Corrections_Today_May_June_2020_Vol.82_No.3

n Correctional Health

The linchpin of Amethyst is community and peer support. The program length of stay is 18 months on the average, which is significantly longer than most other treatment programs in Ohio. Clients advance through phases of the program by demonstrating skill acquisi- tion and accomplishing treatment and personal goals. As women gain more stability and sobriety, they extend their hands and hearts to help support other women on their journey. Seeing a peer overcome trauma and tackle addic- tion is oftentimes the inspiration needed by women who are still struggling. The power of a trauma informed, effective treatment program for women can best be described with the story of an Amethyst success story: Sexually and physically abused by her step- father and forced from her home by her mother at the age of 15, Rachel began her descent into drug addiction as an escape from her trauma and to cope with her emotional pain. Through the years, she was convicted of felony burglary, was in and out of jails and treatment programs. She even- tually lost custody of her four young girls and wound up living in in a homeless shelter. Rachel was referred to Amethyst. With the help of Am- ethyst, Rachel has been sober for four years, lives with her beautiful daughters in her own apart- ment, and is in college studying to be a trauma counselor.

traumatic for another. It is important to understand how the inmate processed or perceived the trauma(s) and how influences inside of them and influences in their environ- ment may have impacted their feelings and behaviors. The defining factor that separates a traumatic experi- ence from a distressing one is a perception of a threat to survival of self or a loved one. 17 So, the death of a loved one can be a very distressing event but it would not add to the perception of survival or threat to someone’s safety as would be witnessing a murder. As another example, it would be distressing to know your parent was beaten by a significant other. It would be traumatic to be there and witness the event. Factors that can increase the impact of trauma can be: 1. The age when the major traumas occurred, realizing the younger someone is when they have been seri- ously traumatized, the more lasting the effects. 2. When someone is traumatized, if they are not believed or they are silenced, this can add to very distressing, disturbing memories and even can be a form of re-traumatization. Being a young child and abused by someone close to you but not believed could easily break the spirit. 3. If the perpetrator of the trauma is a very trusted caregiver, feelings of betrayal are paramount and this violation of trust “cuts deep like a knife.” A person’s whole world can become very unsafe and fearful. 4. Another factor that can affect the impact of trauma is the self-blaming and/or shaming that takes place as a victim. This shaming can become very toxic and make the victim feel not only did something bad happen to them but “they are bad.” Part of recovery is educating survivors on how some of these factors can impact the way they feel about them- selves over the years and how trauma has impacted their current life situation. These are often issues for counsel- ing and/or group work but education is a great starting point for someone to start feeling some hope and that they are not alone in trauma recovery. Men seem to have a much harder time discussing and embracing how what has happened in the past can

It is important to realize that the same types of trauma can be experienced very differently depending on the individual.

Conceptualizing trauma It is important to realize that the same types of trauma can be experienced very differently depending on the individual. What is traumatic for one inmate may not be

60 — May/June 2020 Corrections Today