By Karri Crossing
Let’s talk about Trauma-Informed Care for a minute.
What does it feel like walking into a skin clinic? For some people, it's exciting and something they've been looking forward to. For others, it can be a little scary, particularly when needles, medical procedures, or previous negative healthcare experiences are involved.
Trauma-Informed Care is an international framework adapted to healthcare settings, including the Aesthetic Industry. It's about prioritising trust, choice, collaboration, transparency, diversity, and empowerment.
Rather than focusing solely on the treatment being performed, Trauma-Informed Care considers the person receiving it and what they need to feel safe and supported.
It’s absolutely integral to recognise that a person's past experiences can influence how they experience a clinical environment or a procedure. A seemingly simple appointment can bring up feelings of anxiety, vulnerability, or a loss of control for someone who has experienced trauma.
As a nurse working in aesthetics, I consider this to be really important. I never want the care I provide to add to someone's distress. I want every person who visits Valli House to feel safe, respected, listened to, and empowered to make decisions about their own face.
It doesn't mean assuming that every patient has experienced trauma. It means approaching every person with the understanding that we may not know their full story, and that our words, actions, and approach can make a real difference.
Here's how I put it into practice at Valli House.
A proper consultation.
A consultation should NOT feel like a sales pitch - it's a conversation.
I want to understand what brings you in, what your goals are, what concerns you have, and what a good outcome looks like to you. Together, we can discuss suitable treatment options and develop a plan that reflects your priorities.
This also means being honest about realistic expectations, potential benefits, risks, alternatives, and costs.
Not every treatment is right for every person, and sometimes the most appropriate advice is to wait, consider a different treatment, or not proceed at all.
No coercion. No pressure.
You should never feel that you've been talked into a treatment.
My role is to provide the information, professional advice, and guidance you need to make an informed decision. It's not my job to convince you to spend money or to make you feel that you need a treatment.
You can take your time.
You can ask for more information.
You can say no.
You can change your mind.
Consent is an ongoing process, not simply a form you sign before a procedure.
At Valli House, I want you to feel that the decision is genuinely yours, because it is.
We don't need to pick apart your face.
This point is something I feel quite strongly about.
I don't believe a consultation should involve me listing every perceived flaw or telling you what is wrong with your face. I hate that hard-sell style (haha I really can’t deal)! I honestly think it’s pretty awful and unprofessional.
Understandably, this could bring up some past traumas for some people. Instead, I want to understand your concerns and listen to your goals without making you feel that you need to fix something.
There is a difference between providing an honest clinical assessment and making someone feel like crap.
Respecting culture, identity, & individuality.
Different skin types and tones have different clinical considerations, and treatments should be selected with those differences in mind. Also, our understanding of beauty should extend beyond clinical factors.
I don't want to approach every face with the same aesthetic ideal or try to fit people into a narrow, westernised standard of beauty. Cultural background and individual features all deserve to be respected and celebrated.
This also means respecting gender identity and pronouns, using inclusive language, and creating an environment where people don't feel they need to explain or defend who they are. And we are super passionate about using our clinical skills to support gender affirming care.
Valli House is a safe space.
Gentle touch, communication, & comfort.
For many people, needles are the most daunting part of an aesthetic treatment. For others, it's the anticipation, the sounds, the sensations, or simply not knowing what is about to happen.
Small things can make a meaningful difference.
I explain procedures, communicate throughout treatment, and make space for questions. Where appropriate, I offer comfort measures such as topical numbing or ice, depending on the treatment and clinical suitability.
I also want patients to know that they can tell me if they're feeling anxious, uncomfortable, or simply need a moment.
Gentleness is something I consciously value in the way I care for people.
It's not just about the physical technique. It's about how you approach someone, how you communicate, and whether they feel considered throughout the experience.
Sometimes, the smallest gestures can have the biggest impact.
Why this matters to me as a nurse…
Aesthetic treatments might be elective, but the care surrounding them should never be taken lightly.
People are trusting us with their faces and their bodies, which comes with a degree of vulnerability. We have a responsibility to honour that trust.
Trauma-Informed Care doesn't require us to know every detail of someone's past. It asks us to be thoughtful about how we provide care in the present.
To listen rather than assume. To explain rather than rush. To offer choices rather than apply pressure. To respect boundaries and recognise that every person deserves dignity.
Above all, it means remembering that the person in front of us comes first.
At Valli House, I want you to feel comfortable asking questions, expressing concerns, setting boundaries, and making decisions that feel right for you.
You don't have to justify your no. You don't have to disclose your personal history to receive compassionate care. And you should never leave a consultation feeling worse about yourself than when you arrived.
You deserve to feel safe, respected, and in control of your care.
That's what trauma-informed aesthetics means to me, and it's the approach I want to bring to every person who walks through the doors of Valli House.
