| In
keeping with its mission statement of commitment
to the advancement of intervention for survivors
of trauma, the purpose of this article was to
have been a presentation of my observations resulting
from my experience in working with this population
by guiding them skillfully with the use of flexibly
adapted therapeutic techniques and interventive
mechanisms through the various stages of grief
(Kubler-Ross) with a predominant emphasis on Gestalt.
This corresponds with my own personality and personality
theory from whence I join my client/patient along
her/his journey to healing.
I furthermore
intended to discuss my own background which brought
me to the field of traumatic stress studies, research,
writing, and treatment: I am a child survivor
of the Holocaust, as well as the child of a family
of survivors of that time. My graduate work began
with a MSW in community organization at a time
when I still needed to develop and maintain my
own boundaries by staying in macro rather than
micro practice. Personal therapy provided healing
for the would-be healer while skills were acquired
and honed during a second graduate program, a
MS in Pastoral counseling. Most recently, a community
college counseling center serving student/adult
and county populations provided the setting in
which the majority of (my) client population had
survived various degrees of domestic and familial
trauma. The academic environment stimulated me
to continue my own study and research in the field
of PTSD, and the awarding of a doctorate. These
then were the things I was going to expound upon,
until...
Several meetings
both formal and informal together with some mailings
stimulated interesting and lively conversation
as to the role of this "new kid on the block"
of trauma. We viewed The American Academy of Experts
in Traumatic Stress which I, along with several
of the others, considered joining as a welcome
addition to the growing field of traumatic stress.
This would serve to increase awareness and the
multitudinous aspects of study, research, education,
writing, practice and intervention whether long
term or crises, hands on in the trenches of war,
urban street, living room or hurricane (etc.),
or the pristine walls of the lab, the professional
comfort of the therapeutic setting or the chaos
of a bomb shelter, the excitement of lobbying
or the tediousness of drafting and revising policy
statements...
Rather than being
extended an unanimously welcome hand, AAETS was
viewed by several of us with the inquisitive skepticism
reserved for anything new, different, unknown
and curious while judgment was reserved for the
present. This then, appears to me to be a welcome
window of opportunity from which to explore, widen
perspective and be gathered into the fold of all
those truly seeking ways and means of alleviating
suffering, promoting and expediting healing, supporting
the afflicted as well as their care-givers by
deploying every avenue available: hands on, therapeutically,
academically, clinically, legally, administratively,
et al.
If my colors are
showing, then why not: we bring to bear who we
are and what we have become. Victims of traumatic
stress, particularly sufferers of post traumatic
stress syndrome and especially survivors of extensive
long term horrors such as the Holocaust have very
special gifts, perspectives and values: we like
to have things smooth and thereby are peacemakers
who "bring together"; while we appear
to go with the flow around us we have acquired
a quiet strength making us resilient to the flow
and impervious to its negative abrasiveness, and
thirdly, we have a well developed sense of humor
allowing us to transcend the foibles of our surroundings
with a knowing and wise smile.
And so, though
I myself am a newcomer to the block, I want to
share my feelings and thoughts by bringing my
experience and my knowledge to give to the guiding
principals on board or staff, as well as to fellow
members.
Our title says
volumes: AMERICAN. We are not global nor international.
While I do hope we shall avail ourselves of what
knowledge the worldwide community develops and
presents, our focus remains domestic or national.
We call ourselves
ACADEMY. Briefly, my old Random House dictionary
defines that as a place for special instruction
and/or training, or, an association for the advancement
of a subject, or, a group of persons acknowledged
as authorities; it also refers to academe as the
public grove: a cool breeze gently fanning trees
above the brows of front-line workers finding
rest and respite in the shade; a place to acquire
knowledge, support, guidance, to share with others
and to learn from them. Less a place for research,
scientific inquiry, empirical data, aggressive
networking, setting policies and procedures and
more of a place that gives sustenance, promotes
healing, provides guidance, creates awareness,
and reaches out. A place where an inner city policeman
feels as supported as a National Guard rescue
crew or shock trauma hospital clinic staff.
I hope we will
be the professional community on the front lines
of bringing relief, assistance, support, education,
training and all else required in a society whose
violence is accelerating as its natural catastrophes
increase: whether floods, storms, drugs, domestic
violence, shootings or church burnings. Our society
needs healing as a whole and for that massive
interventive efforts need be mobilized and in
time we might turn our collective expertise to
efforts which promote preventive measures. For
now, let us begin to promote health in those who
are "mopping up" on a day to day basis.
We call ourselves
EXPERTS. Unfortunately, I had no say so in this
choice of words: it is loaded. Does my membership
make me more of an expert? Does not being a member
of this group make me less of an expert? Does
membership in any other group involved with traumatic
stress research, study, education, therapy, etc.,
etc. mean I am more or less of an expert, elitist,
joiner, or Mensch? I strongly believe that some
refinement and definition is called for: As new
kids on the block, we NEED the input, cooperation,
feedback, participation and recognition from every
other group that as its mission carries out any
one of several areas within the huge, expanding
field of traumatic stress activity. We need a
niche which we can comfortably fill, from which
we can venture into the field at large while,
however, recognizing, respecting, and honoring
the areas of expertise held by like-minded groups
under the canopy of trauma work, and we must PROVE
ourselves as a credible group to also be respected
by how we conduct ourselves vis-a-vis established
groups.
There is no question
that the area needs all the help it can get at
all levels from lofty think tank researchers to
a Red Cross volunteer rescuing a kitten from flash
floods, where we shall best apply our collective
and individual abilities will be the area in which
we can, in time, truly call ourselves expert,
and, more importantly, will be perceived as the
EXPERTS we are by colleagues across the board
of trauma studies.
The next two words
in our title are TRAUMATIC STRESS. We who claim
to be experts believe we know what that means
and what it is as do colleagues everywhere from
their own experience. Those whom we wish to better
serve as a result of the sharing, caring and support
this organization will give us may as yet not
know that there is a name for the cause of their
pain, that it has a cause and how to alleviate
its acuteness or chronicity as best possible.
And lastly, we
are INCORPORATED. To be incorporated means to
be made part of or to become combined in one body.
Not only are we legally "Inc.", we are
part of the body that is humanity in all its suffering,
terror, pain and glory. We are and aspire to be
combined with all who seek to bring an end to
suffering souls and bodies exposed to and afflicted
by severe trauma. Let's conduct our affairs in
a manner affording us the respect and recognition
we seek and will have earned from experts in this
field based on how we define our activities therein.
The purpose of
this paper was (or evolved) to stimulate ideas,
generate feedback, challenge the membership to
participate, voice opinion and formulate agendas
for future articles and symposia, and to promote
the values, ethics, standards of the highest professionalism
in working together with like-minded organizations,
associations, societies, and groups serving in
their own unique manner and/or area of specialization
the greater good of all humanity.
There's work to
be done. Lots of work. NOW.
©1996
by The American Academy of Experts in Traumatic
Stress, Inc.
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