PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AVAILABLE
SERVICES FOR PROVIDERS/CAREGIVERS
Helpers have an enormous need for specialized training, consultation and support in providing mental health services.
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Didactic and experiential group intervention training in working with trauma, bereavement, the medically ill and more: Basic group dynamics, the elements of responses to trauma, whether for chronic issues or responding to catastrophic events, as well as in-depth training in evidence-based group programs.
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Support groups and consultation for mental health professionals and clergy: A key element here is the provision of a forum in which to process their experiences and to connect with colleagues.
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Groups for other personnel providing trauma-related services (management, administrators, etc.): A more psychoeducational orientation for non-clinicians to support the cooperative goals of a setting requiring multiple areas to cooperate for overall patient care.
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Educational programs focusing on self-care: Provides clinicians, clergy and other helpers with self-care tools to assist them in their work going forward, increasing their resiliency.
COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAMS
The following programs are specifically for delivery within the community setting and can be easily adapted and modified to address the unique needs of specialized populations.
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On-site support services at local agencies/groups: Provides an opportunity to receive care and support in a familiar and easily accessed setting.
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"Family Days" for spouses and children: A program model successfully initiated with the Fire Department of New York, which provides support and connections for families.
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Couples programs to provide relationship support: Also initiated with the FDNY, this program is designed to provide support and increase familial resiliency by strengthening relationships.
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Telephone and online consultation with experts in working with trauma in groups: For those situations and locales when an in-person visit is not practical or timely (such as for the homebound or those in remote locations).
PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS
Children and adolescents are best helped with programs designed to recognize their differing needs according to their age and developmental stage, which can be impacted by chronic stressors.
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School-based groups for affected children (with possible co-leadership with school staff): Provides direct services to children designed to aid the healing and increase the resiliency of children using the school system (a familiar, naturally occurring setting with minimal disruption and stigmatization).
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School-based training and support for teachers and guidance counselors: Provides adult caretakers with the tools to provide the services, insuring program continuity and increasing community resiliency.
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Groups for affected families (including parents): Works in cooperation with local groups (e.g. faith based service groups and public service agencies) to provide the family structure with support and a forum in which to develop coping skills, augment personal resiliency and strengthen supportive resources.
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Consultation and educational programs for caregivers (parents, teachers, daycare/after-school workers and others): Another avenue of providing adult caretakers with skills and tools to attend to the needs of children.
PROGRAM FORMAT OPTIONS
Trainings and services can be delivered in a variety of formats to meet the needs of clients and staff.
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Single Session Trainings: These can range from 1 ½ hours to a full day and can combine didactic and experiential aspects.
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Multi-Session/Comprehensive Trainings: A customized program of trainings can be developed to be delivered over a period of time.
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Web-Based/Distance Based Trainings: Content can be delivered via the web, telephone and Skype to reach remote locations and/or to be combined with in-person trainings to extend the training period or reach more staff.
TRAINING CURRICULA
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Group Interventions for Treatment of Psychological Trauma - Ten (10) training modules for mental health professionals who work with different populations and phases of trauma work. The modules address: group interventions for adults, children and adolescents; evidence-based programs for adults, children and adolescents; the later stage (coping with the aftermath of traumatic events); countertransference, unique aspects of group work, masked trauma reactions, and bereavement. PowerPoints that can be used for training accompany each module.
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Public Mental Health Service Delivery Protocols: Group Interventions For Disaster Preparedness And Response - A set of population-specific best practice interventions for use in delivering mental health services following disasters including Uniformed Service Personnel (also applicable to the Armed Services), children and families, school communities, adolescents, survivors, witnesses and family members, helpers and service delivery workers, organizations and systems, local community outreach programs, and the role of the philanthropic community.
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Group Psychotherapy Curricula - the association has additional curricula including Principles of Group Psychotherapy, Training in Group Psychotherapy Supervision, and Ethics in Group Psychotherapy
PUBLIC EDUCATION INFORMATION:
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Group Works: a short brochure geared to the general population which describes what groups are and how they work. Electronic and hard copy are available, in both English and Spanish.
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What Every Person Should Know About Trauma: a short flyer which contains information about responses to traumatic events. Electronic and hard copy are available, in both English and Spanish.
CLINICIAN RESEARCH TOOLS
- CORE Battery-Revised - An assessment toolkit for promoting optimal group selection, process and outcome.