The Trauma Relief, Education Assessment and Training team (T.R.E.A.T.) are clinical consultants who work in communities which have experienced short and long term trauma. Our approach is to work with a group of people experiencing difficulties with their personal, family or working lives as a result of past trauma. We provide an opportunity for understanding their experiences and for getting relief from their difficulties. At the same time we train local people as trainers in our "family trauma storytelling" approach, to continue with the work after our departure.

Our first project in 2004 was a successful two week program for Timor Aid in Dili, East Timor. We are available by arrangement for similar projects, inside or outside Australia.

Family Trauma Group Storytelling

Our group approach combines educational and clinical elements. We teach trauma and stress management for both work and personal life. We create a safe space for healing narrations of personal and family trauma experiences to take place, utilising group process and therapeutic interventions in a culturally appropriate manner. The approach is especially well suited to a work or community group in which people may readily develop trust for each other and share past traumas. We work in the language of the group, using highly skilled interpreters.

At the same time we train local workers to continue in this approach.

Each project is underpinned by detailed prior consultation and research, so that the approach developed is uniquely relevant for the group's culture, history and circumstances.

Who are the team?

The two principals have over sixty years experience working with individuals, groups and communities who have experienced stress and trauma, both in Australia and in diverse overseas locations. Both are members of the Australasian Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ASTSS).

Dr Andrew Firestone is an Australian psychiatrist and family therapist with specialist training in transcultural psychiatry. He has been teaching medical students in these skills for many years as an Honorary Senior Lecturer at Monash University, Melbourne as well as in Vellore, India. He is in private practice, with a special interest in working through interpreters, with refugee and other migrant families as well as individuals. He is a consultant psychiatrist for the Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture.

Harlinah Hamer is an Australian psychologist with many years experience in social, clinical and organisational psychology, researching, developing and delivering community and training programmes especially for migrants, refugees and Aboriginal communities, as well as for those working with a multicultural client group, both in Australia and in Indonesia. She has for many years trained others in academic, government and N.G.O. settings in the areas of stress and trauma management.

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