Domestic Violence, Trauma and Mental Health

YE BEVERLY DU, M.D. , MPH.DONNA AMTSBERG, LCSW

OCTOBER 24 , 2014

Domestic Violence, Trauma and Mental Health

Today’s Agenda

TraumaTexas LawsTrauma through the Life CycleTrauma in AdulthoodTrauma and ProfessionalsStrategies & SolutionsQ & A

What experiences have you had in working with traumatized individuals?

Trauma

Trauma is defined as: “The result of an overwhelming amount of

stress that exceeds one's ability to cope or integrate the emotions involved with that experience”

Questions

What have your encounters been like with victims of intimate partner violence (IPV)?

What difficulties do healthcare providers face with victims of IPV?

Texas Laws

Texas Family Code, Title 5 and Code Section Family 261.001 et seq.: What Constitutes Abuse: Inflicting or failing to reasonably prevent others from

inflicting mental or emotional injury impairing child's growth, development, or psychological functioning; physical injury resulting in substantial harm, or which is at variance with explanation given; sexual abuse, exploitation, use of controlled substance resulting in mental or physical harm to child.

Mandatory Reporting Required By: "Professionals”, including teachers, nurses, doctors, day care employees, employees of state-licensed or certified organizations with direct contact with children, clergy, mental health professional, attorney, reproductive health clinic worker, any person.

Basis of Report of Abuse/Neglect: having cause to believe that a child's physical or mental health or welfare has been or may be adversely affected by abuse or neglect.

To Whom Reported: Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services 1-800-252-5400

Penalty for Failure to Report or False Reporting: Class B misdemeanor Physical injury resulting in substantial harm; mental or emotional injury; failure to prevent injury; harmful sexual conduct or pornography; failure to prevent use of controlled substance by child False report: Class A misdemeanor.

http://statelaws.findlaw.com/texas-law/texas-child-abuse-laws.html#sthash.ccsZ8qc4.dpuf

Know Your Code of Ethics

Case Example

Case Example – Child Trauma TF-CBT

Trauma Through the Life Cycle

Trauma in Adulthood

Case Example – Adult Trauma

Trauma in Adulthood

How have you witness trauma impact mental health? Depression Anxiety Isolation Repeated victimization or perpetration

Trauma in Adulthood

What are symptoms of psychological suffering due to IPV? PTSD: re-experiencing, hyper-arousal, avoidance Depression: mood, constitutional, despair/SI, self-

esteem Trust Anger Isolation Help rejection

Trauma and Professionals

What difficulties do healthcare providers face with victims of IPV? Helplessness Vicarious trauma Anger Guilt Rescue fantasies

Trauma and Professionals

Vicarious trauma can be thought of as:

The negative changes that happen to humanitarian workers over time as they witness other people’s suffering and need.

These negative changes are the cost of caring for and the caring about others who have been hurt.

Over time this process can lead to changes in your psychological, physical, and spiritual well-being.

Strategies and Solutions

Approaches to the client Validation Empowerment with options Non-judgment

Strategies and Solutions

How do you help clients seek mental health care? Gentle suggestion Persistent suggestion Offer options Expect it to take a long time Language of healing (rather than pathology)

Strategies & Solutions

Self Care Plans Physical care Psychological care Emotional care Spiritual care Relationship care Workplace / professional care Overall balance

Safety Planning Your self care plan is your safety plan

Q & A

What else would you like to discuss?

Thank You!