Discover the Community Resiliency Model (CRM)
“Resiliency is the ability to identify and use individual and collective strengths to live fully in the present moment and to thrive while managing the tasks of daily living.” – Elaine Miller Karas, Executive Director and co founder of the Trauma Resource Institute.
Many people have experienced some form of trauma in their lifetime,with the actual trauma of birth being the first. Falls, accidents, injuries, surgery, abuse, PTSD are all worthy of inclusion in a long list of trauma. We all have the potential to learn from trauma but the process of healing and gaining greater resiliency can be challenging The process begins with the individual and may include family members and friends. The Community Resiliency Model provides a framework with which to begin the process.
Trauma may happen in a moment but the consequences ripple through time. The unhealed effects of any overwhelming experience may come from a number of causes, but the common thread is the invisible weight shouldered by a person, their family and the community that surrounds them. When left unresolved, trauma can inflict great damage throughout.
Antonia Nelson teaches individuals and community members who are dealing with the effects of trauma how to utilize the Community Resiliency Model. This set of wellness skills can help to return the nervous system to a state of balance, and can be used for self care, shared with family members and with a person’s wider social network.
Trauma affects every aspect of our lives. Symptoms of traumatic stress can occur immediately following an event or may take months or even years before symptoms appear. Trauma is recognized as “a biological reaction resulting from extraordinary life experiences.” The Community Resilience Model develops our skills to face challenging times with greater calm and intelligence. We use these skills to become more resilient and help heal the wounds that prevent us from making good choices, having clear judgement and greater compassion for ourselves and others.
“Many people who have experienced trauma never seek therapy,” says Elaine Miller Karas. “We need more portals within the public health system to address the needs of those who have trauma related symptoms. It is time to bring relief to large groups of trauma affected people.”
CRM information was developed to as an aid to health professionals as well as lay people, to help the wider community with very simple easy to learn skills that include:
- Increase in resiliency
- Decrease in debilitating effects of traumatic stress
- Calming the nervous system
- Increasing compassion for self and others
- increasing health and wellbeing