Over the past few years, I’ve delivered trauma-informed practice training for museums and galleries in the UK and abroad. One of the most interesting parts of this work has been hearing how museum workers understand or interpret the term before the session begins.
I’ve compiled a list of some of the most common misconceptions around the topic. Because we all love a list, don’t we?
myth v reality
Myth: It means museum professionals being expected to diagnose, treat or heal trauma.
Reality: That is the role of qualified clinicians, therapists and health professionals. The role of cultural professionals is to work safely, recognise the limits of their role and know when specialist support may be needed.
Myth: Trauma-informed practice is another term for repatriation or decolonising practice.
Reality: These approaches can intersect and support one another, but they are not the same thing.
Myth: It’s about each member of your team informing you of their personal traumas so that you can manage or lead them better.
Reality: Trauma-informed pracitce is about creating working conditions based on trust, clarity, choice, support and appropriate boundaries.
Myth: Trauma-informed practice means asking colleagues, visitors or communities to disclose traumatic experiences so these can inform an exhibition or workshop.
Reality: People should not have to share personal experiences to receive care and consideration. Trauma-informed practice creates greater safety, choice and control without requiring disclosure.
Myth: Cultural professionals need to become experts in trauma.
Reality: Trauma-informed dentists, teachers, care assistants and yoga teachers remain experts in their own professions—and museum and gallery staff remain experts in theirs. Additional training simply helps us do our work in ways that are more sensitive to people who may have experienced trauma.
Myth: Trauma-informed practice is only relevant when working with people known – or assumed – to have experienced trauma.
Reality: We rarely know what someone may be carrying. Trauma-informed practice applies across our work with all visitors, communities and colleagues.
Myth: One workshop means the work is done.
Reality: Trauma-informed practice is an ongoing commitment to learning, reflection and applying its principles across our spaces, relationships and ways of working.
It is totally understandable that people may be unsure about – or misunderstand – what trauma-informed practice in the arts means. That is exactly what learning and development sessions are for: to build shared knowledge, deepen understanding and develop practical skills.
If you’d like to book me for a training session or consultancy support – get in touch via mindful.museums@gmail.com
If you’d like to book me for a training session or consultancy support – get in touch via mindful.museums@gmail.com
Louise Thompson 