Trauma Recovery

About Trauma Recovery: What is PTSD?
Posttraumatic stress symptoms which have not been properly identified or treated in a comprehensive and integrated manner, are the “elephant in the living room” in the field of behavioral healthcare. PTSD is believed by many to be highly co-prevalent among populations treated by the Community Mental Health system in the United States. And according to multiple research studies, more than half of the individuals presenting for addictions treatment bring with them unresolved or poorly managed symptoms of posttraumatic stress. Yet how many substance use disorder treatment providers are well-equipped to treat PTSD as part of effective, integrated addictions treatment? Evidence-based group and individual treatments for posttraumatic stress have been developed, such as Trauma Recovery & Empowerment Model (TREM), Seeking Safety, "Cognitive Processing Therapy" (CPT), "Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing" (EMDR), "Prolonged Exposure Therapy" (PET), and "Medications for PTSD". Through research informed by thermal brain imaging and other available tools, our understanding of how traumatic experiences impact the human brain is increasing (for a brief overview, watch "PTSD and the Brain"). Optimally effective, cutting-edge behavioral health treatment providers have no excuse not to implement and deliver these important interventions to best position their clients for sustainable recovery success. For a brief whiteboard explanation of the symptoms of PTSD, watch "What is PTSD?". For a brief whiteboard presentation outlining many of the well-developed treatment choices, watch "PTSD Treatment: Know Your Options" or any of the other whiteboard presentations linked in in bold, purple font in the paragraph above.
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5)
SAMHSA & VA Resources
- TIP 36: Substance Abuse Treatment for Persons with Child Abuse and Neglect Issues (SAMHSA)
- Quick Guide for Clinicians Based on TIP 36
- KAP Keys for Clinicians Based on TIP 36
- Helping Yourself Heal: A Recovering Woman's Guide to Coping With Childhood Abuse Issues
- Ayudando a Sanarse a Si Misma: Una Guia para Mujeres en Recuperacion para Ayudarles a Enfrentar los Ploblemas Asociados con el Abuso Infantil
- Helping Yourself Heal: A Recovering Man's Guide to Coping With the Effects of Childhood Abuse
- Ayudando a Sanarse a Si Mismo: Una Guia para Hombres en Recuperacion para Ayudarles a Enfrentar los Problemas Asociados con el Abuso Infantil
- TIP 57: Trauma-Informed Care in Behavioral Health Services (SAMHSA)
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD resources:
- What is PTSD? (infographic)
- PTSD Treatment Works (poster)
- PTSD and Aging
Treatment Resources
Infographics
- The Best Treatment for PTSD (infographic)
- How to Choose the Right PTSD Treatment for You (infographic)
- Don't Spend a Lifetime Trying to Understand Your Trauma (women's infographic)
- PTSD: Help for Family and Friends (infographic)
Seeking Safety
- National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices (NREPP) description of Seeking Safety
- National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices (NREPP) intervention summary of Seeking Safety
- Click here to check out the Seeking Safety website, featuring some materials free to download, and additional materials available to order.
Trauma Recovery & Empowerment Model (TREM)
- National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices (NREPP) description of the Trauma Recovery & Empowerment Model (TREM)
- National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices (NREPP) intervention summary of the Trauma Recovery & Empowerment Model (TREM)
- Click here to check out the Community Connections website, including their online store.
Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR)
- National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices (NREPP) description of EMDR
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs white-board talk video describing EMDR
- Click here to check out 2 reputable EMDR websites - emdria.org, and emdr.com - both of which include the capability to search for EMDR therapists, and EMDR trainings.
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
- National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices (NREPP) description of CPT
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs white-board talk video describing CPT
- Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for PTSD: How to Help Your Loved One during Treatment handout
- Click here for information about CPT and other evidence-based interventions for PTSD at the VA's National Center for PTSD
Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PET)
- National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices (NREPP) description of Prolonged Exposure Therapy
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs white-board talk video describing PET
- Prolonged Exposure (PE) for PTSD: How to Help Your Loved One during Treatment handout
- Click here to check out a reputable PET website.
"What Happened To You?" Addressing Trauma with Community Mental Health Populations: A Toolkit for Providers
Table of Contents and Chapter-specific supplements
- Overview (pp. 1-4)
- Getting Started (pp. 5-18)
- Self-Selected Work Groups (pp. 19-42)
- Trauma-informed Services Conference (pp. 43-48)
- Treatment Model Consideration and Adaptations (pp. 49-60)
- Trauma-specific Trainings (pp. 61-68)
- Launching Trauma-specific Services (pp. 69-78)
- Continuing Forward (pp. 79-82)
- References and Resources (pp. 83-90)
- Appendices (pp. 91-151)
This manual was developed in 2008-09 by Stephen R. Wiland, LMSW, ICADC, with grant funding from the State of Michigan's Department of Community Health.
Reactions to the "What Happened to You?" manual by practitioners in the field:
- "I saw the toolkit that you developed for trauma integration into a CMH setting and am very impressed." - CMH Vice-President and C.O.O.
- "I just wanted to let you know that your [manual] is incredible! I work for [an organization], we have a grant to use IMR (Illness Management and Recovery), and I found some of the program lacking. When I opened your materials I discovered the information I needed to assist my clients through their panic attacks, PTSD, etc., which is mainly what I am dealing with in my client population. Our caseloads are very high and we have been told that therapy will be a thing of the past in a short time, but with the way you've set up your manual I know that I will be able to still assist my clients in a case-management-only mode. Thanks so much! I really appreciate all of the work you and your staff put into this manual." - CMH Case Manager
Adverse Childhood Experiences Study (ACES)
Recommended Books
- Seeking Safety: A Treatment Manual for PTSD and Substance Abuse, by Lisa Najavits
- Using Trauma Theory to Design Service Systems, by Maxine Harris & Roger Fallot
- Trauma Recovery & Empowerment: A Clinician's Guide to Working with Women in Groups, by Maxine Harris
- Men's Trauma Recovery and Empowerment Model (M-TREM): A Clinician's Guide for Working with Male Survivors in Groups, by Roger Fallot et al
- Substance Abuse Men's Trauma Recovery and Empowerment Model (SA-M-TREM) A Clinicians Guide for Working with Male Survivors in Groups, by Roger Fallot, Maxine Harris, Richard Bebout & David Freeman
- Love and Life: G-TREM Trauma Recovery and Empowerment Model Group Intervention for Adolescent Girls, by Maxine Harris et al