Trauma responsive therapy

A traumatic or stressful event can be simply defined as an experience that is perceived by an individual as life threatening to themselves or others, which can then produce powerful reactions in a person’s nervous system. When an individual’s nervous system gets overwhelmed, it can lose the capacity to stabilize and regulate the mind and body. (Miller-Karas, 2018, p. 32). Trauma or highly stressful experiences can range from single events such as a car accident or a sudden loss, to ongoing experiences such as childhood abuse, domestic violence, racism, or homophobia. For individuals on the spectrum, persistent sensory overwhelm can also cause the same physical and mental effects as trauma and high stress. Because trauma and stress leave an imprint on the body as well as the mind, a biological, somatic reprocessing approach may often be more helpful to clients than talk therapy alone.

The trauma resiliency model (TRM)

The Trauma Resiliency Model, developed by Elaine Miller-Karas, LCSW and Laurie Leitch, PhD, is a biological model focused on the gentle nervous system release and reprocessing of traumatic experiences. It teaches 9 simple wellness skills designed to help individuals learn to re-set and stabilize their own nervous systems and deepen their “resilient zone,” thereby restoring balance to mind, body and spirit. If it seems appropriate, I will offer the invitation to weave these skills into our sessions along with other trauma responsive methods, such as mindfulness practices, dreamwork, sandtray, art, or play therapy.