Trauma-informed care is often explained with jargon, but we think it lands best as a promise: we will help you feel safe. Dr Casey Grover sits down with psychologist Dr Angela Chanter, Chief Clinical Officer at Sierra Health and Wellness, to translate that promise into what it looks like in real addiction treatment settings, especially detox and residential rehab where every sound, shift change, and schedule surprise can hit like a trigger.

We talk about how consistency becomes a clinical intervention, why leadership and communication are essential when a program has to pivot, and what “service-minded” care looks like without slipping into control or shame. Dr. Grover also shares his own experience with PTSD from emergency medicine and why the emergency department can unintentionally become trauma-worsening care for both patients and clinicians. From there, we connect the dots between clinician wellness, compassion fatigue, and the ability to stay present when people are struggling.

On the clinical side, we dig into restoring agency as a cornerstone of trauma recovery and substance use disorder treatment. We cover practical approaches like written exposure therapy and therapeutic journaling, skills from DBT and CBT, and how good aftercare planning supports long-term recovery through step-down options like PHP and IOP. We also discuss individualising care for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, including when gender-specific groups or programs can help someone feel safe enough to do the work.

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To learn more about Dr. Chanter's work:

To contact Dr. Grover: [email protected]