Trauma Treatment Track

It is not uncommon for those in the helping professions to have a history of trauma. Unresolved trauma, including disruptive early childhood attachment, parental neglect, or frank physical/sexual abuse, builds character in ways that are adaptive and that derails peace of mind and disrupts interpersonal and organizational relationships. The unresolved impact of trauma on the physician’s life can vary. Assessment of trauma is important to determine to what degree unresolved trauma might be negatively impacting a physician’s personal and professional life. Only then can treatment protocols be utilized to minimize distress and help the physician to internalize adaptive coping skills.

The Trauma Treatment Track can either occur within the Acumen Institute Longitudinal Day Treatment Program or be individually customized to meet the needs of the physician if therapeutically indicated. The program involves the following steps:

  1. Pre-treatment interview by phone to discuss the nature of the trauma(s) the physician has encountered and to initiate a therapeutic alliance.
  2. Assessment of trauma and psychological disposition to determine the nature and course of treatment and types of interventions.
  3. Initiation of appropriate treatment protocols to promote:
    a. an understanding of current difficulties and distress linked to thoughts, emotions, and somatic experiences rooted in the past that become activated in the present
    b. internalizing adaptive self-regulation skills and increased attunement to others
    c. an intentional stance toward internal and interpersonal experiences instead of reactive, conditioned conduct
  4. Our treatment philosophy includes short-term, intensive treatment immersion followed by longitudinal follow-up to monitor progress.
  5. The Acumen team strives to collaborate with local treaters to insure continuity of care and promote therapeutic integration throughout the longitudinal process.