Three-Phase Clinical Map for Trauma Treatment

Lecturer: Dr. Scott Giacomucci Organization: Phoenix Center for Experiential Trauma Therapy

Introduction

Purpose: Discuss a three-phase clinical map for trauma treatment.
Many trauma therapy modalities use this model.
Origin: Proposed by Pierre Janet (1889), further developed by Judith Herman and others.

Focus: Safety, strengths, stabilization, psycho-education, and coping skills.
Goals: Build therapeutic relationships, prevent re-traumatization, normalize and validate client feelings.
Key Points:
- Emphasize protective factors, courage, wisdom, empathy, understanding, self-awareness.
- Sometimes phase one can take months or even years, especially in complex trauma cases.
- Crucial to hold ethical boundaries to ensure client's stability before moving to phase two.

Focus: Difficult emotions and traumatic memories.
Modality Dependent:
- Talk therapy: Verbal processing.
- EMDR: Apply EMDR protocol.
- Psychodrama: Renegotiate trauma through action, create new endings, integrate strengths and support.
Caution: Importance of a strong foundation from phase one to avoid re-traumatizing clients.

Focus: Integration, transformation, and post-traumatic growth.
Goals: Harness learned strengths and coping mechanisms for future growth.
Post-Traumatic Growth Domains:
1. New appreciation for life.
2. New sense of possibilities.
3. Enhanced personal strength.
4. Improved relationships.
5. Deepened spirituality.
Symbol: Phoenix (rebirth and growth after trauma).

Use the clinical map to guide long-term work and session structure (individual, group, educational, supervision).
Simplifies planning for group therapy or individual sessions.
Example: 12-week group therapy divided into three parts:
- Weeks 1-4: Focus on safety, cohesion, strengths, education, coping skills.
- Weeks 5-8: Trauma processing.
- Weeks 9-12: Integration, transformation, post-traumatic growth.