How can rural doctors provide compassionate, effective care for patients living with trauma? In this episode of RG Life Hacks, Dr Emily Moody speaks with Dr Susan Tyler-Freer, Rural Generalist and medical educator, about applying a trauma-informed lens to everyday clinical care.

Drawing on her experience in the Northern Rivers region of NSW, Dr Tyler-Freer explains how understanding adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can help rural doctors interpret symptoms more accurately, avoid assumptions, and build stronger therapeutic relationships. She highlights how trauma shapes language and patient behaviour, and urges doctors to stay curious and “unpack” what their patients are really saying.

This episode is essential listening for registrars and Rural Generalists navigating the complexities of care, where trauma is more common than we often realise. It offers practical strategies for safer communication and reminds us that trauma-informed care is not just about what we know, it is about how we listen, interpret and relate.