Seeking Safety

Our Seeking Safety program is often thought of as a first step in trauma recovery, as it does not address the trauma directly but instead focuses on coping skills related to trauma. Seeking Safety was specifically developed to help survivors with co-occurring trauma and substance use disorders in a way that does not ask them to delve into emotionally distressing trauma narratives. It stays in the present, teaching a broad array of safe coping skills that they may never have learned if they grew up in dysfunctional families or may have lost along the way as their addiction and trauma spiraled downward. All of the Seeking Safety coping skills apply to both trauma and addiction at the same time – providing integrated treatment that can help boost motivation and guide clients to see the connections between their trauma and addiction issues.

Trauma Recovery and Empowerment Model

The Trauma Recovery and Empowerment Model (TREM) is an intervention that enables trauma recovery among women with histories of exposure to sexual and physical abuse.

This gender-specific group-based service helps women to develop coping skills and social supports and is delivered by trained clinicians over 24-29 weekly 75-minute sessions. The ultimate goal of TREM is to address both the short-term and long-term consequences of violent trauma and victimization, particularly PTSD, depression, and substance abuse.

TREM builds on the work that is being conducted in Seeking Safety sessions. TREM is a model that more directly addresses healing from abuse, including sharing trauma histories and stories. Therefore, women in the program will begin Seeking Safety sessions immediately upon entering treatment and moving into TREM groups once Seeking Safety is completed.