debor016

I have just returned from a wonderful week immersed in learning about new treatment ideas and meeting marvelous people. I have a lot to share. This week I am going to focus on Michael Trout, who I had the honor of meeting at the ATTTACh conference (http://www.attach.org/). Michael is the author of the Multiple Transitions video that we include in our Risking Connection training. This video, which our participants always find so moving, can be purchased at the Infant Parent Institute store (http://infant-parent.com/). Many organizations have begun to use it to train new staff, and I highly recommend it. Michael Trout is the Director of the Infant Parent Institute which engages in research, clinical practice and clinical training related to problems of attachment. He was the founding president of the International Association for Infant Mental Health; was on the charter Editorial Board of the Infant Mental Health Journal; served as regional vice-president for the United States for the W...

I am leaving today for a week of travels. I will go first to Detroit, where I will present at the 2011 National Health Care for the Homeless Regional Training. I will be speaking about Vicarious Traumatization . I also look forward to attending the conference, and hearing a presentation about Trauma-Informed Care by Scott Petersen, LCSW, and CADC; Laurie Hardin, MSSW. On Tuesday I will travel on to Omaha, Nebraska, where I will attend the ATTACh Annual Conference, Attachment and Trauma Through the Eyes of a Child . I will have the opportunity to hear Edward Tronick, PhD speak about Peek-a-boo, Culture and Social Development: How Infant Meaning-Making Processes Are a Central Mechanism in Governing both Typical and Pathological Child Outcomes . I have heard Dr. Tronick at the Boston trauma conference, and I always learn a lot from him. I am also looking forward to hearing my dear friend and author of Risking Connection (among many other achievements and books) Laurie Anne Pearlman, PhD,...

Since to day is that last day of my vacation, I thought instead of writing a new post I would share this artcile from SAMSHA. It is about trauma informed services for the homeless, but is applicable to all services. Trauma-Informed Care 101 http://homeless.samhsa.gov/Resource/Trauma-Informed-Care-101-46857.aspx Author(s): Guarino, Kathleen Description: How can providers help care for people who have experienced trauma? People who are experiencing traumatic stress do not relate to the world in the same way as others. They require special care. In this article, the HRC shares best practices for trauma-informed care. These include understanding trauma and its effects, creating safe physical and emotional space, supporting consumer choice and control, and integrating trauma-informed care across service systems. Some people experience very few traumatic events in their lives. For others, experiences of traumatic stress are chronic. Research and experience tell us that for people experiencin...

Agencies have discovered ways to determine whether a candidate is comfortable working in a relationship-based approach.  In some cases agencies have developed a statement that describes their treatment approach and asked candidates to read and decide if they can work that way, and return it signed if they want to proceed with the hiring process. It is useful to ask candidates how they deal with stress and what self care practices they find helpful. Another way is through the use of scenarios.Other options include: Ask a candidate about a time when he or she was successful in making a change and what helped him or her Ask a candidate with prior work experience to describe a client that they felt especially connected to, and one they found it difficult to connect with, and why. This question looks for self awareness of differing response to different clients Ask a candidate about a time when someone helped him or her, a teacher or a mentor or anyone significant in their life. What di...