Treatment
The goal of treatment is to get to a place where symptoms are having less of a negative impact on your life, to help reduce suffering, and to improve functioning and quality of your life.
Questions to ask and things to look for when exploring trauma therapy:
If you are searching on the Internet with at a site such as www.psychologytoday.com, type in your location and use ‘trauma’ or ‘PTSD’ as well as any other filters identifying your top issues that you are wanting to address in therapy.
Are you feeling safe, respected, and understood in your relationship with your therapist? If you are not feeling like it is a good fit after a few visits, then you can always consider choosing a different clinician.
Questions to ask if you have been in therapy for an extended period of time:
The APA reports that some of the below evidence-based treatment modalities have shown benefit:
you can find brief description of many of the therapies listed below at
https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/treatments/
Educational, trauma support, and pastoral resources
The following general information and links are for resources related to understanding and healing from trauma. Please note that while all the links contain free resources, some of the sites also market products including online courses and curriculums. The Archdiocese of Boston and the Office of Pastoral Support and Child Protection have not reviewed these products, and these links are not an endorsement of any product or course that may be marketed by the website either directly or through advertisements. We strongly encourage you to talk to your therapist or others who know you before you consider participating in any course or group to make sure that it is a good match for you at this point in time.
24 Hour Hotlines
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
24/7 National Hotline: (800) 273-TALK (8255)/TTY: (800) 799-4TTY (4889)
Boston Area Rape Crisis Center
24/7 Hotline: (800) 841-8371
Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)
Provides resources to assist in preventing sexual violence, and to help survivors.
24/7 National Sexual Assault Hotline: (800) 656-HOPE (4673)
Samaritans
https://samaritanshope.org/our-services/247-crisis-services/
The Samaritans offer compassion and support to those who are lonely, desperate, or struggling for any reason.
24/7 Crisis Helpline (877) 870-HOPE (4673)
Websites and Apps
National Center for PTSD
Research and educational resources from the Veteran Administration, designed to help individuals who have suffered all forms of abuse, not just abuse related to military service. Specific resources include:
About Face Videos
https://www.ptsd.va.gov/appvid/aboutface.asp
Find A Therapist
https://www.ptsd.va.gov/gethelp/find_therapist.asp
Mobile Apps
https://www.ptsd.va.gov/appvid/mobile/index.asp
15 different mobile apps categorized into 3 areas:
International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP)
This organization’s site includes a help link to find a crisis center anywhere in the world, as well as various resources and information on prevention of suicide.
1in6
Approximately 1 in 6 men have been sexually abused or assaulted. This site provides support for these men, including recommended reading and films for male survivors, loved ones and clinicians.
Has 24/7 Online Helpline Chat
Spirit Fire
https://spiritfirelive.wordpress.com/
Spirit Fire was created by a fellowship of survivors of abuse within the Church as a forum that provides various resources for healing including webinars, retreats, conferences, prayer and articles including ‘The Healing Voices Magazine,’ a publication also founded by survivors of clergy abuse.
Stop It Now
Information, programming, and links to associated resources targeted at the prevention of child sexual abuse. Includes specific resources for adult survivors
UMASS Memorial Center for Mindfulness
https://www.umassmemorialhealthcare.org/umass-memorial-center-mindfulness
Founded by mindfulness pioneer Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, the Center for Mindfulness at UMass Memorial Medical Center offers online classes and other resources for using mindfulness techniques to deal with the negative effects of chronic stress and their impact on the quality of our lives.
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Victim Assistance
http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/child-and-youth-protection/victim-assistance.cfm
Provides the contact information for every Victim Assistance Coordinator in every diocese in the United States, as well as links to other Catholic resources.
Rosary for Healing and Protection
http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/child-and-youth-protection/upload/Rosary-for-Healing.pdf
From the USCCB’s Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection, this wonderful guide provides all the prayers of the rosary, as well as introductions to each decade with an emphasis on child protection.
Readings suggested by survivors
*These books have been suggested by Boston survivors. Staff in OPSO has not vetted them. As with all reading materials, they may be triggering and you may want to talk to your therapist before reading any one of them."
Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving: A Guide and Map for Recovering from Childhood Trauma. Pete Walker, 2013.
From the back cover: ...'a practical guide to recovering from lingering childhood trauma. It is copiously illustrated with examples of the author's and his clients' journeys of recovering. It is a comprehensive self-help guide for working through the toxic legacy of the past and for achieving a rich and fulfilling life.'
It's Not You, It's What Happened to You: Complex Trauma and Treatment. Christine A. Courtois, 2014.
From the back cover: ‘With this book, Dr. Christine Courtois provides an easy-to-read explanation of the chronic, repetitive, and layered forms of traumatic experience that create “complex trauma.” She presents straightforward information about the ways in which complex trauma manifests, plus information about the assessment and diagnosis of complex trauma, and how it can effectively be treated.’
Outgrowing the Pain: A book for and about Adults Abused as Children. Eliana Gil, 1988.
From the back cover: … ‘an important book for any adult who was abused or neglected in childhood. It’s an important book for professionals who help others. It’s a book of questions that can pinpoint and illuminate destructive patterns. The answers you discover can lead to a life filled with new insight, hope, and love.
The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook. Edmund J. Bourne PhD, 2015.
From the back cover: ...'this evidence-based workbook is packed with the most effective techniques for assessing and treating anxiety, the latest clinical research, and a complete arsenal of skills for quieting fears and getting anxious thoughts under control.'
The Wounded Healer: Ministry in Contemporary Society. Henry J. Nouwen, 1979.
From the back cover: 'Weaving keen cultural analysis with his psychological and religious insights, Nouwen has come up with a balanced and creative theology of service that begins with the realization of fundamental woundedness in human nature.'
Victims No Longer: The Classic Guide for Men Recovering from Sexual Child Abuse. Mike Lew, M. Ed, 2004.
From the back cover: 'Victims No Longer examines the changing cultural attitudes toward male survivors of incest and other sexual trauma...this invaluable resource continues to offer compassionate and practical advice, supported by personal anecdotes and statements of male survivors.’