Evaluation and Treatment of Trauma Disorders

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The Maryland Institute offers evaluation and treatment services for various types of trauma, including sexual assault and sexual abuse, physical assault, automobile and other accidents, and trauma due to natural disasters and catastrophes. Evaluations are generally completed through clinical interviews and history-taking, and in some cases may be supplemented with psychological testing. Institute staff also provide consultation for legal or forensic purposes and in these instances an evaluation will also entail a review of existing legal documents.

Treatment services available for trauma victims include individual, group, and family therapy, all of which may use a variety of treatment protocols that are tailored to the individual circumstances and needs of the client. These protocols may range from the exclusive use of short-term, behavioral interventions (such as hypnotherapy, cognitive-behavioral techniques, and other newer procedures such as EMDR) for recent trauma, to longer-term, in-depth psychotherapy for trauma that has significantly affected a client's psychological and personality development. In all cases the treatment procedures that we recommend are presented in a context that is designed to maximize a client's safety and sense of trust in the therapeutic process. During the process of helping clients to develop strengths and resources, special attention is devoted to the following clients' rights:

• To be treated with respect, dignity and integrity;
• To have questions about treatment answered directly, honestly and clearly;
• To receive the best and most appropriate treatment available; and
• To have cultural, racial, sexual and gender issues treated sensitively and appropriately.

In all cases an effort is made to formulate a treatment program that validates each client's specific experiences, meets their particular needs, and facilitates their return to optimal functioning as quickly as possible.

See information on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in the section on this WEB site for "Anxiety and Treatment for Anxiety Disorders". Or you may go to the National Center for PTSD website at Dartmouth College/U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs.

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