Abstract
This article describes the Trauma Recovery and Empowerment Model (TREM), a manualized group intervention designed for women trauma survivors with severe mental disorders, and discusses key issues in its conceptualization and implementation. TREM recognizes the complexity of long-term adaptation to trauma and addresses a range of difficulties common among survivors of sexual and physical abuse. Focusing primarily on the development of specific recovery skills and current functioning, TREM utilizes techniques shown to be effective in trauma recovery services. The group's content and structure are also informed by the role of gender in the ways women experience and cope with trauma.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Brady, K. T., Killeen, T. K., Brewerton, T., & Lucerini, S. (2000). Comorbidity of psychiatric disorders and posttraumatic stress disorder. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 61(Suppl 7), 22–32.
Bryer, J. B., Nelson, B. A., Miller, J. B., & Krol, P. A. (1987). Childhood sexual and physical abuse as factors in adult psychiatric illness. American Journal of Psychiatry, 144(11), 1426–1430.
Darves-Bornoz, J. M., Lemperiere, T., Degiovanni, A., & Gaillard, P. (1995). Sexual victimization in women with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 30(2), 78–84.
Fallot, R. D., & Harris, M. (2001). Trauma Recovery and Empowerment Model Groups: A Report of Pilot Outcomes. Washington, DC: Community Connections.
Foa, E. B., Hearst-Ikeda, D., & Perry, K. J. (1995). Evaluation of a brief cognitive-behavioral program for the prevention of chronic PTSD in recent assault victims. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 63(7), 948–955.
Goodman, L. A., Dutton, M. A., & Harris, M. (1997). The relationship between violence dimensions and symptom severity among homeless, mentally ill women. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 10(1), 51–70.
Harris, M. (1998). Trauma Recovery and Empowerment: A Clinician's Guide for Working with Women in Groups. New York, NY: The Free Press.
Janoff-Bulman, R. (1992). Shattered Assumptions: Toward a New Psychology of Trauma. New York, NY: The Free Press.
McDonagh-Coyle, A., Friedman, M. J., McHugo, G. J., Ford, J., Mueser, K., Demment, C., & Descamps, M. (1999). Cognitive-behavioral treatment for childhood sexual abuse survivors with PTSD. Paper presented at the Fifteenth Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Miami, Florida.
Miller, B. A., Downs, W. R., & Testa, M. (1993). Interrelationships between victimization experiences and women's alcohol use. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 11, 109–117.
Mueser, K. T., Goodman, L. B., Trumbetta, S. L., Rosenberg, S. D., Osher, F. C., Vidaver, R., Auciello, P., & Foy, D. W. (1998). Trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder in severe mental illness. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 66(3), 493–499.
Parker, J. G., & Herrera, C. (1996). Interpersonal processes in friendship: A comparison of abused and nonabused children's experiences. Developmental Psychology, 32(6), 1025–1038.
Polusny, M. A., & Follette, V. M. (1995). Long-term correlates of child sexual abuse: Theory and review of the empirical literature. Applied and Preventive Psychology, 4(3), 143–166.
Rosenberg, S. D., Mueser, K. T., Friedman, M. J., Gorman, P. G., Drake, R. E., Vidaver, R. M., Torrey, W. C., & Jankowski, M. K. (2001). Developing effective treatments for post-traumatic disorders in people with severe mental illness: A review and proposal. Psychiatric Services, 52(11), 1453–1461.
Shalev, A. Y. (1997). Discussion: Treatment of prolonged posttraumatic stress disorder–Learning from experience. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 10(3), 415–423.
Sigmon, S. T., Greene, M. P., Rohan, K. J., & Nichols, J. E. (1996). Coping and adjustment in male and female survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 5(3), 57–76.
Tarrier, N., Pilgrim, H., Sommerfeld, C., Faragher, B., Reynolds, M., Graham, E., & Barrowclough, C. (1999). A randomized trial of cognitive therapy and imaginal exposure in the treatment of chronic posttraumatic stress disorder. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 67(1), 13–18.
van der Kolk, B. A., Hostetler, A., Herron, N., & Fisler, R. E. (1994). Trauma and the development of borderline personality disorder. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 17(4), 715–730.
van der Kolk, B. A., Pelcovitz, D., Roth, S., Mandel, F. S., McFarlane, A., & Herman, J. L. (1996). Dissociation, somatization, and affect dysregulation: The complexity of adaptation to trauma. American Journal of Psychiatry, 153(7 Suppl), 83–93.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fallot, R.D., Harris, M. The Trauma Recovery and Empowerment Model (TREM): Conceptual and Practical Issues in a Group Intervention for Women. Community Ment Health J 38, 475–485 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020880101769
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020880101769