessarily needing to know the full details of their history.

Here’s what that typically involves:

1. Understanding Trauma’s Impact

• Recognizing that trauma can be stored in the body (e.g., through chronic tension, dissociation, or pain).

• Knowing that certain touch, environments, or positions might trigger a trauma response.

2. Creating Safety

• Ensuring the space feels physically and emotionally safe.

• Letting clients remain clothed if they prefer, and modifying techniques to respect their comfort levels.

• Being predictable and clear about what you’re doing before and during treatment.

3. Choice and Control

• Always getting informed consent and emphasizing that the client can pause, change, or stop the session at any time.

• Allowing clients to have a say in positioning, pressure, and techniques used.

4. Nonjudgmental Approach

• Meeting clients where they are, without pathologizing their responses or pushing them to talk about trauma.

• Respecting boundaries without prying or interpreting behavior through a purely clinical lens.

5. Mind-Body Connection

• Helping clients reconnect with their bodies in a gentle, supportive way.

• Being sensitive to signs of dissociation or overwhelm and responding with grounding techniques or adjustments.

6. Ongoing Education

• Staying informed about trauma research and best practices.

• Sometimes working collaboratively with mental health professionals if clients are receiving therapy.