Rural Responses to Victims of Crime Trauma Karen Martin and Leeanne Rule Victims Assistance and Counselling Program Sunraysia Community Health Services National Rural Remote Social Work Conference, Inverloch 25 and 26 July 2013
Introductions Karen Martin, Social Worker Eleven years working with Victims of Crime. Passionate in assisting victims and instrumental in developing current therapy model to address the long term affects of trauma. Theories and Practice: Post Traumatic Stress, Trauma debriefing, Integrated Trauma Map, Gradual Exposure therapy, Memory Exposure therapy, Image Rehearsal therapy, Solution Focussed therapy, Family therapy and Single Session therapy.
Leeanne Rule, Social Worker Two years working with Victims of Crime. Seven and half years practicing social work predominately in a rural remote health setting providing generalist work and counselling. Theories and Practice: Post Traumatic Stress, Gradual Exposure therapy, Cognitive Behaviour therapy, Solution Focussed therapy, Single Session therapy.
Victims Assistance and Counselling Program
Sunraysia Community Health Services
Victims Assistance and Counselling Program Sunraysia Community Health Services has a contract with the Victorian Department of Justice (Victims Support Agency) to provide program. To assist victims overcome the negative impacts of crime trauma by: • Assisting victims navigate Criminal Justice systems. • Providing psycho‐education and Trauma Therapy. • Providing support to Victims, Families and others who have suffered personal harm because of a criminal act (harm may be: emotional, physical or a financial loss).
Victims Assistance and Counselling Program
Sunraysia Community Health Services
Rural/Remote area covered Sunraysia Community Health Services covers Northern Loddon Mallee down to Swan Hill/Kerang
Victims Assistance and Counselling Program
Sunraysia Community Health Services
Violent Crimes Against the Person in Our Local Community Homicide Domestic Violence Sexual Assault Child Abuse Aggravated Burglary General Assault Threats to Kill Culpable Driving Bullying and Stalking
Service Delivery Issues Identified for a Rural Setting Provider • • • • • • • • •
Limited access and knowledge of local services Lack of coordinated care and fragmented service provision Distance to travel to provide service Limited time to provide outreach services Recruitment and retention of experienced workers Lack of trauma specialists to refer to Increased costs to provide service Potential conflict ‐ knowledge of offender and victim in community Demand/expectation to provide service with limited capacity
Victims Assistance and Counselling Program
Client • • • • • • •
Limited local services Distance to travel to receive service because centralised in bigger regional centres Time to travel and attend appointments Lack of transport options Long wait lists Limited knowledge of service providers, end up shopping around to find appropriate service Out of pocket expenses
Sunraysia Community Health Services
History of Practice Framework 1998‐2004
2004 ‐ 2009
2009 ‐ Now
Case Management only • Provided by VACP • Numerous service providers • Limited resources • Disconnection of service providers • Retelling of story Therapeutic Intervention • Provided by private practitioners • Managed and funded by VSA • Managed list of preferred therapeutic providers by VSA with minimal choice – long wait lists • No continuity of care • No case coordination between VACP and VSA
Case Management and Brokerage • Provided by VACP • Less service providers • Resources available for emergency relief • Continued retelling of story
Case Management and Therapeutic Intervention • Provided by VACP • Employment of Social Workers • Seamless service delivery • Holistic process of case management and trauma therapy • Reduced retelling of story • Wait list reduced • Reduced number of service providers • Options to broker trauma/mental health specialists for complex issues
Victims Assistance and Counselling Program
Therapeutic Intervention • Provided by private practitioners • Coordinated by VACP • Limited local private practitioners ‐ long wait lists • Limited trauma specialists • Better case coordination but continued disjointed care
Sunraysia Community Health Services
Assistance for Victims Trauma Therapy
Individual support & Information
Case Management V.O.C.A.T
Family Support
Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal
Mediation
VACP Referrals
Victim Impact Statements
Community Education
Court Support Police Support Victims Assistance and Counselling Program
Liaison
Sunraysia Community Health Services
Developing Therapeutic Model Best practice of Trauma intervention identifies that early access to supportive services and seamless service delivery enhances the victims’ recovery. We have been proactive in developing a Case Management and Therapeutic Trauma Model, which has aimed to enhance service provision and recovery for clients traumatised by their experience. Concept initiated in 2009 and Therapeutic Trauma Model development beginning in 2010/2011 and throughout the past two years has been practiced extensively.
Victims Assistance and Counselling Program
Sunraysia Community Health Services
Reason for Therapeutic Model In the Northern Loddon Mallee Region, the following was identified: Victims were overwhelmed by the process of engaging with several service
providers, due to the retelling of their story Victims’ experience of the service system was not consistent and
disconnected There were limited local providers specialised in trauma therapy Ongoing long waiting lists at local private service providers
Victims Assistance and Counselling Program
Sunraysia Community Health Services
Evidence Base for Trauma Model Incorporates works of: Renowned trauma therapy specialists Associate Professor John Briere (pre 2011 work) Babette Rothschild Dr Leah Giarratano (Psychologist specialising in PTSD) Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health (ACPMH) Post Trauma Victoria: Austin Health Works on premise that any psychological intervention can reduce the potential for long‐term psychological impact (PTSD).
Victims Assistance and Counselling Program
Sunraysia Community Health Services
Reactions to Trauma Overwhelmed, Guilty, Intrusive Thoughts, Self Blaming, Isolated, Drinking, Sad, Paranoid, Flashbacks, Restless, Irritable, Angry, Shocked, Forgetful, Withdrawn, Frustrated, Headaches, Panicky, Tired, Tense, Anxious It is believed that people who are well supported and connected can expect recovery. This support can be at a number of tiers.
Victims Assistance and Counselling Program
Sunraysia Community Health Services
Tier One Psychological First Aid (PFA) Provided immediately or within days/weeks following a trauma. Designed to be informal, simple and practical. Aim to establish safety and security. Reduce stress‐related reactions. Aim to normalise and validate reactions/responses.
Victims Assistance and Counselling Program
Sunraysia Community Health Services
Psychological First Aid Principles Hope
Safety
Self‐ Efficacy
Calming
Connectedness
Victims Assistance and Counselling Program
Sunraysia Community Health Services
Tier Two Skills for Psychological Recovery (SPR) Provided within weeks or months following a trauma. More formal and requires more time (1‐5 sessions). Aim to prevent long‐term trauma affects and associated behaviours. Aim to develop management skills to address symptoms.
Victims Assistance and Counselling Program
Sunraysia Community Health Services
Tier Two Skills for Psychological Recovery (SPR) Components of SPR: • Information Gathering around needs • Problem‐solving to reduce stress • Activity scheduling to reduce stress and emotional impact • Managing reactions to minimise distress • Helpful thinking to reduce negative behaviours • Healthy connections to prevent withdrawal
Victims Assistance and Counselling Program
Sunraysia Community Health Services
Tier Two Skills for Psychological Recovery (SPR) Limbic Kindling : Repeated adoption of behaviours strengthens belief Integrated Trauma Mapping Brain structure: Amygdala, hippocampus ‐ Triggers (5 senses) ‐ Activation – senses danger ‐ Body reactions ‐ Alarm ‐ Fight/Flight/Freeze Mindfulness/Grounding/Relaxation/Sleep
Victims Assistance and Counselling Program
Sunraysia Community Health Services
Tier Three PTSD & Trauma‐Focused Therapy Category of DSM‐V (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) • Avoidance • Intrusive thoughts • Flashbacks – impact on normal life Involves activation of the Trauma network Trauma focused therapy includes • Imaginal Exposure • Image Rehearsal Therapy (Dreams and Nightmares) • In Vivo exposure • Trauma‐Focused cognitive behaviour therapy.
Victims Assistance and Counselling Program
Sunraysia Community Health Services
Tier Three Measurement Tools: SUDS – Subjective Units of Distress Scale DASS – Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale PTSD – Checklist‐ Civilian Version (PCL‐C)
Practice Skills: Knowledge of Post Traumatic Mental Health
Victims Assistance and Counselling Program
Sunraysia Community Health Services
Effects of Interventions
(Foa et al 1991)
7 6 5 Waiting
4
Support
3
Anxiety Mgmt
2
Exposure
1 0 Days Victims Assistance and Counselling Program
Week
Month
Follow up Sunraysia Community Health Services
Helpfulness of Model
Overall client’s were 80% happy
Tier 1 – Psychological First Aid Opportunity to share story – 77% Better understanding of impact of stress physically and emotionally – 92% Lessen trauma impact – 69% Normalising reactions to trauma – 92% Tier 2 – Skills for Psychological Recovery Understanding affect of trauma on brain/automatic reactions – 92% Understanding of Flight/Fight/Freeze response – 85% Better coping strategies – 85% Challenging avoidance behaviours – 85% Introduction of anxiety management strategies – 77% Introduction of relaxation strategies – 69% Tier 3 – Trauma‐Focused Therapy Distress lessened with exposure work – 77% Help work through trauma – 69% Victims Assistance and Counselling Program
Sunraysia Community Health Services
Client Feedback “A very positive experience all round.” Male 40‐54yo “I like the fact that the counselling wasn’t just verbal. It was presented in
other ways such as diagrams that helped along with the verbal communication.” Male 40‐45yo “Did not require counselling after couple of sessions.” Male 25‐39yo “Did not really benefit at all, just bad feelings about the past re‐lived.” Male
40‐54yo “I have never been able to recall the assault…I still don’t remember the
assault.” Male 40‐54yo Victims Assistance and Counselling Program
Sunraysia Community Health Services
Case Scenario January 2008 client referred by Police directly to VACP Client and husband attended night club. Whilst client in ladies room
husband glassed by an Indigenous male. Husband had severe injuries in which his face was cut badly resulting in it peeling away. Client returned to find husband lying on ground bleeding and proceeded to hold his face together with a towel. Chaotic scene with people yelling and screaming to get attention of
security. Ambulance attended and transported to hospital. Victims Assistance and Counselling Program
Sunraysia Community Health Services
Case Scenario 2008 January Service delivery. VACP provided case management • Police liaison • Court Support • VOCAT assistance and referral to solicitor Counselling outsourced to private provider Client disengaged August 2008. • March 2012 client re‐engaged needing further therapeutic report. • Under new structure, client engaged in therapy with VACP and received Tier 1 , Tier 2 and Tier 3 care. • Engaged in Imaginal Exposure Therapy as part of Tier 3. Victims Assistance and Counselling Program
Sunraysia Community Health Services
7/5/12 4 years after crime: DASS Depression Normal, Anxiety Moderate, Stress Mild. PTSD checklist indicated symptoms: avoidance, disturbing memories, feeling as if future cut short. Triggers: Smashing Glass, Blood and Indigenous males. Client reported feeling guilty for going to toilet at time of attack. Discussed Imagery therapy and consented to partake
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7 – 28/5/12 Tier 2: discussed and practiced arousal reduction techniques.
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28/5/2012: Scribed Trauma Memory as client told story. Added cognitive layer, “what memory means about you”. Client reported “I am a failure”. Validity of cognition for client on scale of 0 to 10. Client reported 7. Client home work: to read trauma memory script, record SUDS, reflect, then complete arousal reduction techniques.
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28/5/12 : Client reported reading script provided no emotional attachment, states “listening to your recorded voice would be more effective, would arouse all the anxiety and heart rate. SUDS were not high enough to be effective”.
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31/5/12: Client attended for 30 min review session. Client reports avoiding listening at first. But reports that “the more you listen to it, the more you become detached from it. It is like you’re not in it anymore and you’re outside looking in”. Reports that she always referred to 2007/2008 as the year that Nathan was hit, she always related these years to the crime. Memory exposure therapy challenged how she referred to those years.
5
Victims Assistance and Counselling Program
Sunraysia Community Health Services
4/6/2012 Challenged negative self statements: Two Worlds Model. Discussed Trauma World Rules vs Now World Rules. Re‐experiencing pulls sufferer back to Trauma World . Client's Trauma Rules were: not being there equals failure, Indigenous male means something bad is going to happen. These rules do not work in the Now World. Client using arousal reduction techniques.
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25/6/2012: Reports can now retell story without fear. Reports travelling to NT and being a little anxious when seeing Indigenous male but not to the same extreme. Discussed normal level of anxiousness ( own trauma world challenge). Asked Client “What memory means about you?” Client reported “I am a failure”. Asked client’s belief of this on scaling 0 to 10. Client now believes this at a 3. Client no longer needing counselling.
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Review SUDS: 9 , 8, 7, 4, 5, 4,3 slow decline, fast decline is no good. Client statement “I just want to feel a sense of freedom from this story. It’s never going to go away, I understand. But it would be nice not to live in fear of Indigenous males and not to feel a huge amount of guilt for going to the toilet.”
Victims Assistance and Counselling Program
Sunraysia Community Health Services
Reflections – Social Worker In old models: Role limited to case management seen as referral point only Limited contact with client Limited rapport building with client Limited opportunity for skill development Limited interaction with other services In new model: Role more defined and rewarding More opportunity to build rapport with clients More understanding of client care needs due to repeat contact Able to provide more holistic service Skills developed specific to trauma Increased recognition as specialist services for victims Victims Assistance and Counselling Program
Sunraysia Community Health Services
Where to now? Fine tune model ensuring all clients receive quality care enhancing their
recovery. Develop client handouts/worksheets. Potentially offer a group work model for clients. Extend model to working with family units affected by crime. Advocate for an effective model of trauma therapy used across the State for
VACP. Continue to seek out Constructive Feedback from clients.
Victims Assistance and Counselling Program
Sunraysia Community Health Services
Helpful websites and training Victims Support Agency –Victims of Crime www.victimsofcrime.vic.gov.au Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health www.acpmh.unimelb.edu.au Post Trauma Victoria‐ Austin Health www.trauma.org.au Dr Leah Giarratano ‐ Psychologist (PTSD) www.talominbooks.com Centre for Clinical Intervention www.cci.health.wa.gov.au Victims Assistance and Counselling Program
Sunraysia Community Health Services
Helpful Resources
Victims Assistance and Counselling Program
Sunraysia Community Health Services
Helpful Resources
Victims Assistance and Counselling Program
Sunraysia Community Health Services
Any Questions? Thank you
Victims Assistance and Counselling Program
Sunraysia Community Health Services