HS207

1. Trauma treatment
Trauma informed assessment

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

5. Sanctuary model
SELF
Safety
Emotions
Loss
Future
represent the four fundamental domains of
disruption that occur in a traumatized person’s
life (sanctuaryweb.com)

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

8. Trauma treatment
 Referrals should be made to appropriate
trauma informed agencies, therapists

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