The Legacy of Trauma: Strategies for Healing

1. The Legacy of Trauma: Strategies for Healing Presented by: Lorraine McMullin Building Connections* Project Co- Director Supporting Parents with Psychiatric Disabilities Initiative Director Mental Health Association in New York State, Inc. (MHANYS) The Women’s Building Training State University at Albany September 17, 2011 *Building Connections is also known as the Sexual Assault and Mental Health Project and is a collaborative project between the New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Inc. (NYSCASA) and the Mental Health Association in New York State, Inc. (MHANYS)

2. Building Connections: Sexual Assault & Mental Health Project • Joint project of two non-profit agencies (Mental Health Association in New York State and the New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault) • Provides technical assistance to survivors and providers of services to survivors • Provides trauma-informed care and trauma-recovery trainings • Supports regional & county Trauma Task Forces

3. Forgive Yourself Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better." — Maya Angelou

4. Recovery Model Respect Hope Strength-based Peer support Empowerment Culturally sensitive Responsibility Self-direction Holistic Non-linear Individualized Person-centered

5. Trauma Recovery • Healing from trauma is possible. • Healing does not have to be painful. • Healing differs by individual. • Many diverse healing treatments and techniques now available. • Find out what works for you.

6. Keys to Safe Trauma Recovery • Use mindfulness to identify what is and is not helpful. • Acknowledge your survival. • Determine whether you need or want to remember. • Stop flashbacks. (Babette Rothschild, 2010)

7. Keys to Safe Trauma Recovery • Forgive your limitations and share your shame. • Find your own pace of recovery. • Use movement and exercise to enhance your healing. • Lighten your situation by helping others. (Babette Rothschild, 2010)

8. Foundations to Build Recovery Each of us has a foundation that supports our wellbeing. Reminders on how to access the roots of that foundation or the inherent strength we possess. Alternatives to talking sometimes help us when we feel verbally blocked or as though words don’t really touch our experience.

9. What Are Triggers? Something that reminds you of a past trauma reaction and register danger to you • Smells • Sounds • Sight • Pressures • Feelings

10. Learning About Your Triggers • Can take time and patience • Use mindfulness • Use tools • Use calming techniques • Figure out what works for you • Strategize how to prepare and respond to triggers

11. Assisting Your Child’s with Triggers • Grounding yourself first • After reaction and when calm, if possible ask questions • Detective work • Watch for clues • Keep track of what/when/recovery

12. Identifying Remembering Learning Using Incorporating Passions

13. Therapeutic Drumming

14. Art, Dance and Music Therapies

15. Yoga

16. Nature

17. Meditation Any activity that requires your complete focus can be a meditation: • Snowboarding • Knitting • Martial arts

18. Recovery Resources • Wellness, Recovery, Action Plan (WRAP) by Mary Ellen Copeland • WRAP • WRAP for Dual Diagnosis • WRAP for Kids • WRAP for Teens • WRAP for Veterans

19. Trauma Recovery and Empowerment Model (TREM) • Trauma Recovery & Empowerment: A Working with Women in Groups • Men's Trauma Recovery and Empowerment Model (M-TREM): A Clinician's Guide for Working with Male Survivors in Groups • 24 session trauma recovery process for male survivors. • Part I - develop a shared emotional and relational vocabulary. • Part 2 - focuses on abuse and the connections between trauma and psychological symptoms, addictive behavior and relationship patterns. • Part three focuses most directly on core recovery skills.

20. Trauma Recovery and Parenting Non-Traditional Parenting Interventions • This manual contains two distinct parenting interventions. • The Impact of Early Trauma on Parenting Roles (14 sessions) helps women explore the impact of their trauma history on their feelings and expectations of motherhood and parenting. • Parenting at a Distance (10 sessions) is for women who are not primary caregivers to their children.

21. EFT- Emotional Freedom Technique/ Tapping

22. EFT Links • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b15Zhu6fEdg&feature=related • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imBEvyyqUV4&feature=related

23. Resource Books • Growing Beyond Survival – Elizabeth Vermilyea • The Essense of Being Real – Jennifer Wilkenson • Healing the Child Within - John Bradshaw • Trauma Proofing Your Children – Peter Levine • 8 Keys to Safe Trauma Recovery: Take-Charge Strategies to Empower Your Healing – Babette Rothschild

24. National Resources • Community Connections www.communityconnectionsdc.org • Sidran Foundation www.sidran.org • National Center for Trauma-Informed Care • www.samhsa.gov/nctic/ • WRAP www.mentalhealthrecovery.com • Mental Health America www.nmha.org • National Child Traumatic Stress Network www.nctsnet.org

25. National Resources • Community Connections www.communityconnectionsdc.org • Sidran Foundation www.sidran.org • National Center for Trauma-Informed Care • www.samhsa.gov/nctic/ • WRAP www.mentalhealthrecovery.com • Mental Health America www.nmha.org • Gift from Within www.giftfromwithin.org • National Child Traumatic Stress Network www.nctsnet.org

26. Please do not use slides from this presentation without prior approval from Lorraine McMullin, Mental Health Association in New York State.

27. Building ConnectionsContact Information Lorraine McMullin Mental Health Association in New York State, Inc. 518-434-0439, ext. 211 800-766-6177 lmcmullin@mhanys.org www.mhanys.org Chrys Ballerano New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Inc. 518-482-4222, ext. 308 cballerano@nyscasa.org www.nyscasa.org