Trauma Management Programs
OMID’s interactive trauma management department offers young women the tools and resources to understand and address the impact of trauma, promotes mental health and well-being, enhances self-regulation skills, and empowers individuals to break the cycle of trauma and abuse. We prepare participants for lifelong emotional health and well-being. Our programs in this department include skills-based workshops, social-emotional learning, therapeutic and somatic trauma groups, psychoeducation, and art therapy workshops.
The Decider:
We have selected The Decider Skills program to assist individuals, teachers, and families who have been affected by crises or for those living in high stress environments. This program has transformed complex psychological theories into efficient skills that are both memorable and engaging. The Decider Skills use role-play, props, imagery, and music in a creative and enjoyable way, making it simple to learn and teach in person or in virtual settings. This method is also very beneficial for children and those who are in traumatic situations. With The Decider Skills, clients can face life challenges, make sense of problems, make positive changes in how they think and react, tolerate distress, be more mindful, manage emotions, improve communication and relationships, and increase resilience and well-being.
Beyong Anger:
Beyong Anger and Violence is a transformative program for women to explore and address the root causes of anger and emotional distress. In a safe and supportive environment, participants engage in interactive exercises, group discussions, and self-reflection to identify triggers and develop healthier coping mechanisms. The workshop empowers women to express their emotions, build resilience, and cultivate inner peace.
Created by Stephanie Covington, Beyong Anger & Violence is a comprehensive, evidence-based curriculum for women in different community settings such as substance abuse programs, (domestic violence) shelters, and mental health clinics. Covington, known for her numerous gender-sensitive and trauma-informed programs, designed this 42-hour (21-session program) intervention to use psychoeducation, mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral restructuring, and grounding skills to address anger and trauma.
TARGET: Trauma Affect Regulation Guide for Education and Therapy
TARGET is a strengths-based, trauma-focused psychotherapy for adolescents and adults suffering from PTSD. It supports survivors of physical, sexual, psychological, and emotional trauma by teaching skills to process and manage trauma-related reactions such as PTSD symptoms, traumatic grief, survivor guilt, and shame. The primary goal is to help individuals regulate intense emotions and gain control over posttraumatic stress responses.
TARGET provides a comprehensive framework for understanding and managing trauma memories and emotional dysregulation, emphasizing core values, hopes, resilience, and strengths. Combining cognitive-behavioral therapy and self/relational models, it guides clients in regulating emotions and solving social problems while maintaining sobriety. The program introduces a seven-step skill sequence, summarized by the acronym FREEDOM: Focus (reduce anxiety and increase alertness), Recognize (identify specific stress triggers), Emotions (identify primary feelings), Evaluate (assess main thoughts and self-statements), Define (determine and define personal goals), Option (identify successful steps toward goals), and Make a Contribution (recognize actions that reflect core values and positively impact others). These skills help trauma survivors manage extreme emotional states, handle intrusive trauma memories, promote self-efficacy, and achieve lasting recovery.
T4:
T4 is a 4-step procedure designed to help young people and their families slow down and regulate stress reactions and preoperative thinking. Through teaching, debriefing, and monitoring compliance, participants learn how to use the T4 steps to help youth and families transition from reactive to victim mode.
Somatic:
Our somatic programs are anchored in the understanding of embodiment, exploring how the body embodies deeply painful experiences. Through mind-body healing techniques, these programs facilitate trauma recovery by integrating the physical and emotional aspects of healing. Somatic practices prioritize present-moment awareness, assisting participants in managing an overactive nervous system and navigating their current relationships and daily life with greater ease and resilience.
From the very first session, participants are equipped with practical tools designed to foster a deeper connection with their bodies and to soothe their nervous systems. These accessible tools empower individuals to manage stress proactively, promoting overall well-being regardless of their previous experience with practices such as yoga.
Our somatic programs are trauma-responsive, designed to be inclusive and suitable for everyone, irrespective of their trauma history. Participation in these sessions has demonstrated significant reductions in symptoms associated with depression, anxiety, and PTSD, alongside cultivating a stronger sense of self-compassion.
TIMBO: Trauma-Informed Mind-Body:
TIMBo stands as a cornerstone of our somatic offerings. Specifically tailored for women who have experienced trauma, TIMBo integrates mindfulness, yoga, and group processing to cultivate emotional regulation, self-awareness, and resilience. Grounding, breathing exercises, mindful movement, and emotional awareness are central components of TIMBo, enabling participants to recognize and manage their physiological and emotional responses to stress and trauma effectively.
Key benefits of our programs include enhanced emotional regulation, fostering self-compassion, and promoting effective nervous system management. These benefits are underpinned by straightforward and adaptable practices that can be integrated into various settings, ensuring accessibility for all participants.
Ultimately, our somatic and TiMBo programs are designed to empower women by equipping them with the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate their trauma and lead healthier, more balanced lives. Rooted in evidence-based approaches, we strive to support the mental health and well-being of all participants, nurturing resilience and self-compassion in the face of life’s adversities.
CRM: Community Resiliency Mode:
CRM teaches essential skills that women can use to support themselves and their communities. It emphasizes that humans respond to stress and trauma in similar ways and are inherently resilient, meaning they can recover and thrive after difficult experiences. This biological reaction to trauma, such as the loss or threat to life, is common across humanity and is not a sign of weakness.
We chose the CRM for its six core wellness skills: Tracking, Grounding, Resourcing, Gesturing, Shift & Stay, and Help Now! These skills help bring the body, mind, and spirit back into balance, even amid chaos and ongoing trauma. CRM is a universal practice suitable for anyone experiencing stress or trauma, regardless of age or background. It recognizes stress and trauma as biological responses to adverse experiences and provides tools to increase resilience and develop inner resources.
CRM also enhances clinicians’ approaches to treatment, offering additional tools to support individuals and families through stress or trauma. It encourages clinicians to use invitational rather than directional language and to guide individuals to focus on sensations of well-being in the present moment.
By promoting a shared understanding of trauma’s impact on the nervous system and teaching skills to restore resilience, CRM empowers individuals, families, and clinicians. Providing access to evidence-based programs like CRM supports the mental health and well-being of girls in Iran and helps build stronger, more resilient communities.
The zones of regulation:
The Zones of Regulation program helps individuals develop self-regulation and emotional control by teaching them to identify and manage their emotions effectively. It categorizes emotional states into four colored zones: Blue (low states of alertness like sadness or fatigue), Green (optimal state of alertness such as calmness and focus), Yellow (heightened state of alertness like anxiety or excitement), and Red (extremely heightened state of alertness such as anger or panic). Participants learn to recognize their emotions, understand triggers, and apply strategies to move between zones effectively, promoting better emotional and behavioral regulation. This program is particularly appropriate for the young women we serve, as its structured and visual approach can be easily adapted to different cultural contexts, and applied with ease. The program’s focus on self-regulation and emotional control empowers Persian-speaking young women to manage their emotions and stress, empowering them to build a supportive community that can provide connections and promote healing.
CMBM: Center for Mind-Body Medicine:
The CMBM program is an integral part of our offerings at OMID because it provides a structured and effective approach to integrating mind-body techniques into trauma recovery and holistic wellness practices. CMBM’s approach includes mindfulness, meditation, guided imagery, and other somatic practices aimed at fostering healing and resilience. Over the years, CMBM’s programs have reached numerous countries, spanning diverse cultural and socioeconomic contexts. Their approach has been implemented in conflict zones, disaster areas, underserved communities, and healthcare settings worldwide, making a significant impact in promoting healing, resilience, and well-being through accessible and effective mind-body practices.
At OMID, we recognize the profound impact of trauma on individuals and communities, especially in contexts where children and adults face ongoing challenges. The CMBM program equips participants with practical skills to manage stress, regulate emotions, and enhance overall well-being. This approach not only supports immediate relief from symptoms associated with trauma but also promotes long-term healing by addressing the underlying psychological and physiological effects.
By offering CMBM programs, we ensure that our participants receive evidence-based tools and resources validated by decades of research and practice in diverse settings worldwide. This aligns with our commitment to providing trauma-informed care that empowers individuals to heal and thrive, fostering a community of resilience and empowerment at OMID.
Voices:
The Voices program stands out in our trauma management offerings as it is specifically designed to meet the unique needs of adolescent girls and young women. This program provides a supportive environment aimed at guiding participants through their journeys of self-discovery and healing. Key components of the Voices curriculum include modules on self-awareness, building social connections, promoting healthy living practices, and planning for the future. Importantly, Voices addresses contemporary challenges faced by young women such as bullying, social media pressures, early puberty, gender exploration, human trafficking, and substance abuse.
Rooted in gender-responsive principles, the Voices curriculum adopts a strength-based approach that integrates a variety of therapeutic methods. These include psychoeducation, cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques, mindfulness practices, body-oriented approaches, and expressive arts. This multifaceted approach ensures that participants receive comprehensive support tailored to their individual needs and experiences.
The Voices facilitator’s guide serves as a comprehensive resource, providing background information on young women’s developmental needs, gender-responsive principles, and the program’s theoretical foundation. It includes practical guidance for conducting group sessions, outlining session structures, content, required materials, and incorporating trauma-sensitive yoga exercises. This guide not only supports effective program implementation but also facilitates the training of staff members working directly with adolescent girls and young women, ensuring consistent and impactful delivery of the Voices program.
Acting:
Acting, drama, and creative writing classes offer powerful tools for impacting trauma and facilitating healing through creative expression. These classes cover a spectrum of techniques including acting skills, character development, improvisation, elements of voice and movement, and creative writing exercises. Students engage in activities that encourage emotional exploration, providing a safe space to process and communicate their experiences indirectly yet effectively. Through regular feedback, discussions, and collaborative exercises, participants not only refine their artistic abilities but also build self-confidence and resilience. Creative writing, in particular, allows young women to explore their thoughts and emotions in a strength-based manner, empowering them to articulate their narratives and find healing through storytelling. These classes provide a transformative platform for individuals to navigate trauma, foster empathy, and reclaim their voices in a supportive community setting.
Drawing:
Our drawing and art program is designed to provide participants with a therapeutic outlet to explore and express their emotions, particularly in relation to past traumatic experiences. Through this program, participants are introduced to a variety of artistic techniques and mediums, allowing them to find unique ways to communicate their thoughts and feelings visually. This creative process not only fosters self-expression but also helps individuals develop coping mechanisms and emotional regulation skills.
The therapeutic impact of our drawing program lies in its ability to create a safe and guided environment where participants can unconsciously open up and delve into their inner worlds. Artistic expression often bypasses verbal communication barriers, enabling individuals to articulate complex emotions and experiences that may be difficult to express in words alone. This process of externalizing inner turmoil through art can promote healing by providing a tangible means to process and release trauma.
Moreover, our drawing program goes beyond therapeutic benefits to also focus on skill and talent development. Participants receive guidance in fundamental drawing techniques, composition, and the use of various art materials. They have the opportunity to refine their artistic abilities under the mentorship of experienced instructors, nurturing not only their creative expression but also their confidence in their artistic capabilities.
Overall, our drawing and art program is a holistic approach to trauma recovery, integrating therapeutic benefits with skill development. By encouraging participants to explore their creativity and emotions through art, we empower them to heal, grow, and reclaim their sense of agency in their personal narratives.
