Trauma-Aware vs Trauma-Informed -  What’s the Difference and Why It Matters
Andrea Bruce Andrea Bruce

Trauma-Aware vs Trauma-Informed - What’s the Difference and Why It Matters

There’s often confusion around the terms trauma-aware and trauma-informed — and while they’re closely connected, they’re not quite the same.

Being trauma-aware is the understanding that trauma exists and can shape how people move, breathe, and respond in class.

Being trauma-informed means taking that awareness and intentionally weaving it into how we teach — through our language, tone, pacing, and the culture we create in the room.

It’s not a style or a checklist.


It’s an ongoing commitment to teaching with awareness, curiosity, and care — so every student feels a sense of safety, agency, and choice.

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