trauma-informed content consulting
Because good content still excludes people and that’s not good enough
Even services that follow best practice can leave people behind. I help teams design content that reduces harm, builds trust and puts lived experience at the centre.
what i do
Trauma-aware content design for real-world complexity
Conduct audits
Spot and reduce harm in high-stakes or emotionally loaded content.
Trauma-informed training
Build internal capability with training grounded in lived experience and practice.
Strategy & consultancy
Embed empathy into governance, workflows and editorial decision-making.
UX & microcopy design
Write inclusive content for digital journeys, forms and service messages.
why it matters
Trauma is more common than we think and more invisible than we realise.
Half of all people will experience trauma in their lifetime. Many more live with the daily strain of financial stress, health concerns or social exclusion. These experiences shape how people interpret your words and whether they trust your service.
Trauma-informed content is not about hand-holding or softening everything; it’s about providing a safe space. It’s about designing for people’s real-world emotional state. It makes your content more usable, more inclusive, and more effective.
And frankly, it’s the right thing to do.
senior content strategist
who i work with
This work benefits everyone, especially the people who need you most
If your organisation communicates with people in vulnerable circumstances or just wants to do better, trauma-informed content is the next step. My services are ideal for:
Public services
Benefits, justice, immigration, health, social care
Healthcare providers
Hospitals, clinics, mental health services
Charities and non-profits
Supporting marginalised, bereaved or traumatised people
Content and production teams
Building inclusive user journeys and governance
Financial services
Banks, insurers, pensions and fintechs communicating about debt, loss, fraud or affordability.
Utility firms
Telecoms, energy, water, broadband and mobile providers dealing with billing, disconnection or customer hardship.
Debt recovery and enforcement
Agencies that want to reduce complaints, improve compliance and treat people with dignity.
Social housing providers
Communicating rent arrears, evictions, repairs or support sensitively.
Education and student services
Universities and colleges supporting students through financial, health or personal crises..
Legal and justice services
Courts, legal aid and tribunals writing to people in complex or vulnerable situations.
about me
I’ve spent decades helping people understand complex information and feel understood in the process
Over the years, I’ve seen how the right words at the right moment can ease fear, rebuild trust and make even complex systems feel human.
I’ve spent three decades transforming complex, technical processes into clear, inclusive content, first as a Wall Street Journal-quoted journalist and then as a content strategist and designer for major organisations in the UK and EU. I’ve worked on everything from Universal Credit to cancer screening.
how it works
How do you get my support?
1
Get in touch
Tell me about your organisation, your challenges and what’s prompted you to look for trauma-informed content support.
2
Let's talk
We’ll arrange a short call to clarify your needs, timescales and any known risks or sensitive areas.
3
Tailored proposal
I’ll send you a clear proposal with options for support, whether that’s one-off advice, a detailed audit or training your team.
4
We get started
Once you're happy, we agree a start date and work together to make your content safer, more inclusive and more effective.
I'm here for you
Let’s start with one journey. The one users struggle with most.
Whether you need a quick audit, a full service rewrite or a workshop to upskill your team, I’m here to help. Let’s make your content more inclusive, compassionate and effective.
Phone
+44 (0)755 401 2533
adrie@traumainformedcontent.com
location
London (UK) and Narbonne (FR)
blog posts & articles
Read my blog posts & articles
AI in public services: The machines won’t save us unless we tell them how
Tony Blair says AI in public services will revolutionise government. But Adrie van der Luijt has heard it all before and warns that without investment in people, tools and trauma-informed practice, nothing will change.
What the Public Design Evidence Review misses: Micro-trauma, emotional safety and the real needs of real people
The Public Design Evidence Review sets out to define the future of design in public services, but leaves out the emotional and psychological realities of its users. In a post-lockdown world where cognitive overload is rising and trust is falling, trauma-informed design isn’t a luxury. It’s a baseline.
Vulnerability and trauma-informed approaches: a talk on micro-trauma and compliance with the FCA Consumer Duty
Vulnerability and trauma-informed approaches, the full text of Senior Content Designer and Strategist Adrie van der Luijt’s talk for the Money Advice Trust’s Vulnerabity Academy to senior executives in the UK financial services sector on micro-trauma-informed content strategy and compliance.
trauma-informed content and ai
Amplifying empathy at scale
Read my article on the Button blog, the thought-leading platform run by content strategy and UX legend Kristina Halvorson. Learn how AI can support trauma-informed content design, helping scale empathy while protecting the humans who create it.
