"Crime & Violence In America"

A SOCIAL, NEUROBIOLOGICAL

FRAMEWORK FOR TREATING TRAUMA

VICTIMS AND OFFENDERS

The End

Thanks You Roy Thomas, LCSW

EMDR Certified, EMDRIA Approved Consultant EMDR Trainer In Training

(601) 988-4966 roy@stephenassociates.org

Community violence as a origin for trauma,

attachment trauma, PTSD, negative brain changes,

is strongly linked to victimization and chronic

offenders.

Community Violence Trauma?

The National Center for PTSD states that "Community Violence"

includes a wide range of events including riots, sniper attacks, gang

wars, drive-by shootings, workplace assaults, terrorist attacks,

torture, bombings, war, ethnic cleansing, and widespread sexual,

physical, and emotional abuse.

This type of violence often includes brutal acts such as shootings,

rapes, stabbings, beatings, and domestic violence.

The National Center for Children Exposed to

Violence (2010) defines community violence as:

“The exposure to acts of interpersonal violence

Committed by individuals who are not intimately

related to the victim."

Center for Disease Control (CDC, 2016)

"Violence is a significant problem in the United States (U.S.).

From infants to the elderly, it affects people in all stages of

life. In 2014, 15,809 people were victims of homicide and

42,773 took their own life. The number of violent deaths tells

only part of the story. Many more survive violence and are

left with permanent physical and emotional scars. Violence

also erodes communities by reducing productivity,

decreasing property values, and disrupting social services."

Statistics

The Peace Alliance

Violence causes more than 1.6 million deaths worldwide every year.

World Heath Organization report estimates the cost of interpersonal violence in the

U.S. at more than $300 billion per year.

U.S. National violence containment costs are over $1.7 Trillion.

In the U.S., youth homicide rates are more than 10 times that of other leading

industrialized nations.

The Bureau of Justice reported in 2010 that 25% of women have experienced domestic

violence and 6 million children witness domestic violence annually.

With one in four women in the U.S. estimated to become victims of severe physical

violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime,

Research has indicated that investing early to prevent conflicts from escalating into

violent crises is, on average, 60 times more cost effective than intervening after

violence erupts.

Serious Problems Exist Among

The Young & Minorities

HOMICIDE, THE VAST MAJORITY ARE COMMITTED WITH GUNS, ARE THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE FOR BLACK DEATH FOR AMERICANS

AGES 15 TO 24 AND THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH OF

AMERICANS AGES 15 TO 34," (AS CITED IN KOPER, ET AL., 2015).

Sampson, Raudenbush, & Earls, (1997)

"The systemic causes of community violence are

complex and multi-leveled. Co-occurring

factors operate at multiple levels and include

neighborhood contexts, such as the prevalence

of gangs and drugs, access to weapons, and

the damaging effects pervasive, chronic

poverty.”

Hammack, Richards, Luo, Edlynn, & Roy, (2004)

"Family factors such as parenting practices

and supports, and individual factors,

including lack of academic achievement,

emotion dysregulation, aggression, and

cognitive distortions, tremendously impact

community violence."

Boyce, Robinson, & Richards, (2011),

"The causes of community violence differ by subgroups,

(e.g., gender, ethnicity, urban/rural, developmental age)

and by complex interactions among the factors.”

How Is Community Violence Different From Other Types of

Trauma?

Terrifying Shock. Sudden - No Warning.

Communities that suffer from this type of violence often experience

increased fear and a feeling that the world is unsafe and that harm

could come at any time.

Community violence can permanently destroy entire

neighborhoods.

Community violence is intentional, which can lead survivors to feel

an extreme sense of betrayal and distrust toward other people.

Common Criminal & Violent Behaviors

1. BURGLARY, ROBBERY, STEALING

2. PHYSICAL ASSAULTS

3. PHYSICAL ASSAULTS WITH A WEAPON, I.E., GUNS,

KNIVES

4. ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF A WEAPON

5. MURDER

6. SEXUAL ASSAULTS

7. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, BATTERED WOMEN

8. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT

9. SALE OF ILLEGAL DRUGS

10. PURCHASE, USE OF ILLEGAL DRUGS, SUBSTANCES

According To The National Institute of Health

NIH

"THE BRAIN "IS THE SEAT OF INTELLIGENCE, INTERPRETER OF THE

SENSES, INITIATOR OF BODY MOVEMENT, AND "CONTROLLER OF

BEHAVIOR."

Dr. Daniel Siegel

National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral

Medicine (NICABM), 2014)

"The brain is integrated in creating a flexible, adaptive, and coherent flow that is energized and stable."

The brain needs positive connections to survive.

Dr. van der Kolf & Dr. Siegel

"Connixion"

The lack of connection is the now being viewed as the root of psychopathology

The Brain Is The

"Controller of Behavior."

Common Characteristics Of Offenders

INDIVIDUALS FROM

1. SINGLE PARENT HOUSEHOLDS.

2. SINGLE PARENT HOUSEHOLDS THAT RESIDES IN A

NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAS SIGNIFICANT CRIME AND

VIOLENCE.

3. PARENT OR PARENTS WHO HAVE BEEN AND OR ARE

INVOLVED IN CRIME AND VIOLENCE.

4. DETACHED AND OR ABSENT FATHERS.

5. FATHERS THAT HAVE PARTICIPATED IN CRIME AND

VIOLENCE.

"ATTACHMENT DISORDERS"

Other Characteristics of Offenders

6. LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS.

7. PARENT/S THAT HAVE BEEN INCARCERATED.

8. PARENT, ADOLESCENT WITH ADDICTIONS OR THEY

ABUSE ALCOHOL, ILLEGAL AND PRESCRIPTION

DRUGS.

9. GROWING UP IN A NEIGHBORHOOD OR COMMUNITY

WHERE CRIME AND VIOLENCE ARE PREVALENT.

10. ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SUSPENSIONS,

"SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE."

"ATTACHMENT DISORDERS"

INABILITY TO SELF SOOTHE

SEVERE ANXIETY

OFFICIAL U.S. DATA SHOWS THAT 63 PERCENT OF YOUTH SUICIDES (5 TIMES THE

AVERAGE), 70 PERCENT OF YOUTHS IN STATE-OPERATED INSTITUTIONS (9 TIMES THE

AVERAGE) AND 85 PERCENT OF CHILDREN WITH BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS (20 TIMES THE

AVERAGE) ARE FROM FATHERLESS HOMES.

A 2002 DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE SURVEY OF 7,000 INMATES REVEALED THAT 39% OF

JAIL INMATES LIVED IN MOTHER-ONLY HOUSEHOLDS. APPROXIMATELY FORTY-SIX

PERCENT OF JAIL INMATES IN 2002 HAD A PREVIOUSLY INCARCERATED FAMILY MEMBER.

ONE-FIFTH EXPERIENCED A FATHER IN PRISON OR JAIL.

ACCORDING TO THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU, CHILDREN IN FATHER-ABSENT HOMES ARE

FIVE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE POOR. IN 2002, 7.8 PERCENT OF CHILDREN IN MARRIED-

COUPLE FAMILIES WERE LIVING IN POVERTY, COMPARED TO 38.4 PERCENT OF CHILDREN

IN FEMALE-HOUSEHOLDER FAMILIES.

Growing Up Without A Father

hwww.growingupwithoutafather.org

According to PTSD.VA.GOV

Factors That Add To A Child`s Risk For Coming Into Contact With Community Violence

LIVING IN POOR, INNER-CITY AREAS.

BEING NON-WHITE.

BEING IN A GANG OR USING ALCOHOL OR

DRUGS.

LIVING IN A HOME WITH DOMESTIC (FAMILY)

VIOLENCE.

MALES SEE MORE COMMUNITY VIOLENCE THAN

DO FEMALES AND ARE AT MORE RISK FOR

PHYSICAL ATTACKS.

FEMALES ARE AT MORE RISK FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT.

Profound

Indicator For Crime, Violence, Incarceration.

ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY

"SCHOOL DISCIPLINE & SUSPENSIONS.

School Discipline

"ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE"

"IN OUR INVESTIGATIONS WE HAVE FOUND CASES

WHERE AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDENTS WERE

DISCIPLINED MORE HARSHLY AND MORE FREQUENTLY

BECAUSE OF THEIR RACE THAN SIMILARLY SITUATED

WHITE STUDENTS. IN SHORT, RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IN

SCHOOL DISCIPLINE IS A REAL PROBLEM."

"TRAUMA, PTSD & ATTACHMENT TRAUMA"

"School To Prison Pipeline"

"STUDIES HAVE SUGGESTED A CORRELATION BETWEEN

EXCLUSIONARY DISCIPLINE POLICIES AND PRACTICES AND AN

ARRAY OF SERIOUS EDUCATIONAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL

PROBLEMS, INCLUDING SCHOOL AVOIDANCE AND DIMINISHED

EDUCATIONAL ENGAGEMENT, DECREASED ACADEMIC

ACHIEVEMENT; INCREASED BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS; INCREASED

LIKELIHOOD OF DROPPING OUT; SUBSTANCE ABUSE; AND

INVOLVEMENT WITH JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS.

Offenders Are Often Victims Of The Social

Problems & Criminal Behaviors That Dwell

In Their Community.

A Hard Pill To Swallow

Crime & Violence Equals

Attachment Trauma

Trauma

PTSD

Negative Brain Changes & Damage

Community Trauma

Anxiety

Depression

Behavioral Health Conditions

Chronic Physical Health Conditions

That Impacts Infants, Children, Teens & Adults

That Live In Particular Communities

Trauma

"Trauma Causes Attachment

Problems"

27

According To The National Center For PTSD

"People Experience Stress Responses Following Many Types Of

Traumatic Events."

Types of Trauma

Basic Trauma

Military Trauma

Disaster and Terrorism

Violence and Other Trauma

What Is Community Violence Trauma?

The National Center for PTSD states that "Community Violence"

includes a wide range of events including riots, sniper attacks, gang wars, drive-by shootings, workplace assaults, terrorist attacks, torture,

bombings, war, ethnic cleansing, and widespread sexual, physical,

and emotional abuse.

This type of violence often includes brutal acts such as shootings,

rapes, stabbings, beatings, and domestic violence.

Attachment Trauma

Mother, fetus bonding (in utero) greatly influences temperament after birth and attachment to

mother. Temperament - range of emotional responses displayed by infant, from cheerful &

happy to crying & irritable.

Attachment (Ainsworth) - an emotional tie to a specific person or persons that endures across

time and space. In theory, infants are born with a temperament and develop a personality over

the course of the first 48 months of life. The earliest relationship forms a protective foundation

for life stressors and traumas. Without an early attachment relationship, the child’s

psychological immune system is fragile," (as stated in Adler-Tapia, 2014).

Poor bonding, fragile temperament, poor attachment can lead to dissociation during a stressor.

(Case illustration of adult male abandoned by addicted mother and adopted by relative.

Dissociate during arguments with spouse and searches for affair).

Proper Attachment

Greater emotional regulation.

(Bessel van der Kolk – emotional regulation should be 'front and

center in therapy". Trauma Informed Care – you should not

complete histories until your client can calm down, self-soothe).

Promotes development of appropriate relationships.

Ease in expressing feelings and communicating. Proper

expression of feeling starts coping, (Dr. Siegel, "Name it to tame

it."

Greater sense of security.

Allows an individual to set and accept boundaries.

Attachment Styles

Firestone, 2013

Secure Attachment - Securely attached adults tend to be more satisfied in

their relationships.

Anxious Preoccupied Attachment – Unlike securely attached couples, people

with an anxious attachment tend to be desperate to form a fantasy bond.

Dismissive Avoidant Attachment – People with a dismissive avoidant

attachment have the tendency to emotionally distance themselves from their

partner.

Fearful Avoidant Attachment – A person with a fearful avoidant attachment

lives in an ambivalent state, in which they are afraid of being both too close to

or too distant from others.

Post Trauma Stress Disorder (PTSD) - DSM - V

A. Exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence in one (or more) of

the following ways:

1. Directly experiencing the traumatic event(s).

2. Witnessing, in person, the event(s) as it occurred to others.

B. Presence of one (or more) of the following intrusion symptoms associated with the traumatic

event(s), beginning after the traumatic event(s) occurred:

1. Recurrent, involuntary, and intrusive distressing memories of the traumatic event(s).

2. Recurrent distressing dreams in which the content and/or affect of the dream are related to

the traumatic event(s).

3. Dissociative reactions (e.g., flashbacks) in which the individual feels or acts as if the

traumatic event(s) were recurring. (Such reactions may occur on a continuum, with the most

extreme expression being a complete loss of awareness of present surroundings.)

4. Intense or prolonged psychological distress at exposure to internal or external cues that

symbolize or resemble an aspect of the traumatic event(s).

5. Marked psychological reactions to internal or external cues that symbolize or resemble an

aspect of the traumatic event(s).

Persistent Intrusive Thoughts

Negative & Intense Emotions

Negative Cognitions

Negative Self Referential Beliefs

Unpleasant Body Sensations

Common Negative Cognitions

I DON’T DESERVE LOVE

I AM A BAD PERSON

I AM TERRIBLE

I AM WORTHLESS (INADEQUATE) I AM SHAMEFUL

I AM NOT LOVEABLE

I AM NOT GOOD ENOUGH

I DESERVE ONLY BAD THINGS

I CANNOT BE TRUSTED

I CANNOT TRUST MY JUDGMENT

I CANNOT SUCCEED

I AM NOT IN CONTROL

I AM POWERLESS

I AM WEAK

Other Negative Cognitions

I cannot protect myself

I am stupid

I am insignificant (unimportant) I am a disappointment

I deserve to die

I deserve to be miserable

I cannot get what I want

I am a failure

I have to be perfect

I am permanently damaged

I am ugly

I should have done something I did something wrong

I am in danger

I cannot stand it

I cannot trust anyone

I cannot let it out

I do not deserve

Trauma, PTSD Creates Severe Problems In Relationships & Emotional

Expression

Alexithymia

Alexithymia – The inability to describe emotions with words.

Kim, et al., 2008

Difficulty identifying emotions.

Distinguishing between emotions and bodily

sensations.

Difficulty describing or communicating emotions to

others.

External oriented style of thinking.

Creates interpersonal problem.

Limits the responsiveness in psychotherapy.

"Research has shown that traumatic experiences are associated with both

behavioral health and chronic physical health conditions, especially those traumatic

events that occur during childhood. Substance use (such as smoking, excessive

alcohol use, and taking drugs), mental health problems (such as depression, anxiety,

or PTSD), and other risky behaviors (such as self-injury and risky sexual encounters)

have been linked with traumatic experiences. Because these behavioral health

concerns can present challenges in relationships, careers, and other aspects of life,

it is important to understand the nature and impact of trauma, and to explore healing.

In addition, traumatic experiences can contribute to chronic physical health

conditions, such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases."

According To SAMHSA

Substance Abuse & Mental Health Service Administration

Major Problems In Addressing Community Violence

Gross Misconceptions Regarding The Causes.

Societal Perceptions of Offenders.

The Lack of Involvement by the Church and

Community.

Inadequate and Poor Knowledge To Impact Members

and the Community At Large.

Poorly Conceptualized Comprehensive Community

Violence Reduction Strategies.

Outdated College/University Instruction.

Poorly Trained Therapist & Professional Counselors. A

Major Concern of Bessel van der Kolk and other

neuroscientist.

Lack of Comprehensive Violence Reduction

Strategies.

Other Effects of Witnessing or Experiencing

Community Violence?

Individuals often experience PTSD as a result of community violence.

Studies have found post-traumatic symptoms and

disorders among infants and toddlers.

Parent or child exposure to violence increases anxiety,

anger, frustration within the family.

Parental blaming, punitive discipline, overprotective,

more acting out children at home, school.

According To Dr. Felitti With The CDC

"TRAUMATIZED CHILDREN AREN'T ABLE TO

CONCENTRATE IN SCHOOL. THEY HAVE

DIFFICULTY LEARNING HOW TO INTERACT

SOCIALLY, BECAUSE THEY'RE IN FLIGHT,

FIGHT OR FREEZE MODE."

These researchers concluded that “the

intensity of community violence exposure was

positively associated with aggressive parenting

practices.

This is significant as offenders are likely to be

offsprings of a single parent and mother who

has experienced violence or trauma.

Low-income Single Mother's Community Violence Exposure

Anderson, Zhang, 2010

These Studies Suggest That Infants And Young

Children Are At Risk For Trauma Symptoms

Before They Are Born

Dr Siegel

"Trauma, in general terms, leads to two huge chemical reactions"

NICABM, 2014

One is the acute secretion of cortisol, the stress hormone.

The other reaction is the acute release of high levels of adrenalin, which,

increases the encoding of implicit memory.

Cortisol, with extended periods of release, is neurotoxic. Neurotoxicity, in the

developing brain, means that the regions trying to grow and establish

synaptic connections may be inhibited in their growth.

Cortisol secreted for long periods of time can not only be growth-inhibitory,

but also neurotoxic.

Cortisol, in the acute phase, can lead to a blockage of the activity of the part

of the brain called the hippocampus, which is very integrative of memory.

Cortisol that hits certain receptors leads to apoptosis, which is literally the

destruction of neurons.

Brain Changes & Damage Is Caused By

Trauma & PTSD

Parts of the brain changed by trauma and PTSD:

Thalamus - The thalamus appears "offline" in neuroimagining. It is a "mere

pit-stop for sensory information on its way to the cortex -- is heavily

involved in sensory processing, and is an important conductor of the

brain’s complex orchestra," (Sherman, 2009).

Corpus callosum – Cognitive delays.

Prefrontal cortex – Sensitive to stress and regulates our thoughts, actions

and emotions.

Amygdala – "Fire alarm" – Fight, flight, freeze, responding directly to

perceptual input, filtering incoming data for danger. Fight, flight or freeze.

Appears in brain scans in a hyperactive state after trauma.

Hippocampus – Memory control center.

Hippocampus

The most significant neurological impact of trauma is seen in the

hippocampus. PTSD patients show a considerable reduction in the

volume of the hippocampus. This region of the brain is responsible for

memory functions. It helps an individual to record new memories and

retrieve them later in response to specific and relevant environmental

stimuli. The hippocampus also helps us distinguish between past and

present memories.

Yehuda, Bierer & Halligan, 2002

Offsprings of Holocaust Survivors With PTSD Are At Risk for PTSD

Due To Low Cortisol

Cortisol & Adrenal Function

adrenalfatigue.org

Cortisol is a life sustaining adrenal hormone essential to the maintenance of homeostasis.

Called “the stress hormone,” cortisol influences, regulates or modulates many of the changes

that occur in the body in response to stress including, but not limited to:

Blood sugar (glucose) levels

Fat, protein and carbohydrate metabolism to maintain blood glucose (gluconeogenesis)

Immune responses

Anti-inflammatory actions

Blood pressure

Heart and blood vessel tone and contraction

Central nervous system activation

Impaired cognitive performance

Medical conditions

Yehuda, Bierer & Halligan, 2002

Offsprings of “Holocaust Survivors with PTSD Are At Risk for PTSD"

Offsprings of Holocaust survivors were born with lowered cortisol levels which

predispose offsprings to PTSD due to the experiences of their parents.

Yehuda and Bierer found that an infants exposure to stress in utero results in

developmental programming of tissue and functions associated with low cortisol levels.

These factors combined with poor attachment, high conflict in families with PTSD and

environmental factors (such as community violence) are contributing factors to low

cortisol and predisposition to PTSD.

According to Sherin and Nemeroff, (2011), Hypocortisolism can be a risk factor for

maladaptive stress responses that can predispose an offspring to future PTSD. It may

promote abnormal stress reactivity and perhaps fear processing in general.

These finding were also seen in the offsprings of pregnant females who were victims of

the 9/11 attacks.

Some Good News

EMDR Successfully Treats Cortisol Dysregulation

EMDR, “sixty women with PTSD were randomly assigned to prolonged

exposure (PE), eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) or

waitlist. Measures were taken at three time points: at baseline, immediately

after session 3 (first exposure session) and immediately after session 9 (last

exposure session). Results showed that treatment response (i.e., at least a

50 percent reduction in PTSD symptoms assessed via the Clinician-

Administered PTSD Scale [CAPS]) was associated with decreased cortisol

levels.”

EMDR and T – Focused CBT are effective in reducing PTSD symptom

severity, but the response pattern indicated that EMDR led to a significantly

sharper decline in PTSD symptoms.

Developmental Framework & Transgenerational Transmission

"Trauma Impacts Parents, Offsprings And Future Generation"

Trauma causes mother and child, and parental attachment problems.

Maternal anxiety and environmental experiences impact the

unborn child. This occurs through encoding of implicit memory,

which begin in the third trimester.

Manifestations of the parent's symptoms and other environmental

experiences, can be seen in the infant after birth.

Problems with emotional regulation (inability to self-soothe), irritability, sleep, later focus, concentration, behavioral

manifestations.

Mental health and cognitive problems also develop from cortisol

dysregulation. Both low and high levels of cortisol.

Yehuda and Colleagues

Hypocortisolism or low cortisol levels, has been linked to depressed mood,

chronic pain, sleep disturbances and fatigue. Additionally, cortisol’s ability to

bind to receptors in the hippocampus (the brain region involved in memory) can

impact memory and consciousness.

Yehuda and colleagues showed that chronic PTSD was associated with

lowered cortisol activity compared to those without a PTSD diagnosis and

suggested that chronically high stress levels may exhaust the HPA axis.

Children who have two parents with PTSD have lower levels of cortisol than

those with one parent with PTSD.

"Pulling Levers"

Comprehensive Violence Reduction Strategies

Koper, et al., 2015

One of the most effective initiatives in reducing crime and violence. Reduced youth homicides in

Boston by 63% while also reducing gun assaults and calls to police for shots fired.

This strategy was born in Boston during the 1990s to reduce gang and youth violence. The efforts

included concentrated law enforcement, prosecution and social services for high-risk groups

through face-to-face contacts known as notification meetings.

Involved a collaborative, problem-solving effort among police, prosecutors, probation and parole

officers, juvenile justice officials, schools, federal law enforcement, social service workers,

academic researchers, and local clergy.

Project working group members warned gang members through notification meetings, other

direct individual contacts, and indirect channels (e.g., gang outreach workers and flyers) that

continued violence would be met with severe sanctions, including multi agency crackdowns and

referrals for federal prosecution (which often pro-vides for harsher sentences).

sanctions than are available at the state level)

Federal Weed and Seed Program

St. Louis Initiative

Koper, et. al, 2015 p. 12

Trends in violence improved relative to trends in the comparison areas, particularly

with respect to gun violence.

These efforts were coordinated by a project working group.

Multiagency strategy that emphasized law enforcement, crime prevention, and

community revitalization in high-crime neighborhoods.

Consisted of partner organizations that developed a multi-faceted strategy that

stressed both enforcement and community engagement. The participating

organizations developed the strategy based on the research partner’s study of

violence patterns in a neighborhood and problems cited by community residents,

other stakeholders at a community summit.

The group commitment to a variety of interventions, including increased

enforcement, prosecution, improved monitoring of high-risk, probationers,

nuisance abatement, physical improvement efforts, and community out-reach.

Richmond, California Comprehensive Homicide Initiative

CrimeSolutions.gov, 2012

Highly Successful and Televised.

Richmond, California - nearly half of this population was African American, just more than one third

white, and one fourth Hispanic and Asian.

By 1991, the number of homicides had tripled from 20 in 1985 to 61 in 1991, making Richmond one

of the most violent cities in the country, per capita,

Funded by the state of California police-hiring fund, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), Office of

Community Oriented Policing (COPS), and a number of other smaller grants. Over a five (5) year

period from 1993-98, the grants totaled $1.7 million,

The police department shifted their focus to a problem-oriented policing philosophy. Combined

traditional law enforcement practices with specific prevention and intervention efforts that involved

partnerships with the community, other city agencies, and local schools.

The initiative departed from the traditional police definition of homicide as a unique offense in

which the appropriate police role is largely limited to after-the-fact investigation. Instead, it started

to include homicide prevention as a critical police responsibility that can best be accomplished

by identifying the paths that frequently lead to homicide and closing them by intervening early.

Enormous community collaboration.

Mentoring of youth and offenders and provided financial incentives for life achievements.

According to the Loyola Researchers

Current Programs, And Particularly Prevention, Are Limited

WHY?

PREVENTION PROGRAMS DO NOT ADDRESS THE INTERNAL

EXPERIENCES OR PSYCHOLOGICAL REACTIONS OF CHILDREN AND

YOUTH WHO ARE OFTEN MOST VULNERABLE TO NEGATIVE

OUTCOMES FROM CONSTANT EXPOSURE TO VIOLENCE.

THESE APPROACHES ALSO IGNORE THE POSITIVE CONTRIBUTIONS

AND THE RESILIENCE OF YOUTH. ( THE ABILITY TO OVERCOME

ADVERSITY AND CONTINUE HIS OR HER NORMAL DEVELOPMENT).

EMDR

EMDR International Association EMDRIA.ORG

CORE PURPOSE: TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION,

PRACTICE, AND SCIENCE OF EMDR THERAPY.

TO ESTABLISH AND UPHOLD STANDARDS OF

PRACTICE, TRAINING, CERTIFICATION, AND

RESEARCH;

TO PROVIDE INFORMATION, EDUCATION, AND

ADVOCACY;

TO ASSIST PRACTITIONERS IN FULFILLING THEIR

RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE PUBLIC

This Model Was Developed By Francine Shapiro’s (2001):

The AIP model is based on the concept of innate information

processing. (We were born with the capacity to resolve our distress).

The Adaptive Information Processing Model (AIP) states that much of

psychopathology is due to maladaptive encoding and/or incomplete

processing of difficult and painful life experiences.

EMDR Is Based On

AIP Model

Adaptive Information Processing

62

Eye Movement Is Known To …

Decrease Negative Images, Emotions & Bodily Sensations

There are several research studies (e.g., Andrade et al., 1997;

Kavanaugh, Freese, Andrade, & May , 2001; van den Hout, Muris,

Salemink, & Kindt, 2001) indicating that EMs and other stimuli have

an effect on perceptions of the targeted memory, decreasing image

vividness and associated affect.

World Health Organization (2013)

Guidelines for the Management of Conditions Specifically Related to Stress.

Geneva, Switzerland: Author.

* EMDR and Trauma Focus CBT are the only psychotherapies

recommended for children, adolescents and adults with PTSD.

EMDR INSTITUTE, INC.

PO BOX 750 WATSONVILLE, CA 95077

WWW.EMDR.COM

Neuropsychological tests and self-evaluation scales used by Hogberg et

al. (2008) showed immediate changes toward normality in the brain

following eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)

treatment.

These changes were still present at 3-year follow-up.

Aranda, Benito Daniel Estrada; Ronquillo, Nathalí Molina; Calvillo, María Elena Navarro Source: Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, Volume 9, Number 4, 2015, pp. 174-187(14)

Using biofeedback equipment (ProComp5 Infiniti System) to obtain

records of heart rate and conductance while the participant was in the

desensitization and reprocessing phases of EMDR therapy.

Results showed a heart rate decrease between baselines at the beginning

and end of treatment.

Social, Neurobiological Framework

1. Researchers have discovered that PTSD is under recognized and under treated in intercity communities based on research conducted at a mental health facility in Atlanta.

2. Avoidance is a criteria for trauma and PTSD and it interferes with individuals seeking treatment. Avoidance along with PTSD being under recognized and under treatment, suggest that people in high-risk communities, survive and interact daily with the following untreated trauma and PTSD symptoms:

a. Distressing dreams, nightmares related to trauma and distressing experiences.

b. Sleep disturbances.

c. Intrusive thoughts of trauma and distressing experiences.

d. Negative beliefs.

e. Psychic numbing, (lack of positive and negative emotions, feeling emotionally dead),” (Lanius, 2012).

f. Alexithymia, (the inability to describe emotions with words).

g. Hyperarousal and poor emotional regulation.

h. Cognitive problems, including problems with memory recall, focus/concentration challenges.

i. Interpersonal problems and difficult connecting with others. Human beings need positive connection to survive, according to Bessel van der Kolk and Daniel Siegel.

j. Addiction to drugs and other substances.

k. Angry outburst and startle responses.

l. Repetition and involvement in activities, behaviors that caused their trauma.

Framework Summary

3. Parent who experience trauma and PTSD, offsprings are at risk for hypocortisolism or low cortisol

levels, which predisposes offsprings to PTSD and attachment trauma, (Yehuda, et al., 2002). This

can also be a risk factor for maladaptive stress responses, (Sherin and Nemeroff, 2011).

4. The intensity of low income, single mother’s exposure to community violence is associated with

aggressive and unhealthy parenting practices, (Anderson and Zang, 2010). This further increases

the severity of attachment problems.

5. Community violence is a chronic, cyclical phenomenon that is known to be an origin of various

types of trauma.

6. According to Sampson, Raudenbush and Earls, (1997), “the systemic causes of community

violence are complex and multi-leveled. Co-occurring factors operate at multiple levels and

include neighborhood contexts, such as the prevalence of gangs, drugs, access to weapons, and

the damaging effects of pervasive, chronic poverty.”

7. Community violence over the decades has evolved and is seen in predominately white

communities through school shootings, other mass shootings and terrorist attacks.

8. A fetus (in utero) who experience distress from a mother’s adverse experiences and trauma, suffer

from a range of temperamental manifestations. According to Dr. Siegel, fetuses encode

experiences through implicit memory around the third trimester. Trauma and distress experienced

by an unborn also leads to developmental trauma disorders (DTD), temperamental problems,

attachment disorder, anxiety and panic, (van der Kolk, Ainsworth, Adler-Taplia, 2014).

Framework Summary

13. Trauma and PTSD are known to create negative brain changes, and if left untreated, the

negative brain changes leads to brain damage, (Daniel Siegel, 2014).

14. Community violence can be addressed through comprehensive violence reduction strategies

that have produced significant positive changes. However, many of these strategies do not

address the “intrinsic experiences” or trauma symptoms of citizens. This is known as a

“missing link” to comprehensive violence reduction strategies.

17. Evidence-based approaches can reverse\eliminate trauma symptoms that can be seen in the

brain through neuroimaging.

18. EMDR is an evidence-based treatment that reverses brain changes, behavioral challenges

and emotional regulation symptoms of trauma, PTSD and attachment problems.

19. Most therapist and professional counselors have not been trained in an evidence-based

psychotherapy and evidence-based practices that are known to successfully treat trauma,

PTSD and attachment disorders.

20. According to EMDRIA (2015), 1.3% of their membership are minorities. There is a

tremendous need for properly trained minorities to address community violence and the

many symptoms, co-occurring factors that contribute to community violence.