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Social Work with Groups

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The Trauma Recovery Group: A Guide

for Practitioners by Mendelsohn, M.,
Herman, J. L., Schatzow, E., Coco, M.,
Kallivayalil, D., and Levitan, J.
Dana Grossman Leeman

Simmons College School of Social Work , Boston , MA

Published online: 28 Aug 2012.

To cite this article: Dana Grossman Leeman (2012) The Trauma Recovery Group: A Guide for
Practitioners by Mendelsohn, M., Herman, J. L., Schatzow, E., Coco, M., Kallivayalil, D., and Levitan,
J., Social Work with Groups, 35:4, 382-385, DOI: 10.1080/01609513.2011.654328
To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01609513.2011.654328

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Social Work with Groups, 35:382385, 2012

Copyright Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
ISSN: 0160-9513 print/1540-9481 online
DOI: 10.1080/01609513.2011.654328

Book Review

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Mendelsohn, M., Herman, J. L., Schatzow, E., Coco, M., Kallivayalil, D., &
Levitan, J. (2011). The Trauma Recovery Group: A Guide for Practitioners.
New York, NY & London, UK: Guilford Press, 193 pp., $35.00 (paperback).
In 1989 I was a 2nd -year social work intern placed on the inpatient unit at
Cambridge Hospital in Cambridge, MA. On a regular basis, clinicians came to
the unit to provide clinical consultation to the staff and interns. On occasion
I referred clients to the Victims of Violence (VOV) team and had opportunities to confer with Dr. Judith Lewis Herman, as well as Janet Yassen,
Emily Schatzow, and other clinicians on that team. I feel extremely fortunate to have enjoyed these learning opportunities. I remember the clarity
and compassion that they brought to their work. Their collective clinical
approach was infused with feminist, ecological, and systems theories in a
setting where psychodynamic practice was gospel.
The VOV began offering short- and long-term trauma recovery groups
as early as the late 1970s and early 1980slargely the result of Dr. Herman
and Ms. Shatzows practice wisdom and research. One might argue that
the VOV has been doing evidence-based practice for 30 years. Their
experiences, observations, and scholarship are evident in this book.
The Trauma Recovery Group: A Guide for Practitioners (2011) by
Michaela Mendelsohn, Judith Lewis Herman, Emily Schatzow, Melissa Coco,
Diya Kallivayalil, and Jocelyn Levitan provides clinicians with a comprehensive theoretical, conceptual, and practical framework for facilitating
trauma-informed groups, and with a step-by-step manual that guides the
worker from intake and screening, through each group session, to termination. In addition, recommendations for administering the group and
conducting supervision are also proffered.

OVERALL GOALS OF THE TRAUMA RECOVERY GROUP

The authors assert that empowerment is intrinsic to the Trauma Recovery
Group (TRG). Although principally a psychodynamic approach, the TRG
draws from feminist theory and, one might argue, systems theory (the
authors do not attribute this paradigm to their work, but their awareness of
the systemic aspects of violence and oppression savor strongly of ecological
382

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Book Review

383

models that are familiar to social workers). Moreover, an essential ingredient to recovery is an evolving social conscience and strivings toward
social justice through social change efforts. Recovery is not solely focused
on an individual better understanding her own trauma history and deriving
therapeutic benefit for herself through group treatment. Rather, the groupas-a-whole works toward promoting social reform as a way of healing the
social and systemic ills that contribute to the creation of oppression and
trauma. As a social group worker, in my opinion, this is one of the most
compelling aspects of the TRG practitioners guide. Trauma-informed practice requires knowledge of and sensitivities to the social and systemic causes
of violence, particularly as it pertains to women. For group workers, understanding the dynamics of gender, economics and power differences between
men and women, and the additional overlays of race ethnicity, and the
impact of all these factors as contributors to interpersonal and intimate partner violence is essential. Moreover, apprehending the long-term effects of
physical, emotional, sexual, economic, and psychological violence, and the
shame and isolation that stem from of violence is also critical to facilitating
a TRG (p. 13).
TRG provides survivors with a place to practice developing safe and
trusting relationships with themselves and others and in so doing promotes
resilience, increases the group members repertoire of coping skills, and
sense of pride (p. 13). It is within the context of group that members can
experience an ecological bridge to new community (Mendelsohn, Zachary,
& Harney, as cited in the reviewed book, p. 13). Recovery of self in relation
to other is a cornerstone of feminist theory and is fraught with complexities.
TRG forms the basis for not only social connections but also a place to work
toward relational safety and the cultivating of a wider support network.
For many survivors, trauma has led to social isolation, anxious attachments,
and difficulties achieving and/or maintaining intimate connections. TRG is
designed to address these challenges. The trauma-informed group worker
must be cognizant of all of these dynamics and trained to address them.
One of the explicit goals of TRG is mastery over each trauma, which is
achieved, in part through the group members performance of her trauma
narrative within a supportive environment. This can lead to enhanced
insights about the dynamics and impact of trauma, the recovery of choice,
and the development of abilities to cope in ways that enhance ego strengths
and self-concept. It can lead to more fulfilling relationships, and an overall
better quality of life. This is very challenging work, which requires tremendous commitment on the part of the group member and the group worker.
The general goals of the TRG are related to each individual group
members goals (which are present focused) and not an externally defined
curriculum. This differentiates TRG from other evidence-based group work,
which tends to privilege a set curriculum for all group members across
all group cycles (p. 37). The workers functional purpose is to help group

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384

Book Review

members work on their goals, assist members with modulating their emotional arousal during trauma processing, monitoring and containing group
process, and providing psychoeducation as needed by the group (p. 37).
Through process and the creation of a mutual aid system, TRGs endeavor
to relieve shame, promote mastery of traumata, and engender individual
and collective empowerment by helping group members to understand the
social antecedents of violence. Trauma recovery groups are essentially social
justice oriented. In addition, through the modeling of healthy relationships
within the context of interpersonal interactions and the development of safe
attachments, group members strive to integrate past and present memories
and affect through storytelling and meaning making, the development of a
future orientation that includes planning, goal setting, and the creation of
hopefulness for oneself (p. 21).

TRAUMA RECOVERY GROUP: STRUCTURE FOR FACILITATION

Trauma recovery groups run from 10 to 32 weeks. The guide provides
practical suggestions for every phase of group facilitation from intake and
screening, to contracting, as well as how to deal with group members
lateness and absences. The guide divides group sessions into three developmental phases (introductory, middle, and termination phases). Informational
content and activities have been provided for each phase of group
development.
Chapters address the following: the goals and objectives for each session; criteria for group facilitation as well as membership; the pluralistic
use of group time, i.e., sharing of group time by the members during the
group, and the use of group between sessions; case vignettes that exemplify worker functions during screening, contracting, during conflicts, as
exemplars; suggestions for supervision; and finally, variations on a theme,
such as trauma informed mens groups and faith-based or spirituality infused
recovery groups. Furthermore, the authors also recommend ways that TRG
can be integrated into individual therapy.

SIX KEY ELEMENTS OF TRG

There are six key elements to trauma recovery groups that the authors
contend should be present in all trauma recovery groups: first, all TRGs
should be trauma focused, which includes an exploration of traumatic memories, sharing personal stories, and taking responsibility for behaviors and
choices made as survivors; second, TRGs should be time limited; third, they
should be goal oriented with present-focused goals; fourth, TRGs should
be inclusive of all members who give and receive supportive and empathic

Book Review

385

feedback; fifth, trauma recovery groups are meant to be provide a supportive process, and last, TRGs should ideally be cofacilitated. Cofacilitation
teams provide emotional containment and holding, particularly in affectively
charged groups. In addition to these six key elements, the authors assert that
it is critical that facilitators receive regular clinical supervision.

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STRENGTHS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR USE

This workbook is written for clinicians by clinicians. It is an extremely accessible text, and is as much a guide to solid group work practice as it is
anything. Group workers know that for a group to be safe and productive, groups must have clearly articulated purpose and objectives, with rules
and limits that are transparent and have predictable consequences. Effective
groups support content and process, and the worker must strive to balance
response to both. All of this is explicated in this book.
Moreover, the authors have designed a comprehensive collection of
templates that include intake sheets, telephone contact sheets, group
contract, check-ins and check-outs, goal-setting challenges, termination,
supervision, program evaluation, sample recruitment flyers for clients, a full
screening checklist, and a guide to collateral contact with a group members
individual therapist (pp. 157165). In addition, templates for supervision
notes, and a wonderful termination survey called the Members Concluding
Exercise Preparation Sheet (pp. 167, 170) are included. There is also a form
for assessing the efficacy of the group service that may help clinicians engage
in evidence-informed practice, which is intended to help providers made
adjustments to the group, and to their facilitation with a view to improving
its utility for group members.
The Trauma Recovery Group: A Guide for Practitioners is a stellar
resource for social group workers who wish to facilitate trauma-informed
groups. It combines a social action and social justice approach to psychodynamic group psychotherapy, and incorporates the skills and values of mutual
aid. This book is equally at home on the shelves of mental health agencies
that serve trauma survivors, as it is on the syllabi of MSW classes that teach
about trauma and intimate partner violence. It is thorough, thoughtful, and
arguably, one of the finest texts on trauma-informed practice that I have
come across in recent memory.
Dana Grossman Leeman
Simmons College School of Social Work
Boston, MA