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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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