Trauma “Permeates Everything”: A Simulation-Based Research Study Exploring the Role of Supervision in Trauma-Informed Practice for Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)

For social workers and other practitioners working with survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) who are immigrants, supervision that is trauma-informed is essential for enhancing professional skills and improving service delivery. IPV practitioners frequently support survivors who have experienced trauma, making trauma-informed supervision particularly important. However, research exploring trauma-informed supervisory practices for IPV practitioners working with immigrants remains limited. To address this gap, we conducted a simulation-based research study with 18 IPV practitioners from the United States and Canada that explored ways supervisors can effectively support IPV practitioners in trauma-informed practice. Each participant engaged in an online simulation with a standardized client portraying a survivor of IPV. Using reflexive thematic analysis, the following themes were identified: 1) trauma-informed training starts with the supervisor; 2) trauma-informed supervision helps supervisees realize the impact of trauma on themselves; and, 3) simulation as a pedagogical tool to build trauma-informed skills.