SOWK Trauma & Resilience  

Trauma ToolKit:  
Resilience from Victimization 
Elysia Nogueras 
 

Introduction 

Trauma consists of serious injury and shock that occurs to the body, emotional wound, or 
event/ situation that causes a great deal of distress. Trauma is not always an event in itself, 
but rather a response to a stressful experience in which a person's ability to cope is 
dramatically undermined. A traumatic experience or enduring condition occurs when an 
individual's subjective experiences threaten their life, bodily, integrity, or sanity. Within the 
field of criminal justice, trauma is seen within individuals who have experienced 
victimization. Those who experience victimization are victims of crimes that may have 
harmed their person, their property, or their loved one. The criminal justice system fights 
for justice to be served so the victim can be at peace. However, the system neglects the fact 
that victims experience traumatic events that do not just go away when the criminal is put 
behind bars.  

 
 
 

Principle of Trauma 
There are several principles and key concepts that can be applied to understand the nature 
and dynamics of trauma that are essential for victims, their families, and their communities, 
in order to seek the appropriate help for preventing, responding to, and or treating trauma. 
(1) ​The younger the person, the greater the impact a traumatic event has on the person and his 
or her brain​. Age matters. The younger an individual is, the less developed his or her brain 
is. During early brain development, nurturing responses and individualized interactions 
from birth and onward, help build healthy brain activity. When this is compromised by a 
traumatic event, in this case being victimized, there could be delays within the brain's 
development which can be carried on through adulthood if not treated or managed. (2.) A
​ n 
event is traumatic only when an individual experiences it that way.​ What is traumatic to one 
individual, may not be traumatic to another. Therefore trauma is individualized. For 
example, two individuals could have both been victims of theft, however one individual 
may view this act as traumatic and the other may not. (3.) ​Traumatic responses vary from 
person to person. ​Just as trauma varies from person to person, so do their responses. 
Responses to trauma may include emotional, physical, and biological responses. These 
responses to trauma may resolve on its own or remain dormant until triggered. For 
example, two individuals could have both been victims of theft, however one individual 
responses include becoming very angry or upset, while the other individual experiences 
shortness of breath or panic attacks.  

Principles of Support  
There are principles and key concepts that support in identifying, initiating, or building 
upon resilience in victims, their families, and their communities. Support can be found 
through ​family communications, counseling, and victim agency. Family communication ​is 
important for those who have been victimized and experienced a traumatic event. Having 
people around you that are going to love and care for you no matter what can be very 
encouraging and can provide comfort. ​Counseling​ can be used to support an individual if 
they feel as though just talking to their family is not enough. Having someone who does not 
know you that well or who does not know your story can make an individual more inclined 
to speak up and seek help. V
​ ictim agencies​ can provide a victim with legal support. As a 

 
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victim of a crime, you have rights and are entitled to compensation and restitution. These 
agencies can help you through the legal process in order to make this difficult and 
traumatic time less stressful.  

Principles of Self Care 

Self care is any activity that can take care of, manage, and or treat one's mental, emotional, 
or physical health. SInce trauma varies from person to person and so does their responses, 
it is important to find what type of self care activities work best for you. Some self care 
activities that may benefit victims of crimes are j​ ournaling, meditation, and having a safety 
plan. Journaling ​can involve writing down any feelings or words that an individual may be 
feeling or thinking of at the moment. Journaling can be used as a form of communication if 
an individual does not feel like talking. Rather than an individual retraumatizing themselves 
by discussing the event of their victimization over and over again, he or she can just write it 
down. M
​ editation ​allows the individual to focus on their breathing rather than the thing that 
is bothering them. This allows for a stress free environment and for the individual to feel 
grounding and increase their self awareness. S
​ afety plans​ are personalized plans that can 
help individuals avoid stress or anxiety. For example, if an individual is feeling stressed, 
anxious, or triggered, he or she may count to five, take long deep breaths, shake their leg, 
play with their hair, or say a prayer. These are all ways for the individual to stay relaxed and 
grounded during a difficult time.  

Resources  

If you or someone you know has lingering trauma due to being the victim of crime there 
are resources out there for you. Please seek help from your local victim advocate agencies, 
going to counseling or therapy sections, or by meeting with a social worker. You do not 
have to go through this alone and resilience is right around the corner.  

 
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