The Coronavirus Worldwide PTSD Support Protocol
The Sharing Group–Adapted to the Healing of Trauma from its Many Causes
Sharing the Stress, the Pain, the Traumas, the Fatigue–Support Groups for First Responders and Health Care Workers; For Social Justice, Black Lives Matter, the traumas of racism, misogyny, and poverty; For Covid 19 trauma and loss, the difficulties of confinement and abuse
Goal: To Create Sharing Groups–Contexts for Emotional Expression, Relief, Exploration, Coping Strategies through Listening and Interacting with Each Other
Format
- Size: 6-10 group members
- Leadership: 2 therapists
- Duration: 6 weekly sessions, with option to continue–at discretion of therapists to continue their participation; or may continue as a leaderless group.
- A Closed Group with members committing to all 6 sessions.
- Duration of Sessions: 1 and ½ to 2 hours
- No Charge to Participants
- KRF Supports
- Location: On zoom with participants coming from all corners. Or, Institutional arrangements
- Languages: English, Spanish, and others as participants enter the program from different backgrounds; and different countries
Leadership
- Psychotherapists, Clergy, others–vetted for experience by the Committee of the Working Group. (Standards to be determined, Experience with groups…Not necessarily licensed in mental health)
- Volunteers and We reach out through PR, working group affiliates, the net, invitation, etc.
- Support: KRF Funds accumulated through active fundraising for this project.
- Proposed Remuneration: 1) Recruitment and Screening of Group Members $50/enrollee. 2) $100 per therapist/session=$600 per group of 6 sessions/therapist. 3) Three month support for Zoom PRO subscription for each therapist. (investigation for insurance potential TBD)
- Ongoing Consultation with Core Group of Facilitators– Consultant fees TBD
- Leaders have the responsibility for forming group composition attending to balance between expressive and quiet members.
- Leaders may have a member leave the group if there is significant disruption of the group’s process.
- These are not psychotherapy groups though great self-understanding will occur. Leaders are facilitators.
Suggested Group Process
ESSENTIAL RULES FOR GROUP SAFETY AND COHESION
- STAY FOR DURATION OF GROUP
- NO VIOLENCE OR DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY IN PERSONAL SETTINGS
- NO INTERRUPTION
- AGREE TO FOLLOW LEADERS’ INSTRUCTIONS INVOLVING SHARING AND INTERACTION
- COURTEOUS, AWAKENED SPEECH IN INTERACTION
- REFRAIN FROM TELLING, BLAMING, PROSELYTIZING, AND BLOCKING
- COMMITMENT TO ACTIVE LISTENING
- MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THEIR OWN EXPERIENCES AND REACTIONS
BEGIN AND END WITH 5 MINUTE GUIDED MEDITATIONS–BREATH FOCUS TO BEGIN SESSIONS
TENETS OF INDRAS NET GROUPS–SHARED AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH MEETING AS FEELINGS
- THE ESSENCE OF OUR BEING IS LOVE AND COMPASSION
- HEALTH AND WELLNESS ARE SUPPORTED BY INNER PEACE AND LOVING KINDNESS TOWARDS OURSELVES AND OTHERS.
- HEALING IS SUPPORTED BY EXPRESSING AND LETTING GO OF FEAR.
- WE ARE ABLE TO PUT OUR TRAUMAS IN THE PAST AND LIVE OUR LIVES IN THE HERE AND NOW–INFORMED BY WHAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED AND LEARNED.
- WE ARE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS TO EACH OTHER.
- WE CAN EXPERIENCE OUR PREJUDICES AND JUDGEMENTS, EXAMINE THEM AND PUT THEM ASIDE.
- WE CAN PRACTICE RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR ACTIONS AND FORGIVENESS.
- WE CAN RECOGNIZE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN EACH OF US AND PRACTICE TOLERANCE.
- WE ALL SUFFER AND WE CAN REDUCE AND ALLEVIATE THAT SUFFERING.
- WE CAN CHOOSE TO FOLLOW THE PATH OF SHARING, LOVE AND CONNECTION.
IN-GROUP PROCEDURES
- WE BEGIN WITH A PERSON-BY-PERSON SHARING–LISTENING AND NOT CROSS-TALKING. MODERATOR: EVERYONE HAS UP TO 5 MINUTES FOR SHARING.
- AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE SHARING, LEADERS OPEN THE GROUP FOR INTERACTION
- LEADERS CONCLUDE THE MEETING–SUMMARIZING, SETTING THE STAGE FOR THE NEXT MEETING, AND HANDLING ANY RESIDUALS.
- END WITH A GUIDED MEDITATION.
PROCEDURES FOR FORMING THE GROUP
Initiation of Contact—in person or Zoom
- Phone Intake: Screening and Inclusion/Exclusion
- SEND INTAKE AND INFORMED CONSENT
- Assessments and Screening Tools- TBD–MINIMIZED IN NUMBER–In Discussion
- Well-being Assessment Before and After–Could be Only One And/or/or not
- Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI)
- PCL
- HAM-Anxiety
- PHQ-9?
- BDI
- And initial evaluative measures such as the ACE and the Resilience.
Phone Intake Session 15-30 minutes. Leaders discuss and form the group
Evaluation at Termination: Follow-up measures TBD
Indra’s Net Coalition is run solely on the generosity of our donors. We sincerely appreciate your support in serving those who need it most.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Indra’s Net Coalition is a registered CA 501c3 nonprofit, under the umbrella of the Ketamine Research Foundation. All donations are tax deductible.