Q: What is trauma-informed technology, and why is it important?

Trauma changes how people interact with the world, including technology. Design that ignores this can accidentally re-activate painful memories or emotional responses. Trauma-informed technology knows that trauma is common. It also understands ways to prevent and heal from it. It sees the signs and symptoms of trauma. Then, it fully includes trauma-informed methods in its policies, procedures, and practices. Using SAMHSA's six guiding principles, trauma-informed technologists build systems, products, and experiences that avoid causing further or new harm. Trauma-informed design creates safer, more supportive experiences by centering trust, empowerment, and choice.

Q: Isn’t this the same as doing inclusive or accessible design?

Not quite, since trauma affects nearly everyone. Trauma-informed design shares some overlap with these approaches, but it’s distinct. These efforts aim to ensure people from different backgrounds are seen, heard, and have equal access. Trauma-informed design aims to reduce harm. It creates experiences that consider how trauma impacts users' feelings of safety, trust, and control. 

Q: Who does trauma-informed technology help?

Everyone. Trauma is incredibly common. Worldwide, 70% of people face at least one trauma, and most go through several traumas. The trauma-informed technology doesn’t just benefit trauma survivors. It supports anyone who has faced loss,  illness, violence, or instability. In short: nearly everyone these days!

Q: What’s the risk of not having trauma-informed technology?

Without a trauma-informed approach, designs can unintentionally re-traumatize individuals. They may bring back memories of past harm or create feelings of fear, powerlessness, or invisibility. A well-meaning app might cause further grief by showing a “memory” of a lost loved one. A clunky interface could frustrate someone already in crisis. Even simple choices—like language, tone, or imagery—can have unintended consequences.

Q: How is trauma-informed technology applied in design and tech?

It starts with six guiding principles: safety, trustworthiness, peer support, collaboration, empowerment, and attention to cultural and historical issues. These research-backed principles from SAMHSA should guide research practices, data use, app features, and interface layout. Trauma-informed design requires us to shift from “what’s wrong with the user?” to “what happened to them—and how can we help?”

Q: Why is this approach timely now?

Post-COVID, in an increasingly complex and unequal world, we’re all carrying more emotional weight. Trauma-informed design helps tech be part of the healing, not the harm. It's a call for thoughtful, ethical, and human-centered innovation. Technology should help us not just in how we function, but also in how we feel.

Still have more questions? Feel free to contact us.