the healing center - the arc's national...
TRANSCRIPT
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The Healing Center: A Trauma Focused Group Processing
Program
Jennifer A. M. Hermann, LCPC-AS
Heather Rivera, MS
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(3-5 min exercise)
-Take 3 colored pencils of your choosing and one blank
gingerbread person
-Write in positive aspects you see in yourself (example: a physical
attribute, something you do, something you are, how you are
helpful)
-Decorate your gingerbread person anyway you would like
*Positive* Gingerbread People
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Learning Objectives
• An overview of the Healing Center
• Aspects of group processing
• Structure of a typical day
• Three parts: 1-Intense Trauma Work
2-Building Identity
3-Discovery of Purpose & Mission
• Therapeutic Interventions
• Video
• Case studies
• Questions
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-The goal of this program is to create a safe
space where people can explore deeper issues
which have prevented them from prospering in
their job development programs.
-This requires a new and different location in
which people can explore their identity and feeling of belonging.
-It requires skilled supports to ensure this
process is conducted correctly and reduces harm.
The Healing Center A center for supporting people with
intellectual and developmental disabilities
who have severe trauma histories in which
music, art, & movement based therapeutic
experiences, and group therapy are utilized
to focus on trauma recovery.
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-People participating in The Healing Center benefit from a multi-faceted approach to therapy.
-The program relies mainly on a group approach for most meetings, along with other therapeutic modalities.
-Through this approach, everyone can have their needs met, whether they want to share and feel the support of a group of peers or they can choose to meet privately with a therapist one on one
Group Processing
*Hermann, 1997
*Tomasulo, 2014
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-Gathering together
-”Hello” song
-Check in
-Topic discussion
-Planned activity or Open
(art/music/movement/mediation)
-Lunch
-Karaoke or drumming
-Until we meet again!
Structure of the Day
*Hermann, 1997
*Tomasulo, 2014 *Van der Kolk, 2014
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Three Parts: 1- Intense Trauma Work
*Harvey, 2012
*Herman, 1997 *Van der Kolk, 2014
-Grief & loss
-Perceived safe space
-Talking and movement
-Reconstruction of memory
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-Peer Support
-Internal acknowledgement
-Recovery Model:
Safety/Empowerment/Connection
*Harvey, 2012 *Herman, 1997 *Tomasulo, 2014 *Van der Kolk, 2014
Three Parts: 2- Building Identity
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-Share and offer support for others
-Think outside of themselves
-Offer up services
-Job seeking/hopes to be an employee
*Harvey, 2012
Three Parts: 3- Discovery of Purpose and Mission
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-Group talk: check-in, topic discussion, open
-Art: memory boxes, abstract painting,
gingerbread persons, Hot Pots, etc.
-Movement: chair yoga, mat work, stretching
Therapeutic Interventions
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Therapeutic Interventions cont.
-Music: drumming, karaoke, dance
(in the background throughout the day- entrance,
transitions, lunch, exit)
-Mediation: guided imagery, breathing meditation
-Pet therapy: unconditional love by dogs
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p07Drd0ZQho&feature=youtu.be
Video
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-Refused to attend SEP or day services
before the Healing Center
-Difficulty developing and maintaining
social relationships, thus impacting
work
-Found coping through freestyle rap
which helped him open up
emotionally
-Expressed a desire to work more and
attend at Healing Center less
-Since graduation: Works as a front desk
associate and proposed to his
girlfriend
Case Studies: Shaky Jr.
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Case Studies: Eugene
-Had difficulty expressing his own opinion
and thoughts, often echoed others
around him
-Became more emotionally expressive
-Speaks more with personal thought and
opinion
-Experienced the loss of many loved ones;
has gained the ability to speak about the
impact of the losses.
-Since graduation: Experienced difficult
medical procedures and was able to cope
emotionally
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Case Studies: Alice -Immigrated from Rwanda
-PTSD
-Expressive modalities: music and movement
-Being present… responding to environment
in real time
-Experiencing less triggers
-Demeanor, mood, and affect improved
-Increase in laughter and freedom of
expression
-Felt empowered to make choices
-Since graduation: Attending day program
more regularly and more positive
interactions reported by 1:1 staff
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Case Studies: Tammy
-Difficulty developing relationships and
maintain work responsibilities
-Began to develop trust… more open in
sharing
-Able to express more emotions over
time (crying, smiling, and laughing)
-Became a significant support for others
-Sought out her desire to have consistent
work
-Since graduation: improved interactions
with coworkers and ability to
perform work tasks
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Resources • Harvey, K. (2012). Trauma-Informed Behavioral Interventions:
What Works and What Doesn’t. American Association on
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.
• Herman, J. (1997). Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of
Violence. New York, NY: Basic Books.
• Tomasulo, D. J. (2014). Positive Group Psychotherapy Modified
for Adults With Intellectual Disabilities. Journal of Intellectual
Disabilities, 1-14. doi: 10.1177/1744629514552153/2014
• Van der Kolk, B. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain,
Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. New York, NY:
Penguin Books.