What is Trauma Informed Care?
Trauma Informed Care (TIC) is intervention that is dictated by the understanding that over stressing
the brain will hinder effective intervention and stop long term change. This model is based in an
advanced understanding of our brains response to stress and specifically addresses our innate survival
responses and many other nervous system variables. A true TIC model involves all levels of care
including training in stress responses for all line staff. At NVW there is an even stronger emphasis in
the clinical trauma training backgrounds of our therapist that are making deep interventions to manage
stress effectively in the field. The TIC model at NVW includes:
Stress Regulation and Over Stimulation Monitoring
• Pre Post Program Stressing Testing
• Individualized Stress Reduction Plans
• Customized and adjusted field operations
Neural and Somatic Stabilization
• Strategic Exercise Regimen Model
• Certified Yoga Body Awareness Programming
• HeartMath Quick Coherence Implementation
Cutting Edge Therapy and Expressive Arts
• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing)
• Brain Spotting
• Traumatic Memory Reprocessing through NLP
• Certified Art Therapist on Staff
Institute of HeartMath Stress Reduction Protocols
• Implementation of Institute of HeartMath Interventions Program
• Training in Quick Coherence, Freeze Frame, and Heart Lock-in Techniques
Mastery Program for Attachment Formulation
• No Level systems
• Collaborative Skills Building Model
• Focuses on Mastery, Accomplishment, and Recognition
• Rites of Passage Experience
Making Wilderness Interventions match our Brains
Wilderness therapy has been in existence for a long time and has proven to be an effective choice for
creating change. Many programs are notorious for using “shock” as their primary avenue to this
change. At NVW we understand that a “shocked” brain can’t retain information, and that “shock”
creates an increase in defenses towards lasting change. Therefore at NVW we carefully access stress
and strategically adjust our interventions to the individual and group. This includes a Stress pre-test of
all our clients with Bio-feedback technology to ensure that clients level of readiness to be challenged
in the field environment. Based upon these readings we are able to individualize the therapeutic
intervention process in order to minimize stress responses and defensive stances leading to a longer
lasting change.
Slowly Increasing Comfort Zones
With our TIC model emphasis we are open to the fact that each of us as individuals have unique life
situations and that our stress responses are equally unique. At NVW we access carefully what each
step of the intervention should look like and we do not shy away from challenge, we just proceed with
caution. We often seek input from the client on the next step in the process and ease our way into
the next stage of immersion or challenge in the wilderness. As stability is reached we increase the
level of challenge to create growth not “shock”.
Real or Perceived Powerlessness
Trauma trained therapists understand that real or perceived powerlessness is the key factor on our
brains shift into trauma responses. Therefore NVW seeks to minimize fear response by maintaining a
“Challenge by Choice” model. This means that input for interventions and challenges is sought by the
client in an effort to have alliance for the span of the challenge. This minimizes the feelings of
powerlessness which leads to a sense of empowerment and inner strength not distress.
Mastery Model
One of the most unique features of NVW’s day to day operations is our Mastery Model. The Mastery
Model dictates our line staffs relationship with our clients through forming an alliance and does not
rely upon authoritarian dictatorship. When the client reaches stability we discuss a Mastery Track
which includes a strengths assessment of the client. We harness each individual’s gifts and interest.
Some examples are a master of survival, a master of artistic ability, spiritual search, creative writing,
somatic mastery, etc. A Mastery plan is completed and our team aligns with the client to help them
achieve incredible levels of skill. The client and the entire group witness the individual’s beauty as a
unique and gifted human being with purpose. This model creates an incredible sense of strength and
leads to a deepened respectful relationship with an adult authority figure.
Clinical Immersion
One of NVW’s strengths resides in its intensity of clinical interventions. A true TIC model needs to
have intensive clinical interventions. We understand that the field environment is a stressed
environment and we have tailored our entire intervention process to this environment. We impact
effectively focusing on advanced neural science of working our way up the brain stem to a state of
overall healing. Most residential treatments and other wilderness programs offer a regime of a
maximum of 2 individual client sessions per week with their client. NVW maintains a regime of 3
individual sessions per week. In addition we have advanced clinicians trained in the most modern,
cutting edge, and evidence based interventions available. We have clinicians in the field 6 days out of
the week affording us the opportunity to intervene with every opportunity the therapeutic window
opens itself. NVW is one of the strongest clinical based interventions available
Trauma Informed Care (TIC) is intervention that is dictated by the understanding that over stressing
the brain will hinder effective intervention and stop long term change. This model is based in an
advanced understanding of our brains response to stress and specifically addresses our innate survival
responses and many other nervous system variables. A true TIC model involves all levels of care
including training in stress responses for all line staff. At NVW there is an even stronger emphasis in
the clinical trauma training backgrounds of our therapist that are making deep interventions to manage
stress effectively in the field. The TIC model at NVW includes:
Stress Regulation and Over Stimulation Monitoring
• Pre Post Program Stressing Testing
• Individualized Stress Reduction Plans
• Customized and adjusted field operations
Neural and Somatic Stabilization
• Strategic Exercise Regimen Model
• Certified Yoga Body Awareness Programming
• HeartMath Quick Coherence Implementation
Cutting Edge Therapy and Expressive Arts
• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing)
• Brain Spotting
• Traumatic Memory Reprocessing through NLP
• Certified Art Therapist on Staff
Institute of HeartMath Stress Reduction Protocols
• Implementation of Institute of HeartMath Interventions Program
• Training in Quick Coherence, Freeze Frame, and Heart Lock-in Techniques
Mastery Program for Attachment Formulation
• No Level systems
• Collaborative Skills Building Model
• Focuses on Mastery, Accomplishment, and Recognition
• Rites of Passage Experience
Making Wilderness Interventions match our Brains
Wilderness therapy has been in existence for a long time and has proven to be an effective choice for
creating change. Many programs are notorious for using “shock” as their primary avenue to this
change. At NVW we understand that a “shocked” brain can’t retain information, and that “shock”
creates an increase in defenses towards lasting change. Therefore at NVW we carefully access stress
and strategically adjust our interventions to the individual and group. This includes a Stress pre-test of
all our clients with Bio-feedback technology to ensure that clients level of readiness to be challenged
in the field environment. Based upon these readings we are able to individualize the therapeutic
intervention process in order to minimize stress responses and defensive stances leading to a longer
lasting change.
Slowly Increasing Comfort Zones
With our TIC model emphasis we are open to the fact that each of us as individuals have unique life
situations and that our stress responses are equally unique. At NVW we access carefully what each
step of the intervention should look like and we do not shy away from challenge, we just proceed with
caution. We often seek input from the client on the next step in the process and ease our way into
the next stage of immersion or challenge in the wilderness. As stability is reached we increase the
level of challenge to create growth not “shock”.
Real or Perceived Powerlessness
Trauma trained therapists understand that real or perceived powerlessness is the key factor on our
brains shift into trauma responses. Therefore NVW seeks to minimize fear response by maintaining a
“Challenge by Choice” model. This means that input for interventions and challenges is sought by the
client in an effort to have alliance for the span of the challenge. This minimizes the feelings of
powerlessness which leads to a sense of empowerment and inner strength not distress.
Mastery Model
One of the most unique features of NVW’s day to day operations is our Mastery Model. The Mastery
Model dictates our line staffs relationship with our clients through forming an alliance and does not
rely upon authoritarian dictatorship. When the client reaches stability we discuss a Mastery Track
which includes a strengths assessment of the client. We harness each individual’s gifts and interest.
Some examples are a master of survival, a master of artistic ability, spiritual search, creative writing,
somatic mastery, etc. A Mastery plan is completed and our team aligns with the client to help them
achieve incredible levels of skill. The client and the entire group witness the individual’s beauty as a
unique and gifted human being with purpose. This model creates an incredible sense of strength and
leads to a deepened respectful relationship with an adult authority figure.
Clinical Immersion
One of NVW’s strengths resides in its intensity of clinical interventions. A true TIC model needs to
have intensive clinical interventions. We understand that the field environment is a stressed
environment and we have tailored our entire intervention process to this environment. We impact
effectively focusing on advanced neural science of working our way up the brain stem to a state of
overall healing. Most residential treatments and other wilderness programs offer a regime of a
maximum of 2 individual client sessions per week with their client. NVW maintains a regime of 3
individual sessions per week. In addition we have advanced clinicians trained in the most modern,
cutting edge, and evidence based interventions available. We have clinicians in the field 6 days out of
the week affording us the opportunity to intervene with every opportunity the therapeutic window
opens itself. NVW is one of the strongest clinical based interventions available
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| What's Trauma Informed Care? |
Therapeutic Outdoor Programs
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| © 2012 New Vision Wilderness, LLC 1580 S. 81st St., Milwaukee, WI 53214 admissions (414) 801-9791 office/fax (414) 744.6288 info@newvisionwilderness.com |
| Call Admissions 414-801-9791 |
| Member National Association of Therapeutic Wilderness Camping |