CJ 720 Trauma & Crisis Intervention Blog

Supporting Mental Health in Law Enforcement

Police officers see and experience more trauma than most people can imagine. Despite the mental and physical toll that comes with the job, they don't seek help when they most need it. Why, you might ask.

It's because they're afraid.

They're afraid of being seen as weak, as incapable of doing their job. That they will be seen as unfit and get downgraded to a "safer" version of their position. Aside from the fear in terms of logistics, they're worried they'll be humiliated by colleagues in the same position as them who still view emotional pain as a character flaw.

What most do not realize is that not addressing trauma doesn't make it go away; it only buries it deeper until it resurfaces more assertively and aggressively.

Daily Reality - Trauma Not Just a One-Time Thing

Most often, we associate PTSD in police officers who go through huge traumatic events such as shooting or hostage situations. Research shows that routine police work can be equally as traumatizing, and at times could be even more traumatizing (Maguen et al., 2009).

Every day issues, such as the lack of leadership support, poor communication, overwhelming workload, and unclear roles, can increase PTSD symptoms significantly. These stressors within the organization accumulate quietly in the background, creating an environment where officers constantly feel on edge.

Why?

Let's delve a little deeper into the reason why officers don't seek help. When we look at police culture, it's a culture that rewards toughness. So the way the officer views it is they admit that they are struggling, then that equates to them being a failure.  They feel that they entire reputation within the department lies on their toughness.

Research completed by the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF) outlines several common fears among officers. These include concerns about losing their job, having their license to carry a firearm revoked, being reassigned to a less desirable position, or becoming the target of ridicule and social isolation within the department. These fears, though rarely spoken out loud, are deeply embedded in the culture of law enforcement and act as major deterrents to seeking help.

So although resources like Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) may be present, and accessible to officers, they may still avoid them, afraid that if they participate, it could label them as unstable or unreliable (ICISF, n.d.).

Let's Reframe the Meaning of Strength 

What we've done is normalize this type of culture, but it doesn't have to be this. We can change the way law enforcement agencies handle mental health.

One critical change we can focus on is the strengthening of peer support programs, as well as Employee Assistance Programs also known as EAPs. The biggest emphasis that needs to be put on these programs is that they must fully and truly be confidential. Without that trust none of these programs will work, and it will only push officers away from using them.

Another equally important change is making sure to implement compassionate and clear policies, where officers feel reassured that accessing mental health support will not lead to any consequences. Seeking help should not automatically trigger reassignment, suspension, or removal of firearm privileges unless there is a clear and documented safety risk (Maguen et al., 2009).

And maybe for the most transformative role, leadership. When leadership, respected officer, and heads of departments share their own personal experiences and struggles it will encourage others to do the same. It will create a ripple effect due to them acknowledging their struggles. By modeling openness and self-care, they challenge the outdated notion that strength means silence.

Finally, emotional processing must be normalized. CISD and other debriefing programs should be routine following traumatic events, not as a sign of weakness, but as a standard part of officer care and team building (ICISF, n.d.).

A Take From Restorative Justice

The contemporary shift in police mental health aligns closely with principles articulated in restorative justice. Armour and Umbreit (n.d.) articulate forgiveness in The Paradox of Forgiveness as a process that involves facing pain, not avoiding it. This commitment is insufficiently captured by passivity; rather, it requires the courageous willingness to engage with the most difficult dimensions of our shared humanity.

The same applies to officers confronting trauma. When an officer turns toward mental health resources, it should be seen as a bold and transformative act of courage. I believe it allows officers to process the things they have experienced, gives them time to reframe their emotions, and to just sit in it for a bit. This will allow them to move forward with a renewed sense of purpose and clarity,

It Doesn't Have to Be This Way

Law enforcement doesn’t have to be emotionally destructive. When the right support, leadership, and policies are implemented, a system where officers feel empowered to take care of themselves, and of their mental health will flourish.

References

Armour, M. P., & Umbreit, M. S. (n.d.). The paradox of forgiveness in restorative justice. In L. W. Everett (Ed.), Handbook of Forgiveness.

International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF). (n.d.). Critical Incident Stress Debriefing. In Training Manual, Chapter 4.

Maguen, S., Metzler, T., McCaslin, S., Inslicht, S., Henn-Haase, C., Neylan, T., & Marmar, C. (2009). Routine work environment stress and PTSD symptoms in police officers. Journal of Nervous & Mental Disease, 197(10), 754–760. https://doi.org/10.1097/NMD.0b013e3181b975f8

From Trauma to Testimony: The Psychology of Claude Lanzmann’s “Shoah”

(Trigger warning: Holocaust, genocide, death)

In the years following the Holocaust and World War II, first-person accounts of the genocide shocked the world. The Diary of Anne Frank and Elie Wiesel's Night are two of the most notable literary accounts of the Holocaust and are still being discussed 80 years after the end of the war. Night describes Wiesel's survival as a Jew in Auschwitz and the sights and sounds he would never forget. In his book he recalls the final separation of him and his mother and sisters, the physical decay and eventual death of his father, the burning pit of children, and the constant starvation (Wiesel, 2006). These events were not entirely unique to Wiesel, either. We have all read different accounts of the Holocaust from survivors, and many of them have similar stories and experiences. It is important to remember that large-scale events like the Holocaust result in a traumatized collective (Rousseau, 2025). People who once led vastly different lives are suddenly forever bonded by tragedy.

In 1985, filmmaker Claude Lanzmann released his epic, 9-hour documentary Shoah. Lanzmann conducted interviews with both survivors and perpetrators to get a fully-rounded perspective of the events of the Holocaust. For many of the survivor interviews, Lanzmann places them in an environment similar to that of which they experienced during the years of the genocide. Was this a stylistic choice by the filmmaker, or was there a psychological reasoning for this? Let's briefly explore the science behind traumatic memory and how it connects to Shoah.

How do our brains store traumatic memory? While we are experiencing trauma, the part of our brain responsible for reasoning virtually shuts off. Our amygdala, located in the limbic system of our brain, is activated, sending us into fight-or-flight. This mechanism is designed to help us survive, but makes it so we cannot transfer short-term memories to long-term storage. The part of our brain that is active during trauma, the limbic system, holds the memories as sensory stimuli (Rousseau, 2025). This explains why Elie Wiesel, in Night, remembers sights, smells, and sounds. Of course, Wiesel was able to give a narrative recounting of the events, but these sensory details are prominent in trauma survivors.

How does this connect to Shoah? One of the many testimonies delivered in the documentary was that of Abraham Bomba. Bomba was a Jewish barber who was deported to Treblinka, another death camp similar to Auschwitz. He was tasked with cutting people's hair before they entered the gas chamber, and through this occupation he was able to survive.

In the film, Lanzmann interviews Bomba in a barbershop. While Bomba cuts someone's hair, Lanzmann asks him about his time at Treblinka. What seems like a disturbing conversation in a mundane situation effectively draws out Bomba's memories. He described how it felt knowing he was many people's last stop before their death, watching them enter the gas chamber. He also recounted the experience of seeing his friend's family in the line to the gas chamber (Lanzmann, 1985). In his testimony, Bomba clearly became emotional as he recalled these horrible memories.

We can connect this back to the psychological explanation for traumatic memory. Lanzmann placed Bomba in an environment similar to that of his time at Treblinka. The sight and sounds of cutting hair likely brought his sensory memories to the surface, and thus, his memory of the events. Lanzmann does this for at least two other survivors in the film: Simon Srebnik and Henryk Gawkowski. Srebnik, who survived by singing to the Nazis as entertainment at Chelmno, rowed a boat along the river similar to what he did during his time at the camp. Gawkowski drove the trains to the concentration camps, and Lanzmann interviewed him in the presence of one of these "death trains" (Lanzmann, 1985).

Lanzmann, in the production of Shoah, utilized the psychology of traumatic memory to ensure the most compelling interviews and testimonies from his subjects. By placing the survivors in environments with sensory stimuli that reminded them of their traumatic experiences in the Holocaust, the memories were able to flow. Shoah is one of the most important documentaries of the 20th century, recording the lives of Holocaust survivors less than 40 years after the end of the war. As the number of living survivors dwindles, we can look to this documentary to give us crucial first-person accounts about the horrors of genocide.

References

Lanzmann, C. (1985). Shoah [Film].

Rousseau, D. (2025). Introduction [Lecture Notes]. Retrieved from https://learn.bu.edu/ultra/courses/_194375_1/outline/edit/document/_15526518_1?courseId=_194375_1&view=content&state=view

Rousseau, D. (2025). Limbic System [Lecture Notes]. Retrieved from https://learn.bu.edu/ultra/courses/_194375_1/outline/edit/document/_15526385_1?courseId=_194375_1&view=content&state=view

Wiesel, E. (2006). Night. Hill & Wang.

Healing from the Inside Out: How Yoga Can Support Trauma Recovery

There have been recent developments in the effectiveness of using body-based therapies like yoga as a treatment for trauma. Trauma occurs when an individual is exposed to a distressing event, threat, or what they perceive to be a threat, and often the individual feels overwhelmed and unable to cope with the event (Rousseau, 2025). In his book “The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma”, Bessel Van der Kolk (2014) explains that trauma is not only a distressing event itself, but also the lasting impact it can have on an individual. Trauma can have impacts on both the mind and the body, making treatment for trauma complex (Van der Kolk, 2014). Recent research points to trauma-informed therapy as being the most impactful. Van der Kolk (2014) states that traditional talk-therapy often falls short in terms of treatment, but rather self-awareness is “at the core of recovery”, citing that mindfulness is most important (p.210). One strategy for trauma-informed treatment gaining recent traction is yoga.

Van der Kolk (2014) asserts that yoga encourages mindfulness, breathing, and meditation in concert with physical movement, and this increases self-awareness. A growing body of research proves this to be true. Rousseau et al. (2024) conducted a study of the effectiveness of yoga programming in a carceral setting, and the results found that yoga supported posttraumatic resilience building among participants of the program. Furthermore, Klukan and Lunsford (2024) conducted a scoping review of the research and literature on the effectiveness of yoga for the treatment of trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder, and found positive impacts on client outcomes across the studies they reviewed.

Findings indicate that when yoga is practiced, there is a connection between the body and the brain that helps to develop and refine self-regulation skills, leading to the maintenance of "homeostasis", or the equilibrium between the brain and body (Klukan & Lunsford, 2024). West, Liang, and Spinazzola (2017) also found evidence supporting yoga as an effective treatment for trauma in their study that analyzed 31 women with PTSD from childhood trauma who completed a 10-week yoga course. They found that participants ended the yoga course with an increased sense of self-awareness and safety, as well as experienced personal growth (West, Liang, & Spinazzola, 2017). This is similar to the findings of the study conducted by Rousseau et al. (2024), who found incarcerated individuals benefited from yoga; their mood increased by 30%, stress decreased by 41%, and they even reported an increase in self-growth in terms of coping skills and resilience.

Although some of these studies do cite limitations, such as self-reported data, issues with selection biases or lack of randomization in the sample populations due to the carceral environment, or the lack of long-term data, the overall findings are positive in nature. More research is certainly needed to further support yoga’s positive impacts on trauma treatment. With the still-growing body of research on this treatment and with its growing popularity, more research developments are imminent. 

Trauma often causes individuals to disassociate with their sense of self, indicating that a treatment centered around regaining this sense of self-awareness is essential. Trauma-informed yoga accomplishes just this- it reinforces mindfulness and reestablishes self-awareness. Yoga allows for an alternative to traditional talk-based therapy, which can be more beneficial for individuals who might have trouble talking about their experiences or have issues remembering them. By focusing on reconnecting with themselves physically, participants of trauma-informed yoga can begin to heal mentally from their trauma. This gentle yet powerful approach to reestablishing a sense of self-autonomy and self-connection is a great approach being developed for trauma survivors. 

References:

Klukan, K., & Lunsford, D. (2024). Trauma-Informed Yoga: A Scoping Review. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, 40(4), 430–454. https://doi.org/10.1080/0164212X.2023.2276148

Rousseau, D. (2025). Module 1: Introduction to Trauma. [Module Notes]. Blackboard, Boston University.

Rousseau, D., Bourgeois, J. W., Johnson, J., Ramirez, L., & Donahue, M. (2024). Embodied resilience: a quasi-experimental exploration of the effects of a trauma-informed yoga and mindfulness curriculum in carceral settings. International Journal of Yoga Therapy, 34(2024), Article-2.

Van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. Viking.

West, J., Liang, B., & Spinazzola, J. (2017). Trauma Sensitive Yoga as a Complementary Treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Qualitative Descriptive Analysis. International Journal of Stress Management, 24(2), 173–195. https://doi.org/10.1037/str0000040

Trauma-Informed Practces for Coaches and Extracurricular Instructors

Trauma informed care and being trauma informed are growing in popularity as we continually increase our understanding of how we interact with individuals and the lived experiences they carry with them. Trauma-informed practices are closely related to clinical and academic settings. These are the two places that interact with people of all backgrounds and are associated with both stress and care. Trauma informed practices encourage people to see the entire individual as a manifestation of their lived experiences, good and bad, and that their behaviors, emotions, and overall well-being are shaped by the environment that surrounds them. While care facilities and academic settings are excellent candidates for trauma informed practices, these practices should be a universal truth and the way we interact with people in the systems we grow and develop.

Another setting many people experience in their lifetime is within the context of sports and other extracurricular activities, and the largest population involved in these activities is kids. According to an article by Yerís Mayol-García (2023), a writer and statistician in the Census Bureau’s Fertility and Family Statistics Branch, kids are more involved in extracurricular activities than in previous decades (Mayol-García, 2023). According to the Census Bureau, nearly 50% and 35% of girls are involved in sports; 30% of boys and 40% of girls are involved in other extracurriculars like music, dance, etc. (2023). This large percentage of the population is in contact with adults who have a great influence on their lives. Role models and mentors have a great influence on youth development, and this power is a formidable role to play in their growth. A study by Atif and their colleagues found that around 70% of children claimed to have a role model whom they look up to (Atif et al., 2022).

Coaches and other extracurricular instructors are some of these role models. When thinking of coaching traditionally. Many people have positive experiences with adults who nurtured and supported their development; however, there is a large population who were instructed by coaches who used a deficit model of coaching. This controlling model uses fear, anger, power dynamics, and judgment to motivate their students (Marcone, 2017). The best example of this is a coach who yells at players, belittles them, and constantly tells them their doing things wrong, asking “what’s wrong with you.” These coaches rely on extrinsic motivation techniques and punishment to push results instead of player growth and development (2017).

Adopting a trauma-informed lens into practice will not only work to get the best out of their pupils but can also lead to healing from past experiences of trauma within the same/similar settings. Trauma informed care recognizes 4 key assumptions coined as the 4 R’s: Realize– the widespread impact of trauma; Recognize– the signs and symptoms of trauma; Respond– by integrating this information into practice; and Resist– retraumatization (SAMHSA, 2014). These 4 assumptions fuel the 6 Principles of trauma informed practice: Safety, Trustworthiness and Transparency, Peer Support, Collaboration and Mutuality, Empowerment, and Cultural, Historical, and Gender Issues (2014).

These assumptions and principles can easily be applied in practice as a coach, teacher, or mentor. Firstly, one must create a trauma-informed environment. This space needs to be physically, mentally, and emotionally safe for students and instructors. This can be done by creating a transparent and predictable schedule with the use of daily routines, incremental goals, clear boundaries, and clear expectations. This environment should foster belongingness and team mentality.

Next, instructors should audit their communication styles. The use of clear and empathetic language makes individuals feel valued and safe. It empowers, ensures respect, and encourages a growth mindset. Using communication with a growth mindset inspires positive development and intrinsic motivation. Changing communication from “what you’re doing wrong” to “how can I help you.”

Coaches should then use techniques to empower their players. This gives the individual back their control, builds self-confidence and self-esteem, and promotes resilience. To do this, instructors should involve their pupils in decision making processes, highlight their strengths to work on growth areas, and respect their personal boundaries.

Reviewing self-care is a crucial step in the trauma informed practice process. Promoting and encouraging self-care for both players and coaches is essential to maintaining physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Encouraging players to rest, have healthy sleeping routines, hydrate, and apply stress management techniques is extremely important to their overall health and experience. Doing the same for coaches and support staff is vital. Coaches should replicate these processes, as well as prioritize their own mental health, set health work-life boundaries, and seek peer support when needed. Implementing self-care and mindfulness techniques into practice can also be beneficial. Body scans, belly/abdomen breathing, and 5-4-3-2-1 Sense methods are quickly and easily applied, and they foster positive team culture during down times.

Practicing cultural humility is an important piece in the trauma informed process. Understand that your players are a product of their environment and embrace diversity; come from a place of curiosity, not judgment.

Finally, collaboration is fundamental, especially when working with youth. Working with parents, teachers, and other collateral contacts while understanding and respecting your students’ boundaries will build a network of support for the individuals you work with. Knowing your pupils in different contexts and receiving further information on their lives will help you better understand their actions, emotions, and mentality. Collaboration creates an open communication culture and encourages players to share their thoughts and feelings while ensuring confidentiality and respect.

In conclusion, trauma-informed care is a transformative approach that universally fosters understanding, empathy, and growth. By prioritizing the 6 principles and understanding the 4 key assumptions of care, you can create an environment that nurtures resilience, healing, and a growth mindset. Embracing this approach across all systems promotes a culture of care that benefits individuals and communities alike.

Trauma Informed Guide for Coaches

Sources:

Atif, H., Peck, L., Connolly, M., Endres, K., Musser, L., Shalaby, M., Lehman, M., & Olympia, P. (2022). The Impact of Role Models, Mentors, and Heroes on Academic and Social Outcomes in Adolescents. Cureus, 14(7), e27349. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.27349

Marcone, M. (2017). The Impact of Coaching Styles on the Motivation and Performance of Athlete. Kinesiology, Sport Studies, and Physical Education Synthesis Projects. 21. https://digitalcommons.brockport.edu/pes_synthesis/21

Mayol-García, Y. (2023). Girls take lessons, join clubs more often than boys but boys play more sports. Census.gov. https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2022/07/children-continue-to-be-involved-in-extracurricular-activities.html

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2014). SAMHSA’s concept of trauma and guidance for a trauma-informed approach (HHS Publication No. SMA14-4884). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://ncsacw.samhsa.gov/userfiles/files/SAMHSA_Trauma.pdf

Lifting Weights: A Path to Healing from Trauma

Trauma lives in both the mind and body. “ To people who are reliving a trauma, nothing makes sense; they are trapped in a life-or-death situation, a state of paralyzing fear or blind rage. Mind and body are constantly aroused, as if they are in imminent danger”(Van der Kolk, 2014, p.197). While traditional approaches to healing include therapies and medication, weightlifting is yet another avenue for trauma recovery that is overlooked. 

Similar to activities such as yoga and mindfulness, weightlifting offers some of the same benefits. “Activities such as yoga and mindfulness can help to redirect the firing of neurons, or even create new neurons through two processes, called neuroplasticity and neurogenesis”(Rousseau, 2024, p.9). Lifting weights has been shown to affect similar pathways as yoga, mindfulness, and meditation. In addition the act of lifting weights has been shown to be “ an effective adjunct intervention in the treatment of psychological trauma and trauma-related disorders. Weight lifting has been associated with improvements in symptoms of PTSD (Whitworth et al., 2017, 2019), reductions in substance use (Unhjem et al., 2016), improved self-efficacy (O'Connor et al., 2010), increased social connection, and the formation of empowering self-identity in the aftermath of trauma (Nowakowski-Sims et al., 2023)”(Vigue et al., 2023, p.1). It is also worth noting that engaging in regular exercise “is associated with lower sympathetic nervous system and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis reactivity”(Anderson and Shivakumar, 2013, p.1). This system that is positively affected controls the release of cortisol and adrenaline. Both of these hormones are often dysregulated in those with a history of trauma. Much research also points to the fact that weight lifting causes the release of endorphins and serotonin which helps with mood stabilization and emotional resilience.  

Weightlifting as a path to healing from trauma provides many benefits. These include leaving individuals feeling empowered, body awareness and connection, structure and routine, and helps to get out pent up energy and aggression. All of these benefits are helpful in successfully healing from trauma. Another benefit is that weightlifting is more accessible than other forms of healing such as therapies and medications prescribed by doctors. 

While weightlifting has many benefits in healing from trauma it is important to note that healing is a journey that needs a combination of trauma-informed practices. Weightlifting combined with other methods such as therapies and medications can be more powerful in healing than just the use of one intervention. Overall weightlifting represents a powerful method for trauma healing. Through weightlifting individuals can be empowered and  reconnect with their mind and bodies leading to a sense of control. 

References:

Anderson, E., & Shivakumar, G. (2013). Effects of exercise and physical activity on anxiety. Frontiers in psychiatry, 4, 27. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2013.00027

Eva Nowakowski-Sims, Mariah Rooney, Dana Vigue, Savannah Woods,

Eva Nowakowski-Sims, Mariah Rooney, Dana Vigue, Savannah Woods,

A grounded theory of weight lifting as a healing strategy for trauma,Mental Health and Physical Activity,Volume 25,2023,100521,ISSN 1755-2966, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhpa.2023.100521.

Rousseau, D. (2024). Module 3: Neurobiology of Trauma Boston University

Van der Kolk, B. A., & Pratt, S. (2021). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Penguin Random House Audio. 

Vigue, D., Rooney, M., Nowakowski-Sims, E., & Woods, S. (2023). Trauma informed weight lifting: considerations for coaches, trainers and gym environments. Frontiers in psychology, 14, 1224594. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1224594

Surviving the Storm: PTSD and The Impacts of Natural Disasters on Communities

Natural disasters impact communities in more ways than are represented. In the media, it is common to see the destruction of small business stores, homes, and public places like libraries, schools, and churches, however,r this is just the physical aftermath of disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and other devastating events. There are times that we will hear about the emotional and psychological responses of members of communities after a natural disaster. Still, there is insufficient focus on the long-term consequences of these events on some individuals. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a disorder where people relive the traumatic events they endured through recurring and unwanted memories, flashbacks, and nightmares (Rousseau, 2024). There can also be physiological responses from the body such as intense and excessive sweating, difficulty sleeping, and losing interest in hobbies and normal day activities. PTSD is a serious disorder that individuals can develop after experiencing and living through a natural disaster. 

There are two examples of natural disasters that are important in understanding the development of PTSD and other trauma-related responses to traumatic events. The tsunami that devastated Sri Lanka in 2004 and the constant struggles with natural disasters for Haitians are just two instances where fear, resilience, and restoration all take place. The tsunami that hit Sri Lanka in 2004 was a shock for those living in the community, but the realization of what had happened did not come until later. Watters (2011) mentions that not even days after the disaster, children were more eager to get back to school and the classrooms than they were to process their emotions about what had just happened to them. Sri Lankans also tried to abandon their refugee camps days after the disaster and preferred to go back to the ruins of their villages than to depend on family, friends, or others for any help. This is a sign of avoidance and being "in denial" as Watters (2011) calls it. There were a few responses to the natural disaster that were quite noteworthy. Opposite to common Western responses, Sri Lankans were more likely to experience physical symptoms after devastating events such as headaches, joint or muscle issues, or pains in the chest. In addition to this, Sri Lankans saw the negative consequences of natural disasters in terms of the damage done to social relationships, rather than pathological reactions (anxiety, fear, numbing, etc.) as Western culture does (Watters, 2011). These differences in responses and reactions to traumatic events call for more resources oriented toward resilience and building back what has been lost. Possible strategies could include group therapy, mindful practices, and more education on how to cope with physical, emotional, and psychological reactions to natural disasters and devastating events such as the tsunami in Sri Lanka. 

In Haiti, it is common to hear of hurricanes, tsunamis, and earthquakes that destroy the country and leave them with unfortunate impacts on the community and its members. The impacts of a hurricane are often associated with economic factors such as poverty, inequalities, and housing crises (Nicolas et al., 2010). Haiti is a country that is vulnerable to natural disasters where a lack of resources and lack of preparedness is not in favor of the inhabitants. However, Nicolas and colleagues (2010) emphasize that family, religion, community, and unique cultural practices are what help with their resilience to the negative consequences of natural disasters. Rousseau (2013) promotes resilience through the practice of yoga for Haitians during the post-earthquake period. This trauma-informed integrative mindfulness program (TIMBo) seeks to alleviate the symptoms of trauma and to offer strategies for prevention. By encouraging these practices, coping with and managing emotional, physical, and psychological reactions to traumatic events may offer preventative strategies.

References

Nicolas, G., Schwartz, B., & Pierre, E. (2010). Weathering the storm like bamboo: The strengths of Haitians in coping with natural disasters. In International handbook of emotional healing: Ritual and practices for resilience after mass trauma. Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc.

Rousseau, D. (2024) Module 1 and 4: Introduction to trauma, pathways to recovery - understanding approaches to trauma treatment. Blackboard. BU.edu. 

Rousseau. D, & Jackson, D. (2013). Promoting resilience through yoga: Profiling the implementation of trauma-informed integrative mindfulness programming in post-earthquake Haiti. Journal of Yoga Service. 

Watters, E. (2011). The wave that brought PTSD to Sri Lanka. In Crazy Like Us. Robinson.

Strategies for Self-Care

No matter the type of trauma people experience, its effects on the brain and body can profoundly impact their lives. Van der Kolk (2014) discovered that trauma is not only a past event, but "the imprint left by that experience on mind, brain, and body" which "has ongoing consequences for how the human organism manages to survive in the present." Trauma is complex and systemic, impacting personal lives, relationships, careers, and interactions with the world (Rousseau, 2024). It can alter life paths, impair personal abilities, and cause physical and neurological damage that may or may not be repairable, with effects extending to hospitals, courts, and the criminal justice system (Rousseau, 2024).

Practicing self-care becomes essential when navigating the aftermath of trauma. Regular engagement in self-care strategies can strengthen resilience through social support and promote posttraumatic growth. Rousseau (2024) notes that self-care can provide a sense of control, allow individuals to pursue meaningful goals, and encourage healthy lifestyle choices. When developing a self-care practice, it is important to "be present and to engage in activities that nourish your mind, body, and soul" (Rousseau, 2024).

Self-care activities can be personalized to fit individual preferences, needs, or lifestyles. Examples of ideas for self-care include:

• Develop mindfulness practices such as meditation
• Do yoga
• Exercise
• Take a few deep breaths
• Prepare a nice meal
• Spend time with a good friend
• Read a good book
• Spend quality time with your family
• Get outside and spend time in nature
• Go on a hike
• Go see the ocean
• Take a relaxing bath
• Take a walk
• Meditate
• Start a gratitude journal or list
• Get a massage
• Get outside and get some sun
• Spend time with a pet
• Journal (Rousseau, 2024)

Creating a playlist with your favorite songs can help create a calm space for relaxation. Watching comfort TV shows or movies can also help with self-care by giving your mind a break. Additionally, taking a break from social media and technology can reduce distractions, allow individuals to reconnect with themselves, and minimize constant exposure to negative content, news, comparisons, and bullying. Drawing, painting, sculpting, or other creative outlets can allow individuals to process and explore their emotions and thoughts and express their feelings that may be difficult to verbalize.

Another important aspect of self-care is separating work life from home life. This can be easier said than done, especially in jobs involving high stress and critical incident exposure, such as those in the criminal justice field. After finishing work, individuals can take 10 minutes to sit in their car, reflect on their day, and engage in deep breathing. This brief pause can create an opportunity to shift their mindset, prevent work-related issues and stress from coming home with them, and process the events of their day.

Barriers to self-care often derive from misconceptions and personal challenges related to implementing it. One common barrier is the stigma surrounding self-care, with many viewing it as selfish and lazy (Connected Health and Wellbeing, n.d.). Social media trends have also commercialized self-care, leading many to believe it is expensive.

Another barrier is a lack of knowledge or awareness about how to start a self-care routine or create an effective self-care plan. Time constraints can make it difficult for individuals to find time for themselves, especially when managing busy work schedules, family responsibilities, and numerous commitments (Connected Health and Wellbeing, n.d.). Additionally, guilt may prevent people from engaging in self-care, as they may feel guilty about prioritizing their well-being when others rely on them.

Despite barriers to self-care, it is essential to prioritize it by engaging in activities that address all areas of wellness such as emotional, financial, social, spiritual, occupational, physical, intellectual, and environmental (Rousseau, 2024). Integrating self-care activities into daily routines can empower individuals by building resilience, encouraging self-compassion, and creating a sense of control. Self-care does not have to be costly, as it often includes simple, accessible, and low-cost practices such as mindfulness, exercise, deep breathing, spending time in nature, connecting with family or friends, or journaling. By taking the time to engage in self-care, individuals can better care for themselves and show up more fully for others.

References

Connected Health and Wellbeing. (n.d.). Understanding why we neglect self-care. https://www.connectedhealthandwellbeing.com/understanding-why-we-neglect-self-care/

Griner, T. (n.d.). Self-care and wellness: The important difference that may affect your mental health. https://anxietyandbehaviornj.com/self-care-and-wellness-the-important-difference-that-may-affect-your-mental-health/

Rousseau, D. (2024). Module 1: Introduction to trauma [Lecture Notes]. Blackboard. BU MET.

Rousseau, D. (2024, December 3). Vicarious trauma and self-care [Lecture recording]. Blackboard. BU MET.

Taking the High Road: The Mindful Approach to Traumatic Experiences

It is very difficult having to deal with the debilitating effects of trauma on a daily basis.  Imagine someone living their lives to the fullest and all of a sudden, something unexpectedly happens.  They could either witness or become a victim to a crime or an accident of any sort.  They may possibly find themselves stuck in a natural disaster.  They are in a state of shock and terror as the traumatic moment happens.  It gets to a point where the person becomes frozen in fear.  Then, having to relive the moment over and over for a very long time replaying the moments in their head.  Not only does it take a toll on a person’s mental, emotional and physical health, but it can lead to harming themselves as well as their loved ones and other people.

“Recovery from trauma is a long process and can often feel both daunting and overwhelming” (Rousseau, 2024).  However, not all hope is lost as we become more informed about the effects of it.  “Although no treatment has been shown to be effective for all people who are exposed to trauma, there are several that have evidence-based efficacy” (Rousseau, 2024).  We have discussed multiple approaches to addressing trauma this semester, stemming from medications to gender-responsive approaches.  There is one we have talked about in class that I would like to discuss in particular, mindfulness.

Mindfulness is defined as “the awareness that arises when paying attention to the present moment nonjudgmentally” (Kabat-Zinn & Hanh, 2009).  It enables the person to be more aware of thoughts that can lead to post-traumatic stress symptoms.  In addition, this technique shifts their focus into something more positive.  Practicing mindfulness on a continuous basis can help the individual concentrate more on physical feelings and regulating their emotions.  Not only does it bring awareness to thoughts occurring at the exact moment, but it lessens the severity of the negative impact that traumatic events have on the individual.

People have different ways of practicing this technique.  “Mindfulness puts us in touch with the transitory nature of our feelings and perceptions” (van der Kolk, 2014, p. 209).  It can start from practicing breathing techniques, where the individual shifts their attention to their breathing patterns.  Meditation is another technique that blends in well with mindfulness, as it helps the person clear their thoughts and deepen their connection with the body, mind and soul.  One other way of utilizing mindfulness in dealing with trauma is learning to accept the experience they endured.  Through acceptance, it encourages resilience in the individual and helps them to become stronger as they continue to live their lives.

From a personal experience, I have come to find that practicing mindfulness techniques has a wide range of benefits when it comes to mental health.  As someone who practices this technique on a regular basis, it alleviates stress and it does help to regularly control your emotions.  Practicing mindfulness helps with clearing your mind and you do tend to focus more on your breathing patterns.  Taking at least 5 - 10 minutes of your time to practice this skill makes a huge difference.

To conclude this post, traumatic events change a person’s life in many different ways.  It causes the individual to have a negative perspective because they will never be the same after experiencing such event.  When the individual opens up to engaging in mindful techniques, it encourages them to accept the things they cannot change in the past.  They learn to live with what occurred and become stronger in coping with the traumatic event.  “Mindfulness not only makes it possible to survey our internal landscape with compassion and curiosity, but can also actively steer us in the right direction for self-care” (van der Kolk, 2024, p. 284).  By forming that connection within, it helps the person with self-reflection and knowing that they are stronger and more resilient than they initially thought.  “It is important to remember that a first and crucial step to recovering from trauma is to reduce the symptoms that result, allowing for a deeper healing experience” (Rousseau, 2024).  Just remember that mindfulness may not fix the problem right away.  But with time, persistence and patience, it will pay off in the long run.

Rousseau, D. (2024). Module 4: Pathways to Recovery: Understanding Approaches to Trauma Treatment. Boston University MET CJ 720. Blackboard.

Kabat-Zinn, J., & Hanh, T. N. (2009). Full catastrophe living: Using the wisdom of your body and mind to face stress, pain, and illness. Delta.

van der Kolk, B. A (2014). The body keeps the score: brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. https://ci.nii.ac.jp/ncid/BB19708339

The Use of EMDR in Patients With PTSD

 According to the lecture, EMDR refers to a psychotherapy approach that is used on patients who have experienced some sort of trauma. EMDR uses a series of bilateral stimulation, such as eye movement, desensitization, and reprocessing (Rousseau, 2024). EMDR is commonly used among those who have Post-Traumatic Stress disorder, in order to help cope with the traumatic memories one has. There are many ways in which PTSD can be treated, however the best way to treat it may be EMDR, that is because it allows patients with PTSD to process the traumatic memories that constantly haunt them (U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, 2023). Moving forward, the psychotherapy approach may be most commonly used by veterans who experienced a traumatic event, such as a way. It is used to help reprocess the memory that brings them anxiety and fear, to a way that I would not cost them to fear the experience. 

However, the use of EMDR is not only used on patients who are veterans, but also victims of sexual abuse or physical abuse, such as children, or adults who suffered abuse as a child, but did not have the resources to seek for help. The majority of the time, these children will process these memories, in an unhealthy way that will allow them to shut off the part of them that will help process and heal from the event. In chapter 15 of “The Body Keeps the Score” , we are introduced to a patient named Maggy, in which she was sexually molested by her father at a young age. In order to cope with the trauma, her brain chose to forget the memory, which allowed her to not feel the pain of having to carry that trauma with her. (Van Der Kolk, 2015) Once Maggy began going to therapy, she confessed that her father had sexually molested her as a child, Maggy believed this was her fault. After a few sessions, she was introduced to EMDR, which allowed her to be able to reprocess the memory her brain chose to shut out, and accept that her father molesting her, was not her fault (Van Der Kolk, 2015).

There have been many studies that showed success rates the relief of PTSD symptoms. One success story would be Maggy’s story which showed a 100% success rate. However, there have been another thirty studies that have been conducted, which show positive incomes when it comes to the relief of PTSD symptoms among trauma victims (The Trauma Practice, 2024). There have been studies that showed approximately 80 to 90 percent of success rate among single event trauma victims (The Trauma Practice, 2024). Another example of case study is from the book “The Body Keeps the Score” by Bessel van der Kolk, the results showed that 60 percent of those who have received the EMDR approach to overcome their trauma have reported being wholly healed after their treatment. However, those who did not receive the treatment note that they relapsed after the case study concluded (Van Der Kolk, 2015). 

Reference: 

National Center for PTSD.(2023). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) for PTSD. U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.   https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand_tx/emdr.asp

 Rousseau (2024).Module 4: Neurobiology of Trauma Pathways to Recovery: Understanding Approaches to Trauma Treatment. MET CJ720: Trauma and Crisis Intervention. Boston University. 

The Trauma Practice. (2024, december 8). Does EMDR Work?. https://traumapractice.co.uk/does-emdr-work/

Van Der Kolk, B. A. (2015). The body keeps the score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. Penguin Books.