Individual Consultations: A Trauma-Informed Approach

Authors

• Michelle Price, St. John Fisher UniversityFollow

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

6-3-2026

Abstract

Library patrons do not enter one-on-one consultations as fragmented people. They bring their whole selves to the interaction, including their trauma. How does a librarian help a patron, staying within our scope of practice, but also accept and address the trauma that could be constraining the interaction. This workshop will focus on synchronous patron interactions, held physically or virtually. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has developed the SAMHSA's Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach that can serve as a guide for reframing service in this setting. The approach includes the three Es of trauma, the four Rs that are key assumptions, the six key principles, and the ten implementation domains for systems. This adoption is a no-tech solution that only requires practitioner reflection and intent for implementation.

Comments

Presented at the Canadian Health Libraries Association (CHLA) Conference, June 2-5, 2026

State University of New York Library Association (SUNYLA) annual conference, June 16-18, SUNY Brockport

Publication Information

Price, Michelle, "Individual Consultations: A Trauma-Informed Approach" (2026). Lavery Library Faculty/Staff Publications. Paper 79.
https://fisherpub.sjf.edu/library_pub/79

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