Institutional Trauma: The Role of a Trauma Counselor in EAP Brenda Wilson, LCSW, CEAP Joyce Camden-McCusty, LCSW Faculty & Employee Assistance Program www.uvafeap.com 434.243.2643
UVA & Charlottesville Community- Fall 2014
3 Student Suicides
Rolling Stones: Assault on UVA
Trauma position -.5 FTE If 1 in 5 women & 1 in 16 men have experienced sexual assault in college UVA/HS staff & faculty are a well educated group, 21650 ee s total EAP has always known that historic trauma can show up in work relationships, esp manager : employee conflict/bullying perception Time to talk about sexual assault, name it Asked for resources and a month later it was approved
Initially Envisioned Sexual assault intervention historic & acute Interpersonal violence Education, ie FEAP seminars for staff and managers Expand to 1-12 sessions for this population Stabilize, educate, crisis management, counseling, community connections Pre/post outcomes intended
Give sorrow words. The grief that does not speak Whispers o erfraught heart, And bids it break. MacBeth, William Shakespeare
Causes of PTSD Acute Trauma Overwhelming Single Event Cumulative Exposure Series of Events Ongoing Pattern
Trauma Traumatic Stress occurs when our ability to respond to threat is overwhelmed. ~Peter Levine
Reactions to Trauma Fight Flight Freeze Tend/ Befriend
Fight Reaction
Flight Reaction
Imaging a flashback with fmri
Freeze Reaction
Blanking out (dissociation)
Tend/ Befriend
Signs Which May Be Visible Easily startled or jumpy Appears sad, and may be tearful Displays reduced emotional expression, flat affect Displays irritability or has angry outbursts Increase in absences and/or late arrivals Behaving distanced, withdrawn, or cut off from team Less verbal
Signs Which May Not Be Visible Repeated disturbing memories, thoughts, or images of the stress event(s) Repeated disturbing dreams of the event(s) Suddenly acting or feeling as if the stressful experience were happening again Having physical reaction (e.g., heart pounding, trouble breathing, or sweating) when something reminds the person of the stressful experience
Non Visible Signs (continued) Avoiding activities, situations, or places because they remind the person of the experience Loss in interest of activities which used to be enjoyed Feeling emotionally numb Feeling as if the future will somehow be cut short Trouble falling or staying asleep Being super alert, watchful, or on guard
Identifying Danger
Patterns of Attention Normal PTSD
PTSD Screening Tool In your life, have you ever had any experience that was so frightening, horrible, or upsetting that, in the past month, you: have had nightmares about it or thought about it when you did not want to? YES NO tried hard not to think about it or went out of your way to avoid situations that reminded you of it? YES NO were constantly on guard, watchful, or easily startled? YES NO felt numb or detached from others, activities, or your surroundings? YES NO
PCL Score 4 3.5 3 3.38 2.5 Group Pre-Interview Post-Interview 2 Mean 3.3788 1.7231 1.5 1 0.5 0 Pre-Interview 1.72 Post-Interview SD 0.6785 0.4504 SEM 0.1696 0.1126 N 16 16
The Win-Win Equation Employee receives services and connects with resources Employee reduces symptoms and suffering Employee becomes more productive and feels better Employee develops deep sense of loyalty to Manager/Team Team feels the benefits Work environment can be more positive and adaptive Manager has high functioning employees Manager has expanded skills as a leader
Gratitude I strongly encourage anyone who has experienced trauma first hand or who is in a relationship with a trauma survivor to seek support through FEAP. The experience will be a profound gift to your loved ones and to yourself. Joyce was instrumental in helping us stabilize. Her support enabled me, as a University employee, to attend to my tasks at work at the same time as I am dealing with family matters that might otherwise have overwhelmed me. We are very grateful that FEAP is providing this service.
Sweet Darkness When your eyes are tired the world is tired also. When your vision has gone no part of the world can find you. Time to go into the dark where the night has eyes to recognize its own. There you can be sure you are not beyond love. The dark will be your womb tonight. The night will give you a horizon further than you can see. You must learn one thing. The world was made to be free in. Give up all the other worlds except the one to which you belong. Sometimes it takes darkness and the sweet confinement of your aloneness to learn Anything or anyone that does not bring you alive is too small for you. ~David Whyte
Questions, Suggestions, Ideas?