Why it is important for social workers to use a trauma-informed lens in their work with clients

by | Jan 22, 2025 | biology

 

Using evidence from the Learning Resources, explain why it is important for social workers to use a trauma-informed lens in their work with clients with substance use disorders.
Select two trauma-informed principles from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (2014) guide, and explain how a social worker could implement these principles in their work with the client from your chosen case.

 

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


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God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

Importance of Trauma-Informed Approach in Substance Use Disorder Treatment

Substance use disorders (SUDs) often coexist with trauma histories. Research indicates that individuals with SUDs are significantly more likely to have experienced traumatic events such as childhood abuse, neglect, violence, or natural disasters. Trauma can have a profound impact on an individual’s mental health, emotional regulation, and coping mechanisms, significantly influencing their substance use patterns.  

A trauma-informed approach recognizes the pervasive impact of trauma and emphasizes the need to understand how past traumatic experiences may be contributing to an individual’s current struggles with substance use.

By acknowledging and addressing the underlying trauma,

Importance of Trauma-Informed Approach in Substance Use Disorder Treatment

Substance use disorders (SUDs) often coexist with trauma histories. Research indicates that individuals with SUDs are significantly more likely to have experienced traumatic events such as childhood abuse, neglect, violence, or natural disasters. Trauma can have a profound impact on an individual’s mental health, emotional regulation, and coping mechanisms, significantly influencing their substance use patterns.  

A trauma-informed approach recognizes the pervasive impact of trauma and emphasizes the need to understand how past traumatic experiences may be contributing to an individual’s current struggles with substance use.

By acknowledging and addressing the underlying trauma,

social workers can provide more effective and compassionate care, improving treatment outcomes and promoting long-term recovery.  

Two Trauma-Informed Principles from SAMHSA (2014) and Their Implementation

  1. Safety:

    • Principle: Creating a physically and psychologically safe environment for clients.
    • Implementation: In working with a client with SUDs, a social worker can prioritize creating a safe and trusting therapeutic relationship. This involves actively listening to the client’s experiences, validating their feelings, and respecting their boundaries. The therapeutic space should be free from judgment and criticism, allowing the client to feel comfortable sharing their experiences, including traumatic ones. The social worker can also collaborate with the client to develop a safety plan to address potential triggers or crises.  

  2. Trustworthiness and Transparency:

    • Principle: Building and maintaining trust through open communication and clear expectations.
    • Implementation: The social worker can establish clear boundaries and expectations for the therapeutic relationship, ensuring transparency in their approach. This includes being honest about their limitations and seeking supervision or consultation when necessary. The social worker should also actively involve the client in decision-making processes regarding their treatment plan, empowering them to take ownership of their recovery journey. Building trust takes time and consistent effort, and the social worker should prioritize open and honest communication throughout the therapeutic process.  

By incorporating these trauma-informed principles into their practice, social workers can create a more supportive and effective treatment environment for clients with SUDs, ultimately improving their chances of achieving long-term recovery.

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