The article provided by Dr. Mee-Lee encouraged us to continuously improve our trauma-informed treatment of those we serve. There were simple strategies listed:
The 3 E’s of Trauma:
Event - There is an event/several events causing the reaction.
Experienced - The person sees these events as harmful and threatening.
Effect - The effects of the event on the person impacts them physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually and socially.
The 4 R’s of Trauma Informed Cultures:
Realize - See the trauma and how much it has impacted.
Recognize - See the signs and symptoms and how it impacts the whole of the system.
Respond - By taking this knowledge and updating the way we do things.
Resist Retraumatization - Inform those we serve about routine procedures, make choices that take needs into consideration in treatment (providing female staff when needed, vice versa).
5 Core Components For Healing In All Services:
Safety: Client having a sense of safety in treatment.
Trust: When trust is violated repeatedly, this is not easy.
Collaboration: Creating hope & healing comes from working together with one another, and especially between the client and the counselor.
Choice: The individual has the choice in treatment for the pace and plan and even date and time of appointments.
Empowerment: The individual is finally able to feel a sense of power and healing from the limitations the trauma has given.
The Change Companies, Dr. David Mee-Lee’s Tips and Topics: November 2016