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HAP is developing and implementing a national network of EMDR clinicians who are ready to respond, pro bono, to local disasters with brief EMDR treatment of uncomplicated, recent-incident trauma. This mode of assistance was used with good results in New York and Washington after 9/11/2001. The hurricane damage on the Gulf Coast in fall of 2005 has led to evacuees moving all over the nation and making this network a sudden national priority.
You can read more about the TRN below. If you wish to volunteer specifically for TRN, log in to your volunteer account, or set up an account, and make sure you have answered the questions marked with an asterisk, and selected the TRN roles that interest you.
Participants in the network should be EMDR clinicians who have completed Part II training. Each participant is attached to a local group of colleagues. HAP will designate one local clinician as Coordinator of the local Trauma Recovery Network (TRN). At least one other participant will be a consultant level clinician who is able to provide consultation to the participating clinicians. HAP reviews applications to become a member of the local TRN, or to serve in the coordinator or consultant roles, and makes appointments based on qualifications. We hope to involve as many clinicians as possible.
In the event of a local crisis, conditions may vary widely, but our goal is to help the local TRN develop relationships with local offices of emergency management and local agencies that are likely to be assisting survivors of disaster. These likely referral sources, as well as local media, will be informed about the characteristics and symptoms of individuals who are appropriate candidates for brief trauma treatment after recent-incident trauma. Whenever there are clinicians available through the TRN to provide brief (4 to 5 sessions) treatment, the coordinator will refer clients who have been minimally screened.
Whenever possible, clients are offered three names of possible clinicians to choose from. Because the program is limited to treating uncomplicated, recent-incident trauma, both client and clinician are asked to sign an agreement that the treatment relationship will not continue past five sessions, and that the client will be offered referrals to another (for-fee) clinician if treatment is still recommended. Clinicians agree not to convert the pro bono relationship into a paying one.
The standard policies of the TRN program are codified in HAP forms and policy statements made available to all local TRNs. HAP provides a private page on the HAP website for each local TRN where information can be posted to support the coordinator's role. Special email discussion lists are maintained for each local TRN, for the Coordinators as a group, and for the Consultants as a group. HAP also provides sample public service announcements to help local TRNs connect with local referral sources and resources.
One goal of the TRN program is to make EMDR available in the event of an emergency by preparing well in advance of the need. In normal times, therefore, HAP will help the TRN members to expand their awareness of emergency mental health response methods and issues and to network effectively with other local agencies and individuals working on emergency management.
Another goal is to learn all we can about what works well and what does not work well in the wake of an emergency. Therefore HAP will assist TRN members to keep records on the cases they see, with due respect to client privacy. Data will be used for evaluation of treatment effectiveness after emergencies.
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