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T. R. U. Method |
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The
Trauma Relief Unlimited, (T.R.U.) Method
The T.R.U. method has been developed in the past seven years of
clinical practice. More than 700 trauma survivors have been successfully
treated. Those treated have been survivors of physical abuse, molestation,
rape, car accidents, industrial accidents, robberies, assaults,
explosions, burns shootings and other traumas. Witnesses of trauma have
also been successfully treated. In all cases, an initial Psychosocial
Evaluation was used to identify trauma survivors and to establish a
baseline for treatment. In
this T.R.U. Research Study John Briere’s nationally recognized Trauma
Symptoms Inventory was used for before and after testing and measurement.
A second data stream resulted from weekly patient reports.
Before and after treatment comparisons of test scores and patient
reports were made to gauge reduction and/or extinction of common symptoms
including flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety attacks, violent episodes and
other effects. Depression
levels were also tracked weekly using a five point grading system of
mental status reports. T.R.U. is a trauma relief method for reducing and
eliminating symptoms of post traumatic stress and not a cure for depression.
However, dramatic reductions in depression levels have been observed when
the traumatic material is eliminated. In this
Research Study each subject received one Psychosocial Evaluation and
three, 45 minute, weekly T.R.U. treatments.
The T.R.U. method, although technically not Art Therapy, was
derived from that model. I am often asked, “ Is T.R.U. Art Therapy, or
not?” That is like asking, “is baseball cricket?”
One was derived from the other, yet, one would not say baseball is
cricket. One might think of T.R.U. as a streamlined, short- cut version of
traditional Art Therapy made user-friendly for all ages. Instead of
traditional Art Therapy drawings, the T.R.U. treatment involves guiding a
survivor through a series of pre-determined, hand movements or exercises
in a psychological protocol designed to activate the right hemisphere of
the brain. The subject is
guided through these movements by the T.R.U therapist removing traumatic
imprinting. Although only a
handful of actual traumatic events are treated, each treatment often
results in the removal of the effects of scores, or even hundreds, of
episodes. For instance, one
person who experienced more than 1500 violent, physical abuse episodes over
a 12-year period was completely freed of symptoms in 4 T.R.U.
applications. One-episode
traumas, such as rape or assault have been routinely treated in one, 45
minute T.R.U. treatment. Even more remarkably I have not observed, or had
reported, one case of recurrence once the symptoms of a traumatic event
have been extinguished. Adults
have only been treated in this study, however, those ages 5-81 have been
successfully treated.
The T.R.U. method offers the possibility of breaking “the cycle
of abuse”. Because of the high level and reliability of extinction a
person is often freed of the prospect of further abuse or of abusing
others. Thus, the likelihood of others being abused and, in turn, becoming
abusive is greatly minimized. The fact that treatment occurs so quickly
and without recurrence offers hope for dramatically reducing the level of
existing abuse or of proliferation. This study demonstrates the replication capacity of the T.R.U.
methodology. A non-trauma
specialist was able to achieve statistical significance in 8 of 10
measured categories of treatment with only 12 forty-five minute training
sessions. (Note Therapist comparison graphs, figures).
These findings offer hope for widespread T.R.U. training programs. The T.R.U. method is a safe and natural one using no drugs, aversive stimuli or other potentially harmful processes. The only tools are a 12”X18” drawing pad and a set of non-permanent, non-toxic markers.
Much of the T.R.U. method is non-verbal sparing the survivor the
need to recount emotionally disturbing traumas.
Nor do survivors experience aversive reactions such as vomiting or
flashbacks during treatment. Rarely
are patients observed to be out of control in any way during treatment.
The aftermath of treatment is also fairly benign with only rare
occurrences of fatigue or mild confusion.
These short-term effects are
usually gone in 12-15 hours following treatment.
The effects of subsequent treatments are even less probable,
frequent or intense. Although symptom relief is the desired effect to reduce and alleviate suffering, perhaps, the long-term freeing of psychic energy for better functioning is the greatest benefit of T.R.U. Longitudinal and follow-up studies not only reduce the possibility of placebo effects but also demonstrate T.R.U. staying power. Improved growth and health of the trauma survivor continues long after treatment has been concluded. Typically Trauma Relief Unlimited services are provided on an individual and personal basis
These services are insurance reimbursable. |
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