ABOUT US
The Northern California EMDR Trauma Recovery Network (NORCAL TRN) is a local affiliate of the national Trauma Recovery Network/Humanitarian Assistance Programs (HAP). We are a trauma volunteer network of highly skilled mental health clinicians who are EMDR Therapy Certified or have completed EMDR Therapy Basic Training (Part 1 and 2 plus 10 hours of consultation) and additional training in EMDR Early Intervention Protocols, such as RTEP, the EMDR Integrated Group Treatment Protocol (EMDR IGTP), and others designed to help prevent PTSD. Assisted by HAP staff, we work in Northern California communities providing short term pro-bono EMDR therapy after a local disaster to appropriate clients. Our goal is to restore a person in crisis to optimum functioning when survival is perceived to be at risk, and to prevent the onset of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
In November 2018 the mountain communities of Paradise and Magalia were devastated by the deadly Camp Fire. The NorCal Trauma Recovery Network activated our members within days to offer pro bono therapy, using social media, brochure distribution, and word-of-mouth to contact those in need. Over a period of nine months, 85 EMDR trained volunteers provided over 500 hours of free therapy to individuals and groups of fire survivors, many of whom were displaced over hundreds of miles from their homes. As part of the response, teams of trainers traveled to the area to train local therapists in EMDR therapy, expanding the network of volunteer providers. For our effort, we were recognized as TRN of the Year for 2019, by Trauma Recovery/HAP.
In November 2018 the mountain communities of Paradise and Magalia were devastated by the deadly Camp Fire. The NorCal Trauma Recovery Network activated our members within days to offer pro bono therapy, using social media, brochure distribution, and word-of-mouth to contact those in need. Over a period of nine months, 85 EMDR trained volunteers provided over 500 hours of free therapy to individuals and groups of fire survivors, many of whom were displaced over hundreds of miles from their homes. As part of the response, teams of trainers traveled to the area to train local therapists in EMDR therapy, expanding the network of volunteer providers. For our effort, we were recognized as TRN of the Year for 2019, by Trauma Recovery/HAP.
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Pennisue M. Hignell, PhD, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and NorCal TRN Facilitator. In an interview by Forrestall Consulting, Dr. Hignell discusses trauma, the role of EMDR in healing, the Humanitarian Assistance Program, and how survivors of the 2018 Camp Fire have been able to receive free trauma services.
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We are committed to help strengthen and support our communities after a natural or man-made disaster. We work with the local first responders such as Police, Fire Department, Red Cross and other agencies to create a network of referrals to local EMDR therapists who will provide EMDR Therapy to help our community recover. Individuals affected by a recent community crisis can access our services through the link to their area on this website.
If you are in need of a therapist during a local disaster, please contact one of our Regional Coordinators for a referral to a local EMDR therapist in your area.
If you are in need of a therapist during a local disaster, please contact one of our Regional Coordinators for a referral to a local EMDR therapist in your area.
what is emdr?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy is a psychotherapy approach for the treatment of trauma. EMDR Therapy was originated and developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro in 1989. Dr. Shapiro, until her death in 2019, was a Senior Research Fellow Emeritus at the Mental Research Institute in Palo Alto, California, Executive Director of the EMDR Institute in Watsonville, CA, and founder and President Emeritus of the Trauma Recovery/EMDR HAP, a non-profit organization that coordinates disaster response and low fee trainings worldwide in addition to local Trauma Recovery Networks (TRN). Over 30 years of empirical research has shown that EMDR is an effective treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Additional information and videos about EMDR Therapy are located under the Resource Center page.
what is a trn?
A TRN is a Trauma Recovery Network organized with the help of HAP staff and local volunteer EMDR therapists. A crucial disaster-recovery strategy involves having a strong mental health team in place before disaster strikes. This is accomplished by creating a network of skilled providers who can immediately respond should one of our communities suffer a natural or man-made disaster. The NORCAL TRN will enlist volunteer TRN members in advance of a disaster and by way of this website and other resources, will help connect the community to TRN volunteers when needed.
history
Trauma Recovery Networks are grass-roots organizations now located nationwide, under the umbrella of the non-profit EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Program (now called NTRN, or National Trauma Recovery Network). Originally volunteers affiliated with the EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Program (HAP) responded to major community emergencies.
EMDR Therapists were on the scene in 1994 in Oklahoma City to help people recover from the trauma of the Oklahoma City bombings.
Internationally HAP volunteers served in earthquakes in Mexico, India, and Turkey, and flooding in Indonesia and Bangladesh. The Indian Ocean tsunami in late 2004 led to HAP projects in Thailand, India and Sri Lanka, and a year later in Indonesia. EMDR trainers and facilitators were most often sent on these missions with the intent to treat survivors and first responders, and then turn to training local clinicians in EMDR.
Two major US disasters, the 9/11/2001 terrorist attack in New York and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, led clinicians to realize that instead of responding to disasters as they occur, it was important to organize in advance to help communities cope with the psychological trauma of a major emergency.
The first chapters of what has developed into the National Trauma Recovery Network were formed in Western Massachusetts and in Minneapolis. The number of chapters has grown across the nation by recruiting local EMDR therapists trained in emergency response EMDR therapy. Local members reach out to emergency management organizations such as first responders, public health agencies, the Red Cross, school districts, and local media, to develop continuing relationships for the referral of victims and first responders who need help in recovering from a traumatic community event. The goal in providing an early response is to prevent PTSD or to mitigate its effects, thereby quickly restoring affected members of the community to effective functioning and health.
Some of the recent emergencies that TRN chapters have helped in their local areas are:
The Yarnell Arizona wildfires
Oklahoma and Alabama tornadoes
San Diego wildfires
Boston Marathon bombing
Hurricane Sandy in NY, NJ, CT
Sandy Hook school shooting, CT
Columbine shooting, CO
Camp Fire in Northern California
EMDR Therapists were on the scene in 1994 in Oklahoma City to help people recover from the trauma of the Oklahoma City bombings.
Internationally HAP volunteers served in earthquakes in Mexico, India, and Turkey, and flooding in Indonesia and Bangladesh. The Indian Ocean tsunami in late 2004 led to HAP projects in Thailand, India and Sri Lanka, and a year later in Indonesia. EMDR trainers and facilitators were most often sent on these missions with the intent to treat survivors and first responders, and then turn to training local clinicians in EMDR.
Two major US disasters, the 9/11/2001 terrorist attack in New York and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, led clinicians to realize that instead of responding to disasters as they occur, it was important to organize in advance to help communities cope with the psychological trauma of a major emergency.
The first chapters of what has developed into the National Trauma Recovery Network were formed in Western Massachusetts and in Minneapolis. The number of chapters has grown across the nation by recruiting local EMDR therapists trained in emergency response EMDR therapy. Local members reach out to emergency management organizations such as first responders, public health agencies, the Red Cross, school districts, and local media, to develop continuing relationships for the referral of victims and first responders who need help in recovering from a traumatic community event. The goal in providing an early response is to prevent PTSD or to mitigate its effects, thereby quickly restoring affected members of the community to effective functioning and health.
Some of the recent emergencies that TRN chapters have helped in their local areas are:
The Yarnell Arizona wildfires
Oklahoma and Alabama tornadoes
San Diego wildfires
Boston Marathon bombing
Hurricane Sandy in NY, NJ, CT
Sandy Hook school shooting, CT
Columbine shooting, CO
Camp Fire in Northern California