Johanny Baez (she/her/hers) is currently a graduate student enrolled in Eastern University’s Clinical Counseling Trauma master’s program, having previously earned her BA in Psychology from the same institution. Johanny’s diverse experiences uniquely qualify her to provide comprehensive support to a broad range of individuals. Fluent in both English and Spanish as her first language, she brings a nuanced perspective to her therapeutic work.

Rooted in empathy and a genuine desire to alleviate suffering, my commitment to supporting individuals grappling with trauma and mental health challenges is unwavering. My dedication to nurturing resilience and fostering positive change reflects a deeply ingrained compassion and an authentic desire to facilitate healing and transformation in the lives of those I serve. I am motivated by a vision of personal growth and firmly believe that every individual deserves the opportunity to flourish and become their best self, regardless of their past experiences or current struggles. Through our work, I hope to cultivate a safe and nurturing environment where you feel not only heard, understood, and supported but also empowered as you embark on your journey toward healing and recovery.

Johanny’s profound passion lies in working with individuals facing trauma and diverse mental health challenges. This commitment is intricately tied to her identity, characterized by cultural sensitivity, language proficiency, and a nuanced understanding of immigrant experiences. Her background allows her to establish trust and rapport, essential for cultivating meaningful therapeutic relationships. Eager to contribute to a diverse and inclusive therapeutic space, Johanny looks forward to honoring the unique strengths and experiences of each individual she has the privilege to support.

Johanny’s professional journey encompasses diverse roles aimed at providing comprehensive support to individuals facing various challenges. Currently, she focuses on assisting college students on the spectrum, offering holistic support across academic, emotional, and social dimensions. Beyond her work with college students, Johanny draws from past experiences as a practicum student, where she supported adolescents, young adults, and women dealing with mental health challenges like anxiety and depression. Demonstrating a commitment to continuous professional growth, she will be actively engaging in various training programs, including EMDR and psychodrama, to enrich her therapeutic toolkit at Phoenix Center. Additionally, her experience as an academic coach equips her with valuable skills applicable to counseling roles, merging academic expertise with a nuanced understanding of psychological well-being.

Johanny’s typical fee is $85 for individual therapy (53 min); She can work on a flexible sliding scale if needed.

Johanny Baez (pronombre: ella) es actualmente una estudiante de posgrado, inscrita en el programa de maestría en Consejería Clínica en Trauma de Eastern University, y anteriormente obtuvo su Licenciatura en Psicología en la misma institución. Las diversas experiencias de Johanny la califican de manera única para brindar apoyo integral a una amplia gama de personas. Habla con fluidez inglés y español como su primer idioma, y aporta una perspectiva matizada a su trabajo terapéutico.

La profunda pasión de Johanny radica en trabajar con personas que enfrentan traumas y diversos desafíos de salud mental. Este compromiso está ligado a su identidad, caracterizada por la sensibilidad cultural, el dominio del idioma y una comprensión matizada de las experiencias de los inmigrantes. Su experiencia le permite establecer confianza y simpatía, esenciales para cultivar relaciones terapéuticas significativas. Deseosa de contribuir a un espacio terapéutico diverso e inclusivo, Johanny espera honrar las fortalezas y experiencias únicas de cada individuo a quien tiene el privilegio de apoyar.

Arraigado en la empatía y un deseo genuino de aliviar el sufrimiento, el compromiso de Johanny de apoyar a las personas que enfrentan traumas y desafíos de salud mental es inquebrantable. Su dedicación a fomentar la resiliencia y el cambio positivo refleja una compasión profundamente y un deseo auténtico de facilitar la curación y la transformación en las vidas de aquellos a quienes sirve. A Johanny la motiva una visión de crecimiento personal y cree firmemente que cada individuo merece la oportunidad de prosperar y convertirse en lo mejor de sí mismo, independientemente de sus experiencias pasadas o luchas actuales. A través de su trabajo, espera cultivar un entorno seguro y enriquecedor donde las personas no solo se sientan escuchadas, comprendidas y apoyadas, sino también empoderadas a medida que se embarcan en su viaje hacia la curación y la recuperación.

La trayectoria profesional de Johanny abarca diversos roles destinados a brindar apoyo integral a personas que enfrentan diversos desafíos. Actualmente, se enfoca en ayudar a estudiantes universitarios en todo el espectro, ofreciendo apoyo integral en las dimensiones académica, emocional y social. Más allá de su trabajo con estudiantes universitarios, Johanny se basa en experiencias pasadas como estudiante de prácticas, donde apoyó a adolescentes, adultos jóvenes y mujeres que enfrentan desafíos de salud mental como ansiedad y depresión. Demostrando un compromiso con el crecimiento profesional continuo, participará activamente en varios programas de capacitación, incluidos EMDR y psicodrama, para enriquecer su conjunto de herramientas terapéuticas en Phoenix Center. Además, su experiencia como asesora académica la dota de valiosas habilidades aplicables a funciones de consejería, fusionando experiencia académica con una comprensión matizada del bienestar psicológico.

La tarifa típica de Johanny es de $85 por terapia individual (53 min); Puede trabajar en una escala móvil flexible si es necesario.

Accepting New Clients in April!

Johanny Baez (she/her/hers) is currently a graduate student enrolled in Eastern University’s Clinical Counseling Trauma master’s program, having previously earned her BA in Psychology from the same institution. Johanny’s diverse experiences uniquely qualify her to provide comprehensive support to a broad range of individuals. Fluent in both English and Spanish as her first language, she brings a nuanced perspective to her therapeutic work.

Rooted in empathy and a genuine desire to alleviate suffering, my commitment to supporting individuals grappling with trauma and mental health challenges is unwavering. My dedication to nurturing resilience and fostering positive change reflects a deeply ingrained compassion and an authentic desire to facilitate healing and transformation in the lives of those I serve. I am motivated by a vision of personal growth and firmly believe that every individual deserves the opportunity to flourish and become their best self, regardless of their past experiences or current struggles. Through our work, I hope to cultivate a safe and nurturing environment where you feel not only heard, understood, and supported but also empowered as you embark on your journey toward healing and recovery.

Johanny’s profound passion lies in working with individuals facing trauma and diverse mental health challenges. This commitment is intricately tied to her identity, characterized by cultural sensitivity, language proficiency, and a nuanced understanding of immigrant experiences. Her background allows her to establish trust and rapport, essential for cultivating meaningful therapeutic relationships. Eager to contribute to a diverse and inclusive therapeutic space, Johanny looks forward to honoring the unique strengths and experiences of each individual she has the privilege to support.

Johanny’s professional journey encompasses diverse roles aimed at providing comprehensive support to individuals facing various challenges. Currently, she focuses on assisting college students on the spectrum, offering holistic support across academic, emotional, and social dimensions. Beyond her work with college students, Johanny draws from past experiences as a practicum student, where she supported adolescents, young adults, and women dealing with mental health challenges like anxiety and depression. Demonstrating a commitment to continuous professional growth, she will be actively engaging in various training programs, including EMDR and psychodrama, to enrich her therapeutic toolkit at Phoenix Center. Additionally, her experience as an academic coach equips her with valuable skills applicable to counseling roles, merging academic expertise with a nuanced understanding of psychological well-being.

Johanny’s typical fee is $85 for individual therapy (53 min); She can work on a flexible sliding scale if needed.

Johanny Baez (pronombre: ella) es actualmente una estudiante de posgrado, inscrita en el programa de maestría en Consejería Clínica en Trauma de Eastern University, y anteriormente obtuvo su Licenciatura en Psicología en la misma institución. Las diversas experiencias de Johanny la califican de manera única para brindar apoyo integral a una amplia gama de personas. Habla con fluidez inglés y español como su primer idioma, y aporta una perspectiva matizada a su trabajo terapéutico.

La profunda pasión de Johanny radica en trabajar con personas que enfrentan traumas y diversos desafíos de salud mental. Este compromiso está ligado a su identidad, caracterizada por la sensibilidad cultural, el dominio del idioma y una comprensión matizada de las experiencias de los inmigrantes. Su experiencia le permite establecer confianza y simpatía, esenciales para cultivar relaciones terapéuticas significativas. Deseosa de contribuir a un espacio terapéutico diverso e inclusivo, Johanny espera honrar las fortalezas y experiencias únicas de cada individuo a quien tiene el privilegio de apoyar.

Arraigado en la empatía y un deseo genuino de aliviar el sufrimiento, el compromiso de Johanny de apoyar a las personas que enfrentan traumas y desafíos de salud mental es inquebrantable. Su dedicación a fomentar la resiliencia y el cambio positivo refleja una compasión profundamente y un deseo auténtico de facilitar la curación y la transformación en las vidas de aquellos a quienes sirve. A Johanny la motiva una visión de crecimiento personal y cree firmemente que cada individuo merece la oportunidad de prosperar y convertirse en lo mejor de sí mismo, independientemente de sus experiencias pasadas o luchas actuales. A través de su trabajo, espera cultivar un entorno seguro y enriquecedor donde las personas no solo se sientan escuchadas, comprendidas y apoyadas, sino también empoderadas a medida que se embarcan en su viaje hacia la curación y la recuperación.

La trayectoria profesional de Johanny abarca diversos roles destinados a brindar apoyo integral a personas que enfrentan diversos desafíos. Actualmente, se enfoca en ayudar a estudiantes universitarios en todo el espectro, ofreciendo apoyo integral en las dimensiones académica, emocional y social. Más allá de su trabajo con estudiantes universitarios, Johanny se basa en experiencias pasadas como estudiante de prácticas, donde apoyó a adolescentes, adultos jóvenes y mujeres que enfrentan desafíos de salud mental como ansiedad y depresión. Demostrando un compromiso con el crecimiento profesional continuo, participará activamente en varios programas de capacitación, incluidos EMDR y psicodrama, para enriquecer su conjunto de herramientas terapéuticas en Phoenix Center. Además, su experiencia como asesora académica la dota de valiosas habilidades aplicables a funciones de consejería, fusionando experiencia académica con una comprensión matizada del bienestar psicológico.

La tarifa típica de Johanny es de $85 por terapia individual (53 min); Puede trabajar en una escala móvil flexible si es necesario.

We are Hiring and Intake Coordinator at the Phoenix Center!

Intake Coordinator Role and Expectations

Our growing trauma therapy practice is seeking an efficient, consistent, empathetic, and detail-oriented Intake Coordinator to join our team. The ideal candidate will have experience in administrative support, strong organizational skills, and the ability to multitask. This position requires a confident professional who can work independently, communicate effectively, and collaborate with others to ensure the smooth functioning of the practice. This position is diverse in its skill requirements including aspects of clinical assessment, crisis intervention, suicide assessment, networking, marketing, admin, customer service, and coordinating with our staff. This hybrid position requires some in-person hours but is flexible.

This is a part-time position (20 hours per week employee) with flexible hours and could evolve into full-time hours in the future if desired. We are seeking a long-term committed professional that we can invest in, train, and welcome as part of our close-knit organization. This non-benefits eligible position has an hourly range between $22-30 depending on applicant’s experience and skill set.

As an organization of trauma therapists, we place considerable emphasis on meaningful work relationships, work-life balance, and self-care. As a smaller and quickly growing organization, we are expanding our inner organizational processes and seeking a professional who can actively contribute to our growth with creative ideas. This role is an important part of our team, managing and coordinating many essential organizational tasks and processes. As our organization continues to expand, the responsibilities, leadership, and compensation with this role will also expand. Below are some of the duties of the Intake coordinator:

Admin and Customer Service 

• Help maintain and coordinate logs for intake calls, therapist/intern client availability, and trusted referrals in the community
• Track trends in intake demands and communicate with Director
• Communicate with potential clients via phone/email
• Maintains ‘on call’ hours to respond to intake calls as they come in
• Responds to missed calls and emails
• Updates website to reflect therapists availability 
• Attend occasional community events to represent and promote our organization and meet with community partners as needed
• Maintain relationships with referral partners 
• Engage in in outreach to develop new community partners

Clinical

• Provide brief intake calls with prospective clients to gather info related to their treatment goals, preferences, presenting issues, emotional stability, and financial limitations. 
• Promoting our therapists, interns, groups, and workshops to callers
• Relaying necessary clinical and logistical info from intake call to therapist or interns for initial session
• Assessment for clinical appropriateness and level of care
• Suicide assessments as needed
• Child abuse reporting as needed
• Crisis management as needed
• Referring clients to outside providers when appropriate 
• Maintaining list of trusted referrals 

Other requirements

• Strong self care habits 
• Occasional evening and weekend hours for events
• Other duties as assigned
• Possibility to co-create aspects of the role based on your skills and interests
• Strong commitment to diversity, respect, and inclusion
• Ability to work independently and prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment
• Strong digital skills and experience with WordPress, Google voice, Google docs, and Google sheets
• Training in Confidentiality laws, suicide assessment, and child abuse reporting pertaining to our work

Education and Experience Requirements 

• Experience and knowledge of mental health, trauma, and substance use required
• 2-3 years of experience in a clinical support role within a healthcare or mental health setting
• Bachelor’s degree in psychology/social work or similar – or peer support certification strongly preferred

This is a part-time position with competitive compensation and flexibility. If you are a motivated and experienced clinical support professional with a passion for supporting mental health services, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity to join a growing psychotherapy practice. Please submit your resume and cover letter for consideration to Dr. Scott Giacomucci at [email protected]. In your cover letter, please outline how your past experience and training has positioned you to be a good applicant for this open position.

In the realm of therapeutic healing, embracing a diverse range of approaches often leads to profound transformation. A compelling fusion gaining momentum is the integration of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy alongside ongoing individual therapy. EMDR is a unique and specialized therapy for treating PTSD and reprocessing disturbing memories. At the Phoenix Center for Experiential Trauma Therapy, we not only offer EMDR, but we specialize in it and nearly every therapist and intern on our team is trained in EMDR. It is the most commonly employed therapeutic modality at our center.

Offering EMDR at the Phoenix Center in Media, PA or via TeleTherapy!
484-440-9416 | [email protected]

Let’s dive into the benefits of incorporating EMDR therapy as an adjunct to your current therapeutic journey, fostering a dynamic collaboration for deep healing and focused EMDR work.

1. Gaining Additional Perspective and a Specialized Approach: Ongoing individual therapy provides a nurturing environment for self-discovery and personal growth. The infusion of EMDR therapy from the Phoenix Center introduces an additional and specialized perspective. With a specialized EMDR therapist, you’re granted the privilege of a fresh outlook on your challenges. This distinct approach illuminates your healing from a new angle, offering novel strategies that enrich your therapeutic experience.
   
2. Streamlined and Focused EMDR Experience: EMDR therapy, renowned for its precise focus on trauma and emotional distress, becomes even more impactful when seamlessly integrated as an adjunct to ongoing individual therapy. Enlisting a dedicated EMDR specialist from the Phoenix Center ensures that your sessions are highly focused on the reprocessing of traumatic memories. This streamlined process expedites the journey to healing, appealing to those seeking rapid relief from distressing symptoms. Often when the EMDR therapist is one’s only professional support, week-to-week stressors or other therapeutic issues slow down progress and draw the focus of therapy away from EMDR.
   
3. Embracing EMDR Benefits While Sustaining Ongoing Work: Integrating EMDR therapy as an adjunct doesn’t have to replace your ongoing individual therapy; it can enhance it. Partnering with an EMDR specialist from the Phoenix Center allows you to reap the rewards of both therapists concurrently. This arrangement empowers you to experience the potent effects of EMDR without disrupting your ongoing therapeutic relationship, ensuring a seamless transition back to your primary therapist. By adopting EMDR therapy as an adjunct, you open the door to transformation without bidding farewell to your current therapist. The continuity of your ongoing sessions remains intact, while you harness the power of EMDR techniques to target specific traumatic memories and emotions.
   
4. Collaborative Support for Enhanced Healing: Integrating EMDR therapy as an adjunct encourages a unique collaborative dynamic between therapists. The Phoenix Center’s EMDR specialist and your primary therapist combine their expertise to provide comprehensive and tailored support. This collaborative synergy facilitates the exchange of insights, strategies, and observations, fostering a holistic treatment plan that nurtures your well-being.

The fusion of EMDR therapy as an adjunct to ongoing individual therapy, offered by the Phoenix Center for Experiential Trauma Therapy, is a potent recipe for transformation. By embracing diverse therapeutic modalities, you can cultivate fresh perspectives, encounter the focused efficacy of EMDR, maintain the momentum of ongoing therapy, and access collaborative support from a team of experts. Embark on your journey of healing and growth with the multidimensional approach that EMDR therapy as an adjunct offers, propelling you towards lasting emotional well-being.

We recognize too that engaging in therapy with two different therapists may be cost prohibitive and expensive to many. We are happy to share that we also offer low-cost EMDR therapy at the Phoenix Center through our low-cost trauma therapy program, staffed by our advanced graduate students.

Offering EMDR at the Phoenix Center in Media, PA or via TeleTherapy!
484-440-9416 | [email protected]

Who is appropriate for EMDR therapy?

It is important to note that not everyone is the best fit for engaging in EMDR therapy. The best candidates for EMDR are individuals who have already established a social support system, developed self-awareness, are able to regulate their emotions when overwhelmed, have already learned coping skills, and who are otherwise relatively stable in terms of suicidality, alcohol/substance abuse, other addictive behaviors, self-harm, and overall mental health. We also offer EMDR intensives, which may be best for clients who seek a more immersive treatment experience and can afford the time and financial cost of scheduling multiple hours or days of consecutive sessions.

Trauma can leave deep scars on our minds and bodies, impacting our daily lives and overall well-being. Fortunately, therapeutic approaches like Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) have proven to be highly effective in addressing trauma and facilitating healing. While traditional EMDR therapy sessions typically last for an hour on a weekly basis, there is an alternative approach known as EMDR intensives. EMDR intensives are unique in that they are scheduled for multiple hours or days at a time instead of one hour a week. For example, you could engage in a half-day or an all-day EMDR intensive where you spend 3-6 hours with your therapist individually. This allows us to quickly and efficiently engage in EMDR therapy which means you can experience the relief and healing that you’ve been craving quicker.

Why Choose the Phoenix Center for EMDR Intensives?

Our staff is composed entirely of therapists who specialize in trauma therapy and have devoted their careers to learning, practicing, and teaching trauma therapy. While our staff have training and certifications in various trauma treatments, every therapist and graduate student on our team is trained in EMDR. EMDR is a common language and shared treatment philosophy and modality amongst our team which has over 25 EMDR providers. The Phoenix Center started in 2015 as a practice primarily offering EMDR therapy and has become recognized by many in the professional community as an agency providing high-quality and ethical EMDR treatment on a larger scale nearly any other organization in the Philadelphia area.

Here’s some of the benefits of EMDR intensives compared to an hour of weekly EMDR therapy:

1. Immersion in the Healing Process: EMDR intensives provide a concentrated and immersive experience for trauma therapy. Unlike weekly sessions, which often include weekly updates on life, EMDR intensives allow clients to delve deeper into their traumatic experiences and work through them in a more comprehensive and accelerated manner. Continuous engagement over consecutive hours or days helps maintain momentum in the therapeutic process and prevents interruptions that may occur between weekly sessions.
2. Efficiency and Financial Savings: The extended session lengths, which can range from several hours to multiple days, offer a safe and contained space for individuals to engage with their trauma and explore the associated emotions and memories. In weekly sessions, there is a natural warming up and cooling down process that happens each session which limits the amount of time available for trauma processing. In a focused 4-hour EMDR intensive, we might be able to realistically accomplish what would take 8-10 weeks of weekly hour sessions. This means you can receive the EMDR treatment quicker and save money in the long run. EMDR intensives condense the therapeutic process into a shorter timeframe. This compacted schedule allows clients to make rapid progress and experience substantial shifts in their healing journey.
3. Deepening of the Process: The concentrated nature of EMDR intensives provides an opportunity for clients to experience transformative breakthroughs without being slowed down or interrupted by the end of the hour session. Through the extended sessions, clients can establish a heightened sense of safety and trust with their therapist, allowing for a more continuous and naturally paced exploration of their trauma.
4. Availability: EMDR intensives can be particularly beneficial for individuals who are seeking immediate relief or who have limited availability for long-term therapy. This is often the case for professionals who travel often for their careers or for students who have limited time before moving out of town for school. Many clients will even travel out of town to engage in an EMDR intensive when their local area is lacking in high-quality trauma treatment options.

Who is appropriate for EMDR intensives?

It is important to note that not everyone is the best fit for engaging in EMDR therapy or EMDR intensives. The best candidates for EMDR intensives are individuals who have already established a social support system, developed self-awareness, are able to regulate their emotions when overwhelmed, have already learned coping skills, and who are otherwise relatively stable in terms of suicidality, alcohol/substance abuse, other addictive behaviors, self-harm, and overall mental health. Logistically, EMDR intensives are best for clients who can afford the time and financial cost of scheduling multiple hours or days. More on who is the best fit for EMDR here.

EMDR intensives offer a powerful and transformative approach to trauma therapy. With their immersive nature, extended sessions, deeper insights, rapid progress, and comprehensive care. While weekly EMDR sessions remain valuable and effective, intensives can be particularly beneficial for those seeking a more concentrated and accelerated healing experience. If you are ready to embark on a journey of healing and transformation, EMDR intensives may be the ideal option for you.

by Dr. Scott Giacomucci, DSW, LCSW, BCD, CGP, FAAETS, TEP

As human beings, we are inherently social creatures, and our ability to connect with others is vital for our overall well-being. However, mental health problems can often lead to feelings of isolation and disconnection from others, making it even more difficult to seek help or feel supported. Joining a therapy group can be a powerful way to address this isolation and receive the support and connection we need to heal and grow. Therapy groups are an excellent adjunct to individual therapy and can help combat the isolation and shame that we might feel related to past experiences. In this article and video, we’ll explore some of the benefits of joining a therapy group.

Free online support groups offered through the Phoenix Center
and
Therapy groups at the Phoenix Center in Media, Pennsylvania

Are you familiar with the difference between therapy groups and support groups?  The video below will outline the benefits of group therapy while also offering clarity on the differences between support groups and therapy groups.

Research is showing that group therapy is at least as effective as individual therapy but much cheaper!

Mental health issues can be overwhelming and isolating, leaving people feeling like they are alone in their struggles. Joining a therapy group can provide a sense of connection, extra support, and the opportunity to use one’s experiences to help others. Below, we will discuss some of the benefits of joining a therapy group, including increased support, a sense of community, and the unique opportunities for growth that group therapy provides.

1. Connection in groups:

Mental health problems can fuel isolation, which can further exacerbate one’s mental health. Group therapy provides a space to connect with others who are struggling with similar issues. This sense of connection can help reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness, as well as provide a sense of community.

2. Extra support:

Group therapy provides an additional layer of support to individual therapy. In group therapy, members can share their struggles and receive feedback and support from their peers. This can be particularly helpful in moments when one is feeling overwhelmed and may need extra support.

3. Peer support can feel safer:

In a therapy group, members are surrounded by peers who understand their struggles, creating a sense of safety and understanding. The group therapy experience can also provide a level of anonymity that individual therapy may not offer. Members can share their experiences without fear of judgment or repercussions. Some people may have experienced trauma or abuse from people in power in the past, thus finding it difficulty to trust a therapist or doctor today.

4. Opportunity to use your experiences to help others:

In group therapy, members can use their experiences to help others. This can be incredibly empowering and therapeutic for both the individual and the group as a whole. Being able to offer support and advice to others can provide a sense of purpose and meaning.

5. More dynamic than individual therapy:

Group therapy is often more dynamic than individual therapy. Members can offer different perspectives and feedback, which can help one see their struggles in a new light. The group dynamic can also help members learn new skills and coping strategies while practicing new social skills in real time.

6. More input and feedback from others:

Group therapy provides a space for members to receive feedback and input from others. This can be particularly helpful when one is struggling with interpersonal relationships or communication issues. Members can practice new communication skills and receive feedback in the moment.

7. Power in numbers:

There is power in numbers, and this is true for group therapy as well. Members can draw strength and support from the group, and the group can also provide a level of accountability. Knowing that one is not alone in their struggles can be incredibly empowering.

8. Cheaper, but equally effective:

Group therapy is often more cost-effective than individual therapy. In addition, group therapy sessions are typically longer than individual therapy sessions, which can provide more time for members to process their experiences and receive support. The research on group therapy is demonstrating that it is at least as effective as individual therapy in the treatment of most mental health problems or social issues.

In conclusion, joining a therapy group can provide numerous benefits for those struggling with mental health issues. Group therapy provides a sense of connection, extra support, and the opportunity to use one’s experiences to help others. It can be a more dynamic and cost-effective alternative to individual therapy, providing a unique opportunity for growth and healing.

Check out our free online support groups at the Phoenix Center – https://www.phoenixtraumacenter.com/community-peer-support-groups/

Consider joining one of our therapy groups at the Phoenix Center in Media, Pennsylvania – https://www.phoenixtraumacenter.com/group-services/

#trauma #groups #grouptherapy #therapygroups #supportgroups #mutualaid #peersupport #traumainformed #traumagroup #grouppsychotherapy #socialwork #groupcounseling

APA Article Division 49 Newsletter October 2022

Experiential Group Psychotherapy & Psychodrama Column

This is an author preprint, published article available at:

Giacomucci, S. (Oct 2022). Psychodrama as a Treatment for Complex PTSD. Experiential Group Psychotherapy & Psychodrama Column. The Group Psychologist. Division 49: Society of Group Psychology & Group Psychotherapy. American Psychological Association. Washington, D.C. Accessible at – https://www.apadivisions.org/division-49/publications/newsletter/group-psychologist/2022/10/issue.pdf#page=13

Psychodrama as an Effective Treatment for Complex PTSD

By Scott Giacomucci, DSW, LCSW, BCD, CGP, FAAETS, TEP

Complex trauma and Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) are increasingly becoming recognized as commonly presenting clinical issues in group therapy. Though it has not been recognized in the DSM-5 as a mental health disorder, it was recognized in the ICD-11. CPTSD is caused by repeated experiences of trauma and is characterized by disruptions in 1) sense of self, 2) relationships, and 3) emotional regulation – in addition to the PTSD symptom clusters of reexperiencing, avoidance, and arousal, reactivity, and current sense of threat. CPTSD most often manifests as a result of reoccurring relational trauma in childhood while PTSD is more often caused by single incident traumas and shock trauma such as an experience of violence, a natural disaster, or motor vehicle accident. Preliminary research on CPTSD suggests that it may be even more common than PTSD in some clinical samples (Karatzias et al., 2017).

The unique nature of CPTSD strongly reflects many of the primary concerns of clients who seek psychotherapy and group psychotherapy services – struggles related to sense of self, relationships, and emotional regulation. Chances are good that every group therapist has participants in their groups (and likely also staff on their team) who are survivors of complex trauma and/or experiencing CPTSD symptoms. As such, it is important that clinicians be familiar with the treatment of CPTSD in group settings. In my own experience facilitating groups in inpatient substance abuse treatment and at an outpatient trauma therapy center, the majority of clients seeking services are survivors of complex trauma.

The neurobiology of trauma points to its impact to non-verbal parts of the brain (and body) that are only marginally impacted by cognition or talking (van der Kolk, 2014). Trauma is largely stored in the right hemisphere of the brain and coded in implicit memories. This may be particularly true for complex trauma, relational trauma, and attachment trauma – and especially when the memories are pre-verbal or repressed. Many trauma survivors are unable to remember their trauma or unable to tolerate the overwhelming emotions that accompany retelling the stories. Group therapists are faced with the same limitations of talk therapy in the treatment of trauma and are encouraged to also consider integrating action methods into their group processes.

This article focuses on psychodrama as one of the oldest group therapies (developed in 1921) and the first formalized creative arts therapy or body-oriented psychotherapy. Psychodrama emerged within Jacob Moreno’s triadic system – sociometry, psychodrama, and group psychotherapy – each of which parts can be effective in addressing complex trauma. Group therapy, with its emphasis on relationships and social learning, provides complex trauma survivors with significantly more opportunities to renegotiate relational trauma and what Yalom and Leszcz (2020) describe as the “recapitulation of the primary family group” in their therapeutic factors. This essentially describes the process by which the therapy group, and the matrix of relationships within it, can provide a safe holding environment and corrective renegotiation of internalized relational trauma from childhood.

Sociometry offers various action-based group tools for group leaders that may be useful when working with complex trauma – such as spectrograms, step-in sociometry, locograms/floor checks, and sociograms (which were detailed in previous articles of this newsletter column). Sociometry is intrinsically focused on the nature of relationships within one’s life and within the group itself. Considering that complex trauma primarily is experienced through harmful interpersonal relationships, it makes sense that sociometric analyses and interventions targeting the sociodynamics within groups would be important to consider. Experiential sociometry tools offer participants with a multitude of opportunities to reflect on their social choices, better understand themselves and others, see how others experience them, prevent retraumatization or unhelpful reenactments in the group sociodynamics, and consider the patterns of attractions and repulsions in their social life. Action sociometry provides the group with opportunities to move around the group and interact with each other in new ways while uncovering shared identity and experiences in an emotionally titrated manner that promotes emotional regulation (for a more in-depth description of action sociometry, see Giacomucci, 2021a).

The surplus reality of psychodrama affords limitless potentialities for renegotiating complex trauma (Giacomucci & Stone, 2019). Courtois & Ford (2016) outline a three phase approach in the treatment of CPTSD – 1) safety, stabilization, and engagement, 2) processing trauma, and 3) (Re)Integration. Following this triphasic model of trauma treatment, we might focus initial psychodrama sessions on developing strengths and resources to face trauma, promote affect regulation, and reconnect to a sense of safety beyond the hyperarousal (Giacomucci, 2018, 2021c). Trauma-informed psychodramatic interventions such as the double, mirror, and role reversal directly address CPTSD symptoms including reexperiencing, avoidance, arousal and reactivity, distorted sense of self, disruptions in relationships, and emotional regulation (Giacomucci, in-press). Once phase 1 objectives have been accomplished, psychodrama can be used to revisit moments of complex trauma, psychodramatically undo, then redo the memory in a new and corrective way. This provides clients with an embodied experience of completing survival responses that were unfulfilled in the moments of complex trauma while renegotiating traumatic memory networks with developmental repair and healing (Giacomucci, 2019, 2021b). As part of phase 3 trauma work, psychodrama can be used to envision and embody posttraumatic growth and role train or rehearse future templates for life situations that may trigger CPTSD symptoms. This provides a client with the opportunity to develop new social skills, confidence, spontaneity, and reformulate attachment styles and ways of being with others and the world.

Currently, there are very few research studies on the effective treatment of CPTSD (especially group therapy treatments of CPTSD), however some suggest that research on PTSD can guide our understanding of effective treatments for CPTSD as well (Karatzias et al., 2019). The emerging research on psychodrama as a treatment for PTSD continues to support its effectiveness with various traumatized populations (Giacomucci, 2021b). My own ongoing research on psychodrama and PTSD in an inpatient drug and alcohol center is primarily with complex trauma survivors and suggests high treatment effects (Giacomucci & Marquit, 2020; Giacomucci, Marquit, Miller Walsh, & Saccarelli, in-press). Interestingly, when past treatment outcome data using the DSM IV PTSD criteria are compared with newer (yet to be peer-reviewed or published) data from the same program using the updated DSM-5 PTSD criteria, the treatment effect nearly doubled from a mean decrease in PTSD of 20-25% to a mean decrease of about 45%. There may be other reasons for this change, but a primary reason appears to be the use of the updated PTSD diagnostic criteria. The primary change in the new DSM 5 PTSD symptomology is the inclusion of a new symptom cluster of “Negative Cognitions and Moods” which appears to overlap with the ICD-11 CPTSD symptoms of disruptions in sense of self, relationships, and emotional regulation. This suggests that psychodrama may be an effective treatment for CPTSD, but more research is needed to validate this hypothesis.

References

Courtois, C. A. & Ford, J. D. (2016). Treatment of Complex Trauma: A Sequenced, Relationship-Based Approach. New York, NY: The Guildford Press.

Giacomucci, S. (2018). The trauma survivor’s inner role atom: A clinical map for post-traumatic growth. Journal of Psychodrama, Sociometry, and Group Psychotherapy. 66(1): 115-129

Giacomucci, S. (2019). Social group work in action: A sociometry, psychodrama, and experiential trauma group therapy curriculum. Doctorate in Social Work (DSW) Dissertations. 124. Retrieved from https://repository.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1128&context=edissertations_sp2

Giacomucci, S. (2021a). Experiential sociometry in group work: Mutual aid for the group-as-a-whole. Social work with groups, 44(3), 204-214.

Giacomucci, S. (2021a). Social work, sociometry, and psychodrama: Experiential approaches for group therapists, community leaders, and social workers (Vol. 1). Springer Nature.

Giacomucci, S. (2021b). Traumatic stress and spontaneity: Trauma-focused and strengths-based psychodrama. In J. Maya & J. Maraver (Eds), Psychodrama Advances in Psychotherapy and Psychoeducational Interventions. Nova Science Publishers

Giacomucci, S. (in-press). Trauma-Informed Principles in Group Therapy, Psychodrama, and Organizations: Action Methods for Leadership. Routledge.

Giacomucci, S., & Marquit, J. (2020). The effectiveness of trauma-focused psychodrama in the treatment of PTSD in inpatient substance abuse treatment. Frontiers in Psychology, 896.

Giacomucci, S., Marquit, J., Miller-Walsh, K. & Saccarelli, R. (in-press). A Mixed-Methods Study on Psychodrama Treatment for PTSD and Depression in Inpatient Substance Use Treatment: A Comparison of Outcomes Pre-Pandemic and During Covid-19. Arts in Psychotherapy.

Giacomucci, S., & Stone, A. (2019). Being in two places at once: Renegotiating traumatic experience through the surplus reality of psychodrama. Social Work with Groups, 42(3), 184-196.

Karatzias, T., Cloitre, M., Maercker, A., Kazlauskas, E., Shevlin, M., Hyland, P., … & Brewin, C. R. (2017). PTSD and Complex PTSD: ICD-11 updates on concept and measurement in the UK, USA, Germany and Lithuania. European journal of psychotraumatology, 8(sup7), 1418103.

Karatzias, T., Murphy, P., Cloitre, M., Bisson, J., Roberts, N., Shevlin, M., … & Hutton, P. (2019). Psychological interventions for ICD-11 complex PTSD symptoms: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychological medicine, 49(11), 1761-1775.

Van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. New York: Viking Press.

Yalom, I. D., & Leszcz, M. (2020). The theory and practice of group psychotherapy. Basic books.

APA Div 49 Column Oct 2022 revised2