TRAUMA-INFORMED RECOVERY A PROCESS OF HOPE AND EMPOWERMENT

WHAT IS TRAUMA-INFORMED RECOVERY? Most individuals seeking mental health services have histories of physical and sexual abuse and other types of trauma-inducing experiences.

IMPACT OF TRAUMA These experiences often lead to mental health and co-occurring disorders: Substance abuse Substance abuse Eating disorders Eating disorders Contact with the criminal justice system Contact with the criminal justice system Tobacco use Tobacco use Self harm Self harm Sexual promiscuity Sexual promiscuity

IMPACT OF TRAUMA These behaviors may also lead to serious physical problems: HIV/AIDS and other STD's HIV/AIDS and other STD's Heart disease Heart disease Pulmonary disease Pulmonary disease Liver disease, Liver disease, Gynecological disorders, impotence, infertility Gynecological disorders, impotence, infertility Early Death Early Death

WHAT IS TRAUMA-INFORMED RECOVERY? NOTA BEN: Trauma-informed mental health services are based on an understanding of the vulnerabilities or triggers that traditional service delivery approaches may exacerbate...

WHAT IS TRAUMA-INFORMED RECOVERY? Traditional services that can and do cause trauma include: Seclusion/Isolation Seclusion/Isolation Chemical/Physical restraints Chemical/Physical restraints Too much focus on behavior instead of the causes of the behavior Too much focus on behavior instead of the causes of the behavior Forcing a survivor to choose between mental health and substance abuse services; or mental or medical services Forcing a survivor to choose between mental health and substance abuse services; or mental or medical services Over-medicating Over-medicating

INTERNAL SIGNS OF TRAUMA Losing control of one’s life Losing control of one’s life Feelings of hopelessness Feelings of hopelessness Loss of freedoms Loss of freedoms Blaming one’s self Blaming one’s self Feeling “trapped” Feeling “trapped”

TRAUMA-INFORMED RECOVERY Trauma survivors need to be respected, informed, connected, and hopeful regarding their own recovery Trauma survivors need to be respected, informed, connected, and hopeful regarding their own recovery Mental health professionals need to understand the connection between trauma and symptoms of trauma (e.g., substance abuse, eating disorders, depression, and anxiety, etc.) Mental health professionals need to understand the connection between trauma and symptoms of trauma (e.g., substance abuse, eating disorders, depression, and anxiety, etc.)

TRAUMA-INFORMED RECOVERY It is essential that there is collaboration with mental health service providers and survivors, and family/friends of the survivor in order to empower individuals toward recovery It is essential that there is collaboration with mental health service providers and survivors, and family/friends of the survivor in order to empower individuals toward recovery

ASK… “WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?” NOT “WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?”

ASK… 1. Did a parent or other adult in the household often or very often: Swear at you Swear at you Insult you Insult you Put you down Put you down Humiliate you Humiliate you

ASK… 1. Did a parent or other adult in the household often or very often: Act in a way that made you afraid that you might be physically hurt? Act in a way that made you afraid that you might be physically hurt? Push, grab, slap, or throw something at you Push, grab, slap, or throw something at you Hit you so hard that you had marks or were injured? Hit you so hard that you had marks or were injured?

ASK… 2. Did an adult or person at least 5 years older than you ever: Touch or fondle you Touch or fondle you Have you touch their body in a sexual way Have you touch their body in a sexual way Attempt or actually have oral, anal, or vaginal intercourse with you? Attempt or actually have oral, anal, or vaginal intercourse with you?

ASK… 3. Did you often or very often feel that: No one in your family loved you No one in your family loved you Thought you were important or special Thought you were important or special Your family didn’t look out for each other, feel close to each other, or support each other? Your family didn’t look out for each other, feel close to each other, or support each other?

ASK… 3. Did you often or very often feel that: You didn’t have enough to eat You didn’t have enough to eat Had to wear dirty clothes Had to wear dirty clothes Had no one to protect you Had no one to protect you Your parents were too drunk or high to take care of you? Your parents were too drunk or high to take care of you?

ASK… 4. Were your parents ever separated or divorced?

ASK… 5. Was your mother or stepmother: Pushed, grabbed, slapped, or had something thrown at her? Pushed, grabbed, slapped, or had something thrown at her? Kicked, bitten, hit with a fist, or hit with something hard Kicked, bitten, hit with a fist, or hit with something hard Hit/assaulted for at least a few minutes or threatened with a gun or knife? Hit/assaulted for at least a few minutes or threatened with a gun or knife?

ASK… 6. Did you live with anyone who abused alcohol or drugs?

ASK… 7. Was a household member depressed or mentally ill, or did a household member attempt suicide?

ASK… 8. Did a household member go to prison?

WHAT IS TRAUMA-INFORMED RECOVERY? Trauma Informed Recovery is a process that includes: Group meetings with individuals, their key supporters and their service providers Group meetings with individuals, their key supporters and their service providers Learning new skills for coping, self- soothing, and stress reduction Learning new skills for coping, self- soothing, and stress reduction

WHAT IS TRAUMA-INFORMED RECOVERY? Trauma Informed Recovery is a process that includes: Emphasizing the strengths the individual already have. Emphasizing the strengths the individual already have. Peer support Peer support Establishing personal boundaries Establishing personal boundaries

WHAT IS TRAUMA-INFORMED RECOVERY? What is Recovery? "A process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential." ~SAMHSA

WHAT IS TRAUMA-INFORMED RECOVERY? The Goals of Trauma Informed Recovery include: Overcoming or managing one’s illness or symptoms Overcoming or managing one’s illness or symptoms Making informed, healthy choices that support physical and emotional wellbeing Making informed, healthy choices that support physical and emotional wellbeing Establishing a stable and safe place to live Establishing a stable and safe place to live

WHAT IS TRAUMA-INFORMED RECOVERY? The Goals of Trauma Informed Recovery include: Meaningful daily activities, such as a job, school, volunteerism, family caretaking, or creative endeavors Meaningful daily activities, such as a job, school, volunteerism, family caretaking, or creative endeavors Independence and income/resources to improve quality of life Independence and income/resources to improve quality of life Support, friendship, love, and hope Support, friendship, love, and hope

WHAT IS TRAUMA-INFORMED RECOVERY? How do I access Trauma Informed Care? YOU ASK FOR IT!

TRAUMA-INFORMED RECOVERY SERVICES How do I access Trauma Informed Care? Ask for community resources that you can connect to Ask for community resources that you can connect to Ask for your key supporters to be involved in making your recovery plan with your service provider Ask for your key supporters to be involved in making your recovery plan with your service provider

TRAUMA-INFORMED RECOVERY SERVICES How do I access Trauma Informed Care? Make sure your service provider knows what is important to you (job, housing, family, hobbies, etc.) Make sure your service provider knows what is important to you (job, housing, family, hobbies, etc.) Ask for a peer support specialist Ask for a peer support specialist

PEER SUPPORT & TRAUMA-INFORMED RECOVERY Peer Support Specialists are uniquely qualified to help individuals: Articulate personal goals for recovery. Articulate personal goals for recovery. Determine the objectives needed in order to reach his or her recovery goals. Determine the objectives needed in order to reach his or her recovery goals. Identify and overcome fears. Identify and overcome fears.

PEER SUPPORT & TRAUMA-INFORMED RECOVERY Peer Support Specialists are uniquely qualified to assist non-consumer service providers by: Identifying program environments that are conducive to an individual's recovery Identifying program environments that are conducive to an individual's recovery There is no "one-size-fits-all" recovery model There is no "one-size-fits-all" recovery model Recovery is nonlinear and looks different for each individual Recovery is nonlinear and looks different for each individual

PEER SUPPORT & TRAUMA-INFORMED RECOVERY Peer Support Specialists are uniquely qualified to assist non-consumer service providers by: Lending their unique insight into mental illness and the experience of trauma; and what makes recovery possible. Lending their unique insight into mental illness and the experience of trauma; and what makes recovery possible.

AND WE CAN ALL BE SUPPORTERS TO THOSE AROUND US!

11 WAYS TO SUPPORT THOSE AROUND YOU 1. Give A Smile Give a smile and give it to every single person that you meet, and you will receive smiles in return.

11 WAYS TO SUPPORT THOSE AROUND YOU 2. Give Out Good Thoughts Give out good thoughts about others, and you will live a good life, and good thoughts will be thought about you.

11 WAYS TO SUPPORT THOSE AROUND YOU 3. Give A Kind Word Give a kind word to others and your kindness will be returned with kindness. Mankind was created to be kind.

11 WAYS TO SUPPORT THOSE AROUND YOU 4. Give A Cheerful Disposition Give a cheerful disposition and your cheerfulness will be cheered and not jeered.

11 WAYS TO SUPPORT THOSE AROUND YOU 5. Give Appreciation Give appreciation and your life will appreciate (be added to in value), and in turn you will be greatly appreciated.

11 WAYS TO SUPPORT THOSE AROUND YOU 6. Give Encouragement Give encouragement and you will be imbued with fresh courage to face each day, and be prepared to attract encouragement to you.

11 WAYS TO SUPPORT THOSE AROUND YOU 7. Give Honor Give honor where honor is due, for this is the honorable thing to do, and be prepared for fresh applause.

11 WAYS TO SUPPORT THOSE AROUND YOU 8. Give Happiness Give happiness and you will be unable to avoid the happy feeling that accompanies it, and brings happiness to you as well.

11 WAYS TO SUPPORT THOSE AROUND YOU 9. Give Of Your Time Give of your time to a greater cause than yourself, and it will cause you to be rewarded in ways that you can only start to imagine.

11 WAYS TO SUPPORT THOSE AROUND YOU 10. Give Hope Give hope and watch hopelessness disappear, faith rise, and joy abound.

11 WAYS TO SUPPORT THOSE AROUND YOU 11. Give Prayer Give prayer for your friends and for those who may be perceived as enemies. There is so much anger in the air in our world, and these prayers will go a long way to bringing the miraculous into play amidst the madness.

FOCUS ON WHAT'S STRONG NOT WHAT'S WRONG Sources for some of the information in this presentation: SAMHSA Mind Freedom James Sinclair, Peter G. (2011, June 12). 11 Things You Can Give That Don't Cost Money. Business Insider. Retrieved June 14, 2011, from ‐ things ‐ you ‐ can ‐ give ‐ when ‐ you ‐ thinkyou ‐ have ‐ nothing ‐ left ‐ to ‐ give ‐ 2011 ‐ 6#ixzz1PFsISqSN