Several models of trauma-informed care are used by agencies, including the Sanctuary model, Thrive initiative, and National Center for Trauma-Informed Care. Trauma-informed assessments focus on what happened to the client rather than what is wrong with them. The Thrive model emphasizes safety, trustworthiness, collaboration, choice, and empowerment. The Sanctuary model addresses safety, emotions, loss, and future in assessing trauma's disruption. Assessments should include questions about historical, collective, and individual trauma experiences. Referrals should be made to trauma-informed agencies and therapists for appropriate treatment.
2. Several models of trauma informed care are
used by agencies. Commonly used models
include:
Sanctuary model
Thrive initiative
National center for trauma informed care
The focus of assessment changes from what is
wrong with you to what happened to you
3. Several domains have been identified by the
National Center for Trauma-Informed Care as
crucial to providing trauma informed services.
4. Thrive
Safety
Trustworthiness
Collaboration
Choice
Empowerment
Trauma informed assessments need these 5
domains- the Thrive initiative (used by state
agencies) focuses on this model
6. Sanctuary model
loss of safety
inability to manage emotions
overwhelming losses
a paralyzed ability to plan for or even
imagine a different future
7. Assessments should include questions
related to past trauma experiences for all
clients
Trauma questions should reflect the 3 global
trauma experiences- historical(generational),
collective, individual
9. Common Types of Trauma Treatment
Cognitive behavioral therapy-CBT “talk therapy”
Goal is to focus on changing perceptions, thoughts
feelings about events
Includes many techniques such as
psychoeducation, emotional regulation skills,
may include exposure therapy or other trauma
specific techniques
Resource: trauma focused CBT can be found at
http://www.nctsnet.org/nctsn_assets/pdfs/TF-
CBT_Implementation_Manual.pdf
10. Psychoeducation component focuses on skill
building trauma related deficits such as :
Coping skills
Emotional regulation
Relaxation / stress management
Empathic parenting
11. EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization and
Reprocessing
Premise is that trauma events are not properly
processed by the memory network of the
brain. Eye movements help a person
reprocess the trauma memory so it no longer
has negative psychological effects. May also
involve other repetitive techniques – tapping,
drumming, etc
12. Must be specifically trained in EMDR
Often an adjunct to other therapies
13. Group therapy
Often CBT based groups
May be manualized(seeking safety), or led by
MH professionals
Often a “therapy of choice” for trauma
survivors- offers a social component, able to
understand others similar experiences, can
help to resolve interpersonal aspects of
trauma experiences
14. Pharmacology
Medication used to treat specific symptoms.
Common examples:
Anxiety- benzodiazepines
Depression- anti depressants
New research with steroid injection following
trauma event
15. Other therapies:
Marital and family therapy
Creative arts therapy – often in conjunction
with other treatment
Crisis specific
Inpatient treatment if trauma responses
include suicidal ideation / attempts
Self- help – workbooks, on line forums
16. Asking trauma informed assessment
questions will help match client with
appropriate trauma treatment referrals