Trauma Recovery/HAP Newsletter
October 2016
Happy Halloween! 

Straddling the line between fall and winter, plenty and paucity, life and death, Halloween is a time of celebration and superstition, originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off roaming ghosts. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor all saints and martyrs; the holiday, All Saints' Day, incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows' Eve and later Halloween. Over time, Halloween evolved into a secular, community-based event characterized by child-friendly activities such as trick-or-treating. In a number of countries around the world, as the days grow shorter and the nights get colder, people continue to usher in the winter season with gatherings, costumes and sweet treats.

Between 1920 and 1950, the centuries-old practice of trick-or-treating was also revived. Trick-or-treating was a relatively inexpensive way for an entire community to share the Halloween celebration. In theory, families could also prevent tricks being played on them by providing the neighborhood children with small treats. A new American tradition was born, one that builds on our community and its past.

Another October tradition is Mental Health Awareness week, capped by World Mental Health Day.  This year's theme was psychological first aid, focusing on basic pragmatic psychological support by people who find themselves in a helping role whether teachers, first responders or community workers.

As most of you know, psychological first aid covers both psychological and social support. Just like general health care never consists of physical first aid alone, similarly no mental health care system should consist of psychological first aid alone. Indeed, the investment in psychological first aid is part of a longer-term effort to ensure that anyone in acute distress due to a crisis is able to receive basic support, and that those who need more than psychological first aid will receive additional advanced support from health, mental health and social services. That is the where our EMDR trained therapists can make such a difference!

Trauma Recovery and our volunteers made a significant effort to build capacity for psychological first aid in the past year and this month was no exception.  Two specific events helped us take strides towards that goal.  The TRN Advisory Council held its second meeting in October with the goal of supporting existing TRNs and helping additional associations to develop.   In addition, we continued our commitment to early intervention education.   We held our largest R-tep/G-tep training, to date, as nearly 80 EMDR therapy-trained clinicians convened in Boise, ID.

World Mental Health Day boosted the need for extended awareness of the need for psychological first aid.  Our goal is to continue build upon that work through our training and outreach efforts.

In Memorium....

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Sue Evans.  Sue was a long time volunteer and friend of our organization.  She will be missed.   "Sue passed as she had lived, with sparkle in her eyes, magic in her heart and a smile on her lips."   To read more about Sue's life and memorial please click here .
Ted Olejnik, LICSW, LADC-1
Seeing Outstanding Results Among Soldiers

After 24 years in the Air Force, Theodore Olejnik, or Ted as he likes to be called, retired from the military and embarked on a new career in social work. The first time Ted heard about EMDR therapy was on a TV show - maybe 60 Minutes, he's not sure anymore - but the idea stuck with him. Some time later Ted saw that Francine Shapiro was speaking just 150 miles from his home (Ted was living in Texas at the time, so 150 miles seemed fairly close) and he went to see her. He was intriqued with what he heard, but at that point EMDR therapy did not become part of Ted's practice.


 
 
 
Trauma Recovery HAP Centers of Excellence: An innovative Approach To Expanding Capacity
Of particular note is our latest initiative to create Centers of Excellence at multiple key nonprofits around the country.
 
Our first Center is with the Women's Consortium in Hamden, CT, which has served as a "beacon of hope" for the continued advancement of EMDR therapy into the world of non-profit agencies.  Our ongoing collaboration with the Women's Consortium, and other nonprofits in the future, will guarantee continued EMDR professional training in places where the need is most acute and provide trauma services in communities, where many are impacted by community violence. 
 
October Faculty Academy Volunteer Acknowledgment:
Thank you to all our volunteers for everything you do to help us achieve our mission.
Below is a list of those who generously volunteered their time and expertise in the past month.
 
Lou Ann Baylock, William Brislin, Leslie Brown, Judy Cabeceiras, Lloyd Cloud, Candida Condor, Stephanie Drieze, David Eliscu, Rachel Erwin, Donna Fleming, Denise Gelinas, Leanne Harper, Carol Kibbee, Beverlee Laidlaw-Chasse, Jennifer Lendl, Debra Littrell, Steven Marcus, Julie Miller, April Minjarez-Estenson, Katy Murray, David Ogren, Jarilen Preston, Betsy Prince, Amanda Roberts, Rachel Rosa, Julie Rosen, Julia Russomanno, David Sherwood, Deb Silveria, Melinda Sullivan, Bernadette Talia

 
Welcome to our new  Facilitators-in-Training...

Donna Fleming
Lloyd Cloud
Rachel Rosa


Congratulations to our new Facilitators...

Melinda Sullivan
In This Issue
Upcoming Trainings...
BE FEATURED IN OUR NEWSLETTER:
We want want our newsletter to be a place for sharing stories and knowledge.  Please submit an article or fill out the suggested questions and we will create an article for you!

Pets of the Month: 
"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." - Anatole France 

This month's pet, named Pie, come to us from volunteer Hope Payson.  " We got a lot for our money with Pie, as the rescue folks said she would be a 30-40 lb dog, she now weighs in at 75 lbs 5 years later.  From the very start, Pie came to work with me and trained to be a therapy dog.  She has proven to be a natural and sits with people as they work through issues related to trauma and addiction. You can also hear her sighing and playing with a squeaky toy in some of the client videos I have filmed."

Send us a picture and brief description to have your pet featured in an upcoming newsletter. 
Email: associate@emdrhap.org
SPANISH PRODUCTS NOW AVAILABLE!
We are happy to announce spanish some of your favorite store products are available in Spanish! These are just the first few out of more to come.  Click below to purchase!
 
4 Elements Bracelets and Cards Set

This set includes ten double-sided cards and ten bracelets (youth or adult size). A useful stress management tool for patients to use outside of clinical settings. The bracelets are used as a reminder to do the stress reduction exercises and the cards provide an easy guide through the process when away from the clinical setting.  
Available in Adult & Youth sizes in English & Spanish.


Animal Resource Cards

 

One set of eleven durable cards.
These durable cards can be used during Phase. Linked with EMs they can be used to strengthen needed characteristics to overcome challenges or shift emotional states. 
Available in English and Spanish.


Trauma Recovery/HAP | 203-288-4450 |  http://www.emdrhap.org
2911 Dixwell Avenue
Suite 201
Hamden, CT 06518