5.2 How to Apply This in Practice
How to Apply This in Practice
Before diving into practical strategies, understand the five principles that underpin all trauma-informed practice:
- Safety: Physical and psychological safety is prioritized in every session
- Trustworthiness: Clear, honest communication; consistency and transparency
- Choice & Control: Survivors have autonomy over their participation and body
- Collaboration: Professionals work “with” survivors, not “for” or “to” them
- Empowerment: Practice recognizes and builds on survivors’ strengths
These principles (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], 2014) should guide every decision you make: from how you speak, to how you structure a session, to how you close it.
Before the sports/training session:
Prepare safe and predictable conditions
Human trafficking typically involves severe loss of control, unpredictability, and violation of bodily autonomy. When survivors enter a sport setting, they may be hypervigilant, unconsciously scanning for threats, or emotionally numb. A predictable, calm environment with clear, personalized options directly counters this learned response. Research on trauma-informed care emphasizes that safety and choice are prerequisites for engagement and healing (SAMHSA, 2014). When survivors know what to expect, see that they have options, and witness that their preferences matter, they begin to rebuild trust, first in the space, then in themselves.
Set a consistent structure
Schedule sessions at the same time and place each week. Use the same facilitator when possible, and communicate any changes to participants in advance (SAMHSA, 2014). Predictability reduces anxiety and helps survivors feel a sense of control, which is essential for those who experienced coercion and unpredictability during exploitation.
Prepare a welcoming physical environment
Arrange the space to be bright, quiet, and non-threatening. Ensure changing areas offer privacy and dignity. Offer gender-specific or women-only sessions if culturally or personally appropriate; ensure adequate space (no crowding); control noise levels; allow access to quiet areas if participants feel overwhelmed.
Consider gender, cultural, and religious needs
Some survivors may prefer women-only sessions or need prayer spaces. Ask and respect preferences.
Offer low-pressure entry points
Prepare modifications before the session starts, e.g., gentle movement alternatives, the option to observe, low-impact versions of exercises, and the choice to sit out. This signals to survivors that their needs will be respected (Altun, 2017).
Brief mental health support
Coordinate with a psychologist or social worker to be present during the session, or ensure they are on call. Their presence provides backup if a participant becomes distressed, and allows you to focus on coaching (SAMHSA, 2014).
Gather information ethically
Ask the facilitating organization or social worker if there is general information about participants’ trauma histories, without singling out individuals. This helps you anticipate triggers and prepare adaptations without stigmatizing anyone.
Inform the staff and the team
Brief the assistants/volunteers in advance that trauma survivors may be participating. You do not need to share trauma details; focus on what the coach should know and adjust.
Do not enforce rigid attendance or demand explanations for absence
Survivors may face unpredictable barriers (mental health setbacks, legal obligations, safety concerns) that make regular attendance difficult.
Do not use competitive or high-pressure framing to "motivate" attendance
Statements like “You need to commit” or “If you miss sessions, you’re not serious” echo coercion and undermine trust (Altun, 2017).
Do not assume all survivors have the same preferences
Some may want male coaches; others may be more comfortable with women facilitators. Some may prefer groups; others may need one-to-one sessions initially.
Do not leave survivors alone in an unsafe or overstimulating environment
Bright lights, loud music, or closed spaces may trigger anxiety or panic responses associated with exploitation.
During the sports/training sessions:
Facilitate with sensitivity, flexibility and choice
During physical activity, survivors may experience heightened alertness or dissociation, which can lead to sudden feelings of unsafety. During physical activity, survivors may suddenly feel triggered by a sound, movement pattern, or physical sensation that unconsciously reminds them of exploitation. Additionally, trafficking typically involves coercion and loss of bodily autonomy; when perpetrators use force, pain, or threats, survivors learn that their body is not their own.
Research on trauma-sensitive exercise shows that when women survivors are given autonomy, participate with others (group belonging), and experience patient facilitation, outcomes improve significantly: reductions in PTSD symptoms, anxiety, and rumination, alongside increases in self-compassion and sleep quality (Kelly et al., 2023; Pebole et al., 2021; van Reekum et al., 2021).
Use calm, clear, positive communication
Speak in a steady, quiet tone. Give simple, advanced instructions, e.g., “In the next moment, we will slowly stand up. Only if it feels comfortable, shake out your arms.” Avoid sudden commands, shouting, or military-style language.
Offer multiple ways to participate
At each activity, present options, e.g., “You can partner with someone, or work on your own. You can do the full movement, a gentler version, or just observe. You choose.” This repeated emphasis on choice builds autonomy and counteracts the helplessness trafficking survivors experienced.
Use consent language continuously
Before any physical activity or contact, even a high-five, ask explicitly, e.g., “May I demonstrate with a light touch?” “Is it okay if we stand closer together?” This teaches survivors that their body is their own and that you respect boundaries.
Prioritize cooperation over competition
Design activities that build connection, e.g., partner stretches, group breathing, circle formations where no one is “in front”. Competitive games may trigger shame or hypervigilance in trafficking survivors.
Include movement with regulation
Combine physical activity with grounding techniques, e.g., breathing exercises, sensory awareness (“Notice your feet on the ground”), and moments of silence or gentle music. These help survivors reconnect with their bodies in a safe way.
Watch for trauma cues and respond flexibly
Signs of distress include freezing, trembling, dissociation (staring blankly), rapid breathing, or sudden withdrawal. If you notice these, calmly lower the intensity, offer a grounding activity, or suggest a quiet moment, e.g., “I notice you seem uncomfortable. Would you like to take a break, or try something gentler?”
Reduce or eliminate triggers
Avoid exercises that require closing eyes in early sessions, lying on the floor (which may feel vulnerable), or rapid directional changes. Minimize loud noises, dark spaces, or activities requiring restraint (being held down or physically constrained).
Do not shout, use aggressive language, or create a high-pressure, "no excuses" atmosphere
For trafficking survivors, these echo perpetrators’ control tactics.
Do not force physical contact
Even a hand on the shoulder, intended as encouragement, can trigger panic in a survivor whose body was violated.
Do not make assumptions about someone's capability
A survivor who looks strong may feel weak inside; someone who seems withdrawn may have immense inner strength. Avoid comments like “Come on, you can do better” or “Don’t be shy“.
Do not ask personal questions or demand disclosure
Questions like “Where do you come from?” “Why aren’t you participating?” or “Do you have family?” may feel like interrogation and trigger trauma responses.
Do not ignore signs of distress or push through them
If someone freezes, dissociates, or shows visible discomfort, stop and offer support—do not insist they continue.
Do not create peer pressure or public scrutiny
Large group feedback sessions, being singled out for praise or correction, or exercises where everyone watches each other may trigger shame.
After the sports/training session:
Support grounding, reflection and continuity
The end of a session is as critical as the beginning. Trauma survivors’ nervous systems remain in heightened alert during and immediately after physical activity. Without a calm closure, they may leave in a dysregulated state, e.g., anxious, hypervigilant, or numb. This can trigger rumination, sleep problems, or avoidance of future sessions (Pebole et al., 2021; Vigue et al., 2023). Additionally, trafficking typically involves abrupt abandonment or betrayal: perpetrators disappear; support systems collapse. When a coach fails to show up, forgets a session, or does not follow up, survivors interpret it as abandonment and their faith in the program erodes. Conversely, consistent, caring closure directly counters abandonment trauma and builds secure attachment (Makawa et al., 2025).
Research on survivors of gender-based violence participating in sport-for-development programs shows that peer support, non-judgmental check-ins, and structured reflection significantly increase resilience and sense of community (Vigue et al., 2023).
End with a calming routine
Close every session with 5–10 minutes of grounding: slow breathing, gentle stretching, lying down (if participants are comfortable), or a moment of silence.
Use soft language: “Let your breath slow down naturally. Notice the ground beneath you. You are safe.”
This helps participants transition from heightened arousal to calm.
Provide optional reflection
Offer non-verbal feedback tools to allow emotional expression without forced disclosure: placing tokens in a jar (green for “good,” yellow for “okay,” red for “hard”), drawing feelings, or using hand signals (thumbs up/middle/down). Respect silence; do not pressure anyone to speak.
Do a brief check-in
If appropriate, ask each participant softly,
“How are you feeling? Is there anything you need before you go?“
Listen without judgment. If someone mentions distress, validate it:
“That makes sense. That was intense today, and you handled it well.”
Offer to connect them with a psychologist or social worker.
Maintain confidentiality
Any concerning reactions (panic, persistent sadness, dissociation) should be documented and shared only with relevant support staff, with the participant’s knowledge and consent.
Reinforce continuity
End by reminding participants of the next session:
“We’ll meet here next week at the same time. I’m looking forward to seeing you.”
Predictability and your consistent presence build trust over time.
Do not demand verbal feedback
Some survivors are not ready to speak; forcing them to share can feel invasive.
Do not gossip
Do not gossip or discuss a participant’s behavior with others in the group. Confidentiality is essential to trust-building.
Do not refer a participant to mental-health support without first consulting the social worker or organization
Inappropriate referrals or pressure to “get help” can feel rejecting.