Would the TREM Work with Disaster Survivors?

I was recently asked if the #Trauma Recovery and Empowerment Model (TREM) would be advantageous for use with disaster survivors and, honestly, I had never heard of TREM, so I researched this model from three sources: California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare [CEBC] (n.d.), Fallot et al. (2011), and Masin-Moyer et al. (2020).?

From the integrative perspective of a #domesticviolence survivor, researcher, and trauma healing facilitator who takes a transtheoretical approach to working with trauma survivors, I found TREM (Fallot et al., 2011) and its attachment-informed adaptation (ATREM; Masin-Moyer et al., 2020) fascinating, as well as a bit cumbersome logistically. I found the following strengths of the TREM and ATREM: as a domestic violence survivor, the purpose behind the models; as a researcher, the boldness of their complex designs; and as a trauma healing facilitator, the potentiality of their diverse applicability. However, I also felt a bit overloaded with questionnaires and felt more like a pincushion being prodded for what is wrong instead of how to heal moving forward. In my opinion, the TREM and ATREM models are struggling toward an authentic growth-oriented approach, yet are still anchored in a fixed-oriented approach that wants to fix facets of a person rather than heal the unification of a person.?

I also find it unfortunate that from all the assessments used in Fallot et al. (2011) and Masin-Moyer et al. (2020), not one had a #spirituality component; and for all the assessments used, several could have been omitted by using the Emotional Quotient Inventory? 2.0, which tests 15 different emotional-social competencies, e.g., emotional regulation, self-regard, interpersonal relationships, decision making, and levels of hope (Bar-On, 1997; Multi-Health Systems, Inc., 2011). Additionally, neither Fallot et al. (2011) or Masin-Moyer et al. (2020) referenced the seminal work of Dutton and Painter (1993) with domestic violence survivors that looked at the dysfunctional attachment style of #traumabonding; the very group population and associated symptomatology that Fallot et al. (2011) and Masin-Moyer et al. (2020) researched.

Consequently, do I think TREM or even ATREM would be a good model to use with disaster responders? No. TREM is founded in feminist theory specifically for adult women; is a long-term group therapeutic approach; does not give homework; only has materials available in English; and has not been empirically supported across a variety of population demographics (CEBC, n.d.). Plus, there are numerous tried-and-true empirically supported disaster response models readily available!

References

Bar-On, R. (1997).?Bar-On emotional quotient inventory: Technical manual.?Multi-Health Systems, Inc.

California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare (CEBC). (n.d.).?Trauma recovery and empowerment model(TREM). CEBC. Retrieved on April 6, 2023, from?https://www.cebc4cw.org/program/trauma-recovery-and-empowerment-model/detailed

Dutton, D. G., & Painter, S. (1993). Emotional attachments in abusive relationships: A test of traumatic bonding theory.?Violence and Victims,?8(2), 105–120.?https://doi.org/10.1891/0886-6708.8.2.105

Fallot, R. D., McHugo, G. J., Harris, M., & Xie, H. (2011). The trauma recovery and empowerment model: A quasi-experimental effectiveness study.?Journal of Dual Diagnosis,?7(1–2), 74–89.?https://doi.org/10.1080/15504263.2011.566056

Masin-Moyer, M., Engstrom, M., & Solomon, P. (2020). A comparative effectiveness study of a shortened trauma recovery empowerment model and an attachment-informed adaptation.?Violence Against Women,?26(5), 482–504.?https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801219836730

Multi-Health Systems, Inc. (2011).?EQ-i? 2.0 manual. Multi-Health Systems, Inc.