The 4 Rs of trauma-informed treatment The trauma-informed approach is guided by four assumptions, known as the “Four R’s” Realization about trauma and how it can affect people and groups. Recognizing the signs of trauma, having a system which can respond to trauma, and, Resisting Re-traumatization. Trauma is an event or series of events experienced by an individual or group that has lasting effects on a person’s well-being. · The primary goal of the trauma-informed approach is to avoid re-traumatizing a person. Implementing the trauma-informed approach requires change at all levels of an organization. The goal of this approach is to avoid traumatization. SAMHSA defines trauma as ‘an event or series of events that is experienced and has lasting effects on a person’s mental, physical, social, or spiritual well-being’.