Exploring the Usability of a Community Resiliency Model Approach in a High Need/Low Resourced Traumatized Community.

This study tested the usability of a non-stigmatizing community-based trauma intervention delivered by trained community members. The Community Resiliency Model (CRM) was taught to a high-crime, low-income community designated as a Mental Health Provider Shortage Area (19 MPSA score). Five groups of Latino, African-American, LGBTQ, Asian Pacific Islander, and Veteran participants (N-57) with a history of complex/cumulative traumas and untreated posttraumatic stress undertook a five-day 40-h CRM training with master trainers. Measures included Treatment Relevance, Use and Satisfaction (TRUSS), Brief CRM Questionnaire (Brief CRM), and Symptom Questionnaire (SQ). Participant preparedness to teach CRM to others was high (98%) and sustained at the 3-6 months follow-up with 93% reporting a daily use. Pre-to post comparison analyses showed a significant decrease in distress indicators and increase in wellbeing indicators. CRM's high usability holds promise for a broader, low cost and sustainable implementation in traumatized and under-resourced communities.

The Trauma Resiliency Model: A "Bottom-Up" Intervention for Trauma Psychotherapy.

BACKGROUND: The Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM) is an innovative therapeutic approach for trauma. This "bottom-up" somatic approach comprises nine skills that use sensory awareness for emotion regulation and integration. Body-based therapies may be more effective for trauma than currently used cognitive ('top-down") and exposure therapies. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to present TRM and current literature on the neuroscience of trauma and resiliency, and the rationale for body-based therapy. Two case examples illustrate the practical use of TRM therapy. DESIGN: The literature on the neuroscience of trauma, resiliency, and somatic approaches in therapy is reviewed. RESULTS: TRM teaches the biology of trauma responses and the practice of emotion regulation through biologically based skills. Neuroscience theory supports somatic awareness models; however, research on somatic therapies is limited. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic distress from trauma derails the ability to live life resiliently. TRM addresses trauma processing in a gentle and invitational manner and is a novel departure from existing therapies. Despite a paucity of research on body-based therapy, these therapies have strong neurophysiologic underpinnings.

A case for using biologically-based mental health intervention in post-earthquake china: evaluation of training in the trauma resiliency model.

Catastrophic events, such as the Sichuan Province earthquake in China on May 12, 2008, cause massive suffering. They put a huge strain on local response capacities because of distress of the civilian population and also death and traumatization of local responders. Mental health approaches are needed that are efficient and that help provide stabilization to both responders and civilians. The article has two goals: First, to present a rationale for the use of a biologically-based model of mental health, the Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM), in post-disaster settings and, second, to present evaluation results of TRM training, mental health training focused on the biology of threat and fear with corresponding treatment skills provided as part of the China Earthquake Relief Project (CHERP). TRM training was provided to a non-random sample of more than 350 doctors, nurses, teachers, and counselors during a 18 month period after the earthquake. TRM training was provided in six cities to expand local response capacity by providing didactic sessions and practice in TRM's trauma treatment skills. CHERP's focus on acquisition of practical treatment skills and local sustainability provided TRM skills refresher training sessions over the entire course of the project. The Training Relevance, Use, and Satisfaction Scale (TRUSS) and the Training Evaluation Form (TEF) were used throughout the months of training and supervised practice. Results indicate 97% believe that biologically-oriented TRM training will be very to moderately relevant or useful for their work with the Chinese earthquake survivors, and about 88% report they will use the skills very to moderately frequently during the two weeks following the training. Over 60% of the trainees report they will use TRM skills for their own self-care.