16/03/2026
Language is powerful.
Every day we use words that carry weight. They shape how people are seen and treated, often without us even realising it.
As part of our commitment to safer, trauma-informed practice, we highlight everyday language that can unintentionally cause harm, based on what we’ve learned from our network and community.
This month’s focus: the word “abscond.”
(Inspired by strengths-based practice work with colleagues at Nottinghamshire County Council.)
“Abscond” is often used when someone leaves a place without permission or isn’t where they’re expected to be. In systems shaped by rules, risk, and safeguarding responsibilities, the word can quickly frame the situation as non-compliance or wrongdoing.
But behaviour always has context.
Someone leaving a setting might be:
• seeking safety
• responding to fear
• trying to regain a sense of control
• moving toward somewhere they feel safer
Using the term “absconding” can unintentionally suggest blame or deliberate defiance—and may miss the reality of someone’s experience.
Trauma-informed practice invites curiosity.
Instead of asking:
❓ “Why did they abscond?”
We might ask:
💬 “What might have led them to leave?”
💬 “Where might they feel safer right now?”
Small shifts in language help keep the focus on safety, understanding, and support.
Alternatives that can help:
• “…often visits places where they feel safer”
• “…is not currently where they might be expected to be”
• “…often leaves when they feel unsafe”
• “…is believed to be at risk because they are not at home”
• “…may be being coerced into being somewhere they do not choose to be”
These changes might feel unfamiliar at first. But noticing how our language frames people and their experiences is an important part of trauma-informed care.
💚 Compassionate language is one of the simplest tools we have. Let’s use it well.
