Risking Connection: A Training Curriculum for Working With Survivors of Childhood Abuse

by Karen W. Saakvitne, Sarah Gamble, Laurie Anne Pearlman

A joint venture from the Sidran Traumatic Stress Institute and the Trauma, Research, Education and Training Institute (TREATI) in conjunction with the Mental Health Departments of the States of Maine and New York. Research in the emerging field of traumatology demonstrates that many of our most difficult-to-treat, suicidal, and self-injuring patients have histories of childhood trauma. Understanding the psychological consequences of early trauma, as well as state-of-the art treatment practices, will result in mental health care that is more clinically effective and significantly cost-saving. Treaters without this education may become discouraged in their attempts to help this group of clients, and may suffer from burnout as a result. This leads to a vicious cycle of high staff turnover rates, increased costs, and more state clients in search of the help they need. The Sidran Institute, a nonprofit organization devoted to educating professionals about traumatic stress conditions, is pleased to announce the publication of Risking A Training Curriculum for Working with Survivors of Childhood Abuse, the only basic trauma training curriculum specially designed for staff in public mental health settings. Our curriculum was developed by trauma specialists at the Trauma Research, Education, and Training Institute, Inc. (TREATI) of South Windsor, CT with the support of the Departments of Mental Health in the states of Maine and New York. This affordable curriculum is now available to all interested agencies and individuals. It was prepared with editorial and clinical input from helping professionals and trauma survivors with extensive experience in state mental health systems, clinical treatments of traumatic stress conditions, curriculum design, and the law.

229 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Devin Stevenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful training manual for trauma-informed care. I will be adapting to my organization.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book as a part of my Master's degree research for my thesis.

I found Saakvitne, Gamble, Pearlman, and Lev's work to be a little less organized than I would have liked, especially considering it is supposed to be a training manuel. There is a lot of white space in their book, which I'm assuming is meant for psychologist, or therapists to be able to write and respond to many of the questions they list in the pages, but it wasn't necessary for my purposes.

This manuel was outstanding in giving very specific and useful feedback to prevent vicarious trauma/compassion fatigue/countertransference. It was exactly what I was looking for in my research.

I would say that this would be an excellent read for any professionals working with survivors of abuse that want to understand why they may be reacting the way they are and also looking to put some time and effort into reducing the negative effects of trauma in their own lives.