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How Trauma-Informed Care Helped Me Heal
1Martine K. Geary-Souza (mgsouza@bu.edu) is a recent Boston University master of public health graduate, a former community mental health provider, and a dedicated advocate for trauma-informed care. She thanks the therapists and providers who validated, supported, and fought with her. She also expresses her gratitude to Craig Andrade for helping her with the original draft of this essay and for his continued mentorship-his support has been vital to where she is today, and she thanks him for always empowering her to own her story. The author also thanks the editors and reviewers at Health Affairs for their time and attention to this important issue. To access the author's disclosures, click on the Details tab of the article online.
A sexual abuse survivor discovered health insights and empowerment via compassionate, collaborative medical care. This approach fostered healing and improved well-being for the patient.
Area of Science:
- Medical humanities
- Patient advocacy
- Trauma-informed care
Background:
- Sexual abuse can lead to complex, long-term health conditions.
- Survivors often face challenges in receiving adequate healthcare.
- Empathetic and collaborative approaches are crucial for patient well-being.
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