FAQ

You’ll begin TESD by meeting one-on-one with a licensed mental health professional to discuss your needs, establish a baseline understanding of the process, learn about trauma, trauma activation (“triggering”) and normal neurobiological responses to threat. These sessions help set up expectations and emotional guardrails for the more active group sessions. Additionally, this portion allows you to become comfortable with your therapist and leaves you well prepared for the more active TESD group sessions that follow.

Next is a series of small group sessions facilitated by a TESD certified mental health provider and an additional TESD certified instructor. All participants have indicated that they have experienced some form of traumatic experience, and instructors are well trained to respond to each individual’s needs. ESD techniques are adapted and blended with psychoeducation and basic information to assist with healing.

At the end you will have an opportunity for reflection and closure. Participants have found this process transformational in assisting with healing as well as reassuring to go through this process with other survivors.

We recommend wearing flat shoes and nonrestrictive clothing that allows you to move freely, such as yoga or exercise clothing or street clothing in fabrics that offer some stretch. Please do not wear high heels which can damage gym floors and mats.

Contact genie@thesafetyteam.org for more information about the participation criteria, registration forms, and any fees involved.

Yes! TESD has been shown to help participants heal from many types of trauma—both recent, and those that occurred long ago.

Caroline Sprigg is a licensed mental health counselor and has spent much of her career working with adolescents with trauma histories. She has her own practice, which provides trauma therapy. Caroline is a brown belt in kempo karate.

Christina Allard is a pediatric physical therapist who has worked with children from birth to adulthood.  She has specialized training in trauma and attachment and is a black belt in Kempo Jutitsu.

Dale Henry is a graduate student in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, a mental health technician at the University of Vermont Medical Center, a recovery coach, and a certified TESD instructor.

Dr. Christine DiBlasio is a psychologist and co-founder of The Safety Team. Teen TESD is adapted from the adult TESD model originally developed by Dr. DiBlasio.

The TESD™ program offers individual and small group sessions.  The pacing and materials are tailored for healing.  The TESD™ teaches the basics of neurobiology of trauma and addresses the social and cultural factors that can impact recovery. Embedded in our program is somatic reprocessing. This is a body-based experience that helps resolve traumatic content that is not easily accessed by talk therapy alone. We encourage survivors to take an active role in their healing.

Trauma-responsive practice is an action-oriented approach that applies knowledge of trauma’s impact to create a safe, supportive environment that actively fosters healing, resistance, and empowerment . The Teen & Young Adult program is based on the original TESD, which has been researched and shows improvements in resilience and a reduction in post-traumatic symptoms. TESD utilizes the latest in trauma recovery practices.

Our program is HIPAA compliant. The therapist will only share details with the other instructors that are necessary for the implementation of trauma-responsive group treatment. For example, if a teen has a particular trigger or sensitivity, we will share that with staff to be certain we create a safe learning space. All instructors are bound by HIPAA.

In our group sessions, we do not talk about the details of past trauma, but focus more on how past experiences are impacting participants today. We encourage disclosure or sharing of details within the individual therapy sessions. We take confidentiality seriously and ask the teens to keep their identities, information, and any stories they hear in the course of our program private.  We ask that you, parents and guardians, do the same.

Our program is not a crisis intervention program. We require that teens have already experienced therapeutic intervention and are under the care of a licensed therapist. Participants should not currently be experiencing any abuse either at home, in their work, or in their school environment. Our program is geared to reduce activation and increase feelings of safety and well-being in daily life. Our therapist and staff have experience with activation and crisis intervention. We are mandated reporters and are legally required to report if a client discloses that they are in immediate danger or pose a threat to others.

Therapists and instructors have gone through the Safety Team’s certification programs. Both the therapist and the instructor programs have been created by Dr. Christine DiBlasio, a psychologist with over thirty years of experience treating survivors of sexual trauma.

The primary therapeutic modality used in TESD is somatic reprocessing, which focuses on body-based experience to help move trauma into the parts of the brain where it can be more fully processed.

The program begins with an individual intake session for the participant. These are designed as both a readiness assessment and preparation for group work. There are four 2-hour group sessions. Participants can meet with the therapist for two additional sessions. 

This is a pilot program for Teens and Young Adults.  Many of our adult TESD cohort members have reported a reduction in trauma activation and an increase in confidence and well-being.

We offer free refresher classes monthly.

The program is free with the exception of a $25 deposit that will be refunded upon completion of the program.  We ask that cohort members attend all sessions for their benefit as well as for the benefit of the group. Healing happens in community, and cancellations have an impact on the experience of all cohort members.

Our programs are designed for participants who are emotionally stable and looking to more fully process their traumatic experience. Concerns will be referred back to the participant’s therapist.

Yes, we are an inclusive and affirming organization and welcoming to all.  If you have specific questions or concerns related to diversity and inclusion, please feel free to reach out to us.