Making Healing Accessible: Integration of Trauma-Informed Modalities for Mental Health Clinicians Working in Non-Profit Organizations with Low-Income Victims and Survivors

November 9, 2024

Abstract
As wonderful as it is that more therapeutic modalities are being validated by the trauma field, many of them require long-term training that costs hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, not to mention a large investment of time. Unfortunately, these are not usually feasible or affordable for non-profit mental health clinicians, let alone appropriate for trauma survivors who suffer from poverty, high-acuity risk factors, and low accessibility to affordable care. 

In addition to serving people disproportionately impacted by abuse, crime, poverty, and social injustice, mental health clinicians who work in non-profit organizations also experience a multitude of barriers and responsibilities that private practice clinicians do not. These include, but are not limited to, low-to-average salaries or hourly wages, having 24/7 on-call emergency shifts for agency-wide clients, going out in the field to conduct risk assessments, providing case management to their therapy clients due to lack of basic needs being met, productivity requirements, and strict limitations on the maximum length of treatment. Agencies often do not have the funds to invest in costly trainings that are frequently advertised in the trauma field, leaving both clinicians and clients to fall through the cracks. This gap in accessible and equal opportunities to facilitate healing requires not only a paradigm shift in the mental health field, but also creativity and innovation in how non-profit clinicians can facilitate therapeutic modalities that offer the high-quality care that their clients deserve. 

Prior to moving into private practice, Kristen Muché worked in non-profit organizations as a case manager, clinician, program manager, and clinical supervisor. At her current practice, she supervises mental health clinicians who work in non-profits and serve low-income individuals, which has allowed her to continue using creativity in facilitating equitable trauma-informed care and psychotherapy to her supervisees. 

This workshop will provide the audience with ideas on how to integrate and use a myriad of pre-existing modalities that can be learned through more accessible means, drawing upon examples of ways that Muché has done this. Whether audience members are clinicians, clinical supervisors, or clinical program managers, this can be an introduction on how one can tap into their imagination and motivate others to do the same. This is especially true for audience members who have been fortunate enough to receive formalized training and want to pass it on, especially the next generation of mental health clinicians who work in the trenches. 

Potential to Distress: Yes
 

Target Audience

Beginning/Introductory

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to:

  • Identify the multitude of barriers that most low-income trauma survivors face
  • Demonstrate how phase-oriented trauma treatment principles can apply to working with high-acuity risk, low-income trauma survivors
  • Use and integrate evidence-based practices, cultural modalities of healing, and multidisciplinary collaboration that allow for the provision of high-quality care to underserved trauma survivors
  • Analyze if current practices are appropriate for equitable, accessible mental health services
  • Apply their skills, approaches, and trainings to an integrative model that can serve survivors with multiple needs
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.50 APA
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
  • 1.50 ASWB ACE
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD), #1744, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 08/20/2024 – 08/20/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 1.50 continuing education credits.
  • 1.50 ISSTD Certificate Program
    This program is eligible for 1.50 credits in the ISSTD Certificate Program. No certificate of completion is generated for this type of credit.
Course opens: 
07/01/2024
Course expires: 
12/31/2050
Event starts: 
11/09/2024 - 12:00pm EST
Event ends: 
11/09/2024 - 1:30pm EST
Part of: 
Attachment and the Therapeutic Relationship - Day One
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Kristen Muche, LCSW
Kristen Muche is a trauma specialist and Licensed Clinical Social Worker in California, Nevada, Oregon, and Utah, as well as a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. She graduated in 2013 from California State University Long Beach with a Master of Social Work, during which she published her thesis entitled Sanctuary: A Content Analysis of Literature on Trauma-Informed Psychiatric Inpatient Treatment for Female Survivors of Rape and Sexual Assault Under Involuntary Hold. 

The primary survivors whom Muche works with have endured complex trauma and structural dissociation, often with experiences of sexual violence, trafficking, generational trauma, homelessness, and criminal justice-involvement. Muche has practiced in a diverse range of settings, primarily non-profit organizations, including a rape crisis center, domestic violence program, homeless service providers, and Trauma Recovery Centers, as well as jails, police departments, courthouses, and hospitals.

In her private practice, Any Stage of Healing, Muche facilitates in-home, community-based, and virtual trauma psychotherapy, clinical supervision to associate clinicians gaining hours toward licensure, consultations with licensed clinicians, and trainings to organizations on both trauma and mental health-related topics. Muche is also an adjunct professor at several universities, including California State University Los Angeles (Master of Social Work and Master of Science in Counseling programs), California State University Fullerton (Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice program), Antioch University (Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology program), and Pepperdine University (Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology program). She is a member of the ISSTD, International Traumatic Stress Society, American Psychological Association, and the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. Muché recently presented on incarceration trauma at the 2024 Forensic Mental Health Association of California conference and is scheduled to present on sex trafficking at the Institute on Violence, Abuse, and Trauma fall conference.

Available Credit

  • 1.50 APA
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
  • 1.50 ASWB ACE
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD), #1744, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 08/20/2024 – 08/20/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 1.50 continuing education credits.
  • 1.50 ISSTD Certificate Program
    This program is eligible for 1.50 credits in the ISSTD Certificate Program. No certificate of completion is generated for this type of credit.
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Early registration ends September 30, 2024 at 5:00 PM US Eastern Time. Prices will increase for emerging professional and professional/retired rates at that time by $50. 

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Available Discounts
These prices are for Tier I countries. For a list of countries by Tier click here. If you are located in a country that falls into Tier II-VI please contact ISSTD at [email protected] to receive the appropriate discount code. 
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Cancellation Policy
Cancellations must be received in writing via email or fax. A processing fee of $45 will be charged for cancellations received on or before Friday, October 25, 2024 at 5:00 PM ET. No refunds will be issued for no-shows. Refund requests will not be accepted after October 25, 2024. Not all requests will be granted. Substitutions for attendees are accepted until November 1, 2024.

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ISSTD is fully committed to conducting all activities in strict conformation with the APA and ASWB grievance procedures.

During this conference, conference organizers, presenters and staff will address any concerns that arise. Every effort will be made to address the concerns during the conference when possible. If these individuals are unable to address the participant’s concerns, the complaints and grievances shall be presented in writing to ISSTD Headquarters at [email protected]. These will be forwarded on for review by the Virtual and Regional Conference Committee.

Social Workers: Should social workers have a specific grievance, these grievances will be addressed by D. Michael Coy, LICSW. In situations where the social worker would have a conflict of interest, then, Christine Forner, MSW will review the grievance.

ISSTD strives to resolve grievances in a manner that is in the best interest of the participant. All complaints and grievances are reviewed within 5 working days. Formal grievances are required to be written and emailed as directed above and will be responded to within 15 business days.

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