sychlaLrlc ManagemenL of

Survlvors of vlolence AgalnsL

Women and Chlldren
eflnlLlon
1rauma occurs when boLh lnLernal and
exLernal resources are lnadequaLe Lo cope
wlLh an exLernal LhreaL (van der kolk 1989)
Shattered Assumptions (Janoff-BuIIman)
The experience of trauma shatters two basic assumptions about The experience of trauma shatters two basic assumptions about
the self and the world: the self and the world:
The belief in personal invulnerability or immortality The belief in personal invulnerability or immortality
The belief that the world is a meaningful and orderly place, The belief that the world is a meaningful and orderly place,
and that events happen for a reason and that events happen for a reason
Violence, shatters a third belief: the trust that other human Violence, shatters a third belief: the trust that other human
beings are fundamentally benign. beings are fundamentally benign.
These 3 assumptions (or illusions) allow people to function These 3 assumptions (or illusions) allow people to function
effectively & to relate to others. After trauma, individuals are left effectively & to relate to others. After trauma, individuals are left
feeling vulnerable, helpless and out of control in a world that is feeling vulnerable, helpless and out of control in a world that is
no longer predictable. no longer predictable.
%he PsychoIogicaI Impact of %rauma
OU%#
ear, sadness, rage
OU%#
ear, sadness, rage
Incident
DENIAL
Refusing to face
memory of incident
DENIAL
Refusing to face
memory of incident
IN%#USION
Unbidden thoughts of
the event
IN%#USION
Unbidden thoughts of
the event
WO#ING %#OUG
acing the reality of
what has happened
WO#ING %#OUG
acing the reality of
what has happened
OMPLE%ION
Going on with life
OMPLE%ION
Going on with life
PT80 PT80
0VERwhELHE0 0VERwhELHE0
FL000E0 8TATE8 FL000E0 8TATE8
EXTREHE
AV0|0AN6E
EXTREHE
AV0|0AN6E
PAN|6 0R
EXhAU8T|0N
PAN|6 0R
EXhAU8T|0N
PASES IN %E #EA%IONS %O %#AUMA PASES IN %E #EA%IONS %O %#AUMA
%he signs & symptoms of P%SD %he signs & symptoms of P%SD
!eople often respond to a stressful or traumatic experience !eople often respond to a stressful or traumatic experience
with very strong feelings. They start saying, feeling and with very strong feelings. They start saying, feeling and
doing things that they did not do before doing things that they did not do before
The following reactions commonly occur in response to The following reactions commonly occur in response to
trauma (the response involves intense fear, helplessness or trauma (the response involves intense fear, helplessness or
horror) horror)
Re Re- -experiencing the trauma (recollections, physical experiencing the trauma (recollections, physical
reactivity) reactivity)
Avoidance or numbing (detachment, estrangement, Avoidance or numbing (detachment, estrangement,
forgetting) forgetting)
ncreased arousal (startle response, irritability, sleep ncreased arousal (startle response, irritability, sleep
problems) problems)
Other symptoms (depression, guilt, cognitive problems Other symptoms (depression, guilt, cognitive problems
ManagemenL of Survlvors
SLageorlenLaLed LreaLmenL of 1rauma
(Perman1992)
Ls' are gulded Lhrough Lhe followlng 3 sLages
SLg 1 LsLabllshlng safeLy
Pelp Lhe pL feel safe undersLood proLecLed
lor chlldren malnLaln presence of a LrusLed careglver
lor women presence of anoLher woman
evelop a LherapeuLlc alllance ln an envlronmenL
of LrusL
n1 force pL Lo dlsclose lncldenL