Exploring Trauma: Brief Intervention for Men

“Stephanie Covington has written a wonderful guide to a brief trauma intervention for men. In six jam-packed sessions, she covers most of the essential elements in much longer approaches. And this is not just an adaptation of her brief Woman and Trauma curriculum (though she has judiciously chosen to keep sections of that intervention that are as applicable to men as to women). Her real triumph in Exploring Trauma is in rewriting the sections that are specifically devoted to men's experiences. By drawing on the same relational focus that has characterized her work on women, she sheds real light on the importance of relationships in men's lives. She touches on the centrality of healthy boundaries and relationships for men as well as the power of dealing more effectively with guilt, anger, and shame. Dr. Covington maintains throughout this work a positive approach that will bolster men's strengths and their resilience as they come to terms with the impact of adversity, toxic stress, and trauma in their lives.”

Roger D. Fallot, Ph.D. Independent Consultant in Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care and adjunct faculty, Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry

"Finally, a practical, useful, clear, trauma-informed workbook to guide facilitators in creating groups for men. Covington and Rodriquez compassionately address the ways in which a man’s previous personal history with trauma can become transformed into his own abusive behavior of others, connections that are vital if the man is to make significant change. As participants work through the material, they will learn practical ways to reclaim their own sense of safety, manage distress, and build healthier relationships."

Sandra L. Bloom, M.D., Associate Professor, Health Management & Policy, School of Public Health, Drexel University and Author of Sanctuary Model

“Today, there can be no question that many men in prison and jail have themselves been affected by trauma. For too long society has treated all prisoners as alike, and as the predatory transgressor. We know now that approach has failed to reverse the criminal arc of most released prisoners' lives. Exploring Trauma provides the critical means to address trauma in all its forms in the prison and community supervision setting. It is accessible and adaptable and lends itself to small group interactions that are likely to be useful in prisons, jails, and probation and parole agencies. It is an important tool in the belt and should be used widely by corrections agencies"

Martin F. Horn is Distinguished Lecturer at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. Previously he served as Commissioner of Correction and Probation of the City of New York and as Secretary of Corrections for the State of Pennsylvania

“In keeping with her groundbreaking role in integrating the treatment of trauma and addictions and providing gender-specific and gender-responsive programs, Dr. Stephanie Covington has done it again. Her new facilitator’s guide, Exploring Trauma: A Brief Intervention for Men is a comprehensive resource for conducting a short term group treatment for men. It is highly practical and references up to date information regarding male survivors. It is also very descriptive and supports the group leaders and members over the course of the group. A welcome new resource!!.”

Christine A. Courtois, PhD, ABPP
Psychologist, Independent Practice, Washington, DC
Author, It’s Not You, It’s What Happened to You; Healing the Incest Wound; and Treating Complex Trauma: A Sequenced, Relationship-based Approach (with Julian Ford, PhD)

“This is a ground-breaking, inspiring guide to working successfully with men's trauma. Based on solid sholarship and decades of the author's' experience with men and women, it is both wise and practical, easily-employed and much-needed. An essential guide for healing.”

Samuel Shem, M.D., D.Phil., author of The House of God, The Spirit of the Place, and Bill W. and Dr. Bob

"Exploring Trauma: A Brief Intervention for Men, by Stephanie Covington and Roberto Rodriguez, is a marvelous plain-speak addition to the field of gender-specific therapies. Building with the evidence-based tools of mindfulness, and Cognitive-Behavioral techniques, this six session group format is pragmatic, accessible, and creative. It will be a welcome addition to the seasoned clinician's shelf--and treatment room--as well as for less experienced practitioners who will appreciate, and benefit from, it's nothing-left-to-chance format."

Charles Atkins, MD author of CO-OCCURRING; THE ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT OF CO-OCCURRING SUBSTANCE USE AND MENTAL DISORDERS

“This is a ground-breaking, inspiring guide to working successfully with men's trauma. Based on solid sholarship and decades of the author's' experience with men and women, it is both wise and practical, easily-employed and much-needed. An essential guide for healing.Dr. Stephanie Covington has created another impressive, evidence based program for men. Exploring Trauma is an adaptable, brief and effective approach to helping men recover in the context of relational and developmental trauma and in an eminently gender responsive manner. This program starts from the position that our world is being ravaged by the outward effects of unresolved and unacknowledged trauma. Our systems of care are impacted greatly by the effects of such overwhelming and unacknowledged trauma. But, Dr. Covington and co-author Roberto Rodriquez understand the challenges males face in a system of care that fails to acknowledge the impact of developmental trauma and gender biases. This curriculum seeks to bring change, offer a sound solution, and deliver on the promise of hope made – “The journey from surviving to thriving also begins when men realize there is hope and that they often possess untapped strength and resilience”. I find it reassuring that there are advocates and experts among us, like Dr. Covington and her colleague Roberto Rodriquez, who care enough to take on this tough work and tirelessly push back against the status quo. “To help men begin to recover from the effects of trauma, and to help them find ways to grow; to build resilience; to experience life more fully; and to engage in deeper, more meaningful relationships.” A program that achieves this aim will help our systems of care and our world be safer, more evolved places to heal and to call home. I am proud to say CeDAR played a small part in helping to bring this curriculum to the field and humbled to consider Dr. Covington a friend and ally in this work.”

Steven Millette, LMHC, LAC
Executive Director, The Center for Dependency, Addiction and Rehabilitation (CeDAR) at the University of Colorado Hospital