Adult Partial Hospital Trauma Track

While group times, opportunities for individual care, and care coordination remain the same as in General Track, the trauma track is a fully separate specialty track.

The trauma track is grounded in the evidence-based principles of dialectical behavior therapy prolonged exposure (DBT PE). After experiencing trauma, it is natural and common to avoid painful emotions, thoughts, and memories. However, patterns of avoidance often lead to greater emotional suffering and additional unhelpful behaviors, such as withdrawal from important activities and relationships, self-harm, substance abuse, dissociation, and risk taking. DBT PE helps people master skills to cope with intense emotions and PTSD symptoms so they can gradually face feared trauma memories and reminders and live free and meaningful lives.

Treatment progresses through two stages based on individual needs and treatment team recommendations:

• Stage 1 focuses on learning about PTSD and related issues while building coping skills to stabilize unsafe behaviors, reduce avoidance, and prepare for PTSD-focused treatment. All Trauma Track patients start at this stage of treatment.
• Stage 2 consists of prolonged exposure therapy, in which patients face feared trauma memories (imaginal exposures) and situations/reminders (in vivo exposures) with the support and guidance of their treatment teams.

Individuals in the trauma track have experienced a range of traumatic events across their lifetimes, resulting in PTSD. Common events treated in trauma track include, but are not limited to:

• Childhood abuse or neglect
• Sexual assault or abuse
• Intimate partner or community violence
• Refugee/war zone trauma
• Medical trauma
• Accidents (e.g., motor vehicle, workplace)
• Traumatic grief/loss

Common symptoms of posttraumatic stress are:

• Nightmares, flashbacks, or intrusive thoughts about the trauma(s)
• Intense emotional and/or bodily reactions to reminders of traumatic event(s)
• Avoiding thoughts, feelings, and reminders of the trauma(s)
• Feeling jumpy, on edge, being on the lookout for threats, or having trouble sleeping and concentrating
• Persistent feelings of depression, fear/anxiety, or anger
• Feeling numb or detached from positive emotions, interests, and relationships
• Self-blame for the trauma, or feelings of guilt, shame, or worthlessness
• Problems in relationships, including difficulty with trust

Individuals who benefit most from this track also:

• Are ready/willing to discuss trauma and focus on building skills to reduce avoidance and other unhelpful behaviors
• Have determined with their treatment team that trauma/PTSD is their main treatment priority
• Are in a place in life where they are fully able to focus on PTSD
• Are not experiencing imminent risk to physical safety

A referral is required for possible direct admission to Trauma Track. All referrals are reviewed for fit with the track. It is possible to start on the general track if fit is unclear, during which time your team will assess the PHP setting that will best meet your needs. 

Similarly, if you self-refer, you will start in general track to be assessed for fit on intake. If appropriate, providers will discuss options for transfer into the trauma track. Immediate transfer is not guaranteed. 

Support for PTSD and trauma-related disorders can still be provided in the general, BEAR and young adult tracks. 

Individuals in this track often stay for four-to-six-weeks. The length of participation will be discussed with providers and may differ depending on clinical factors, insurance coverage, or external circumstances

See admission criteria for general admission requirements for the adult partial hospital program.

The program runs Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Individual therapy and psychiatry sessions take place at various points throughout the treatment day. Attendance at groups and all individual sessions is expected. See our approach and admission criteria for more information.

7:45 to 8:30 a.m.  - Program Check-in

Check-in group runs via Zoom from 7:45 to 8:30 a.m. All participants must check-in and speak with a support staff to confirm attendance prior to 8:30. Attendance is not required for the duration of this group. 

It is also possible a provider may schedule to meet individually during this time.

8:45 to 9:30 a.m.  - T-TIME: Trauma Track Information, Management, and Exposure Readiness Group

Stages 1 and 2

• Learn about PTSD and trauma-related topics, such as intrusive symptoms, self-blame, relationship difficulties, and avoidance behaviors.
• Link daily topics to DBT, ACT, and CBT skills.

9:45 to 10 a.m. - Optional Meditation Group

Practice mindfulness techniques to help cope with trauma-related symptoms such as anxiety, intrusive thoughts, nightmares, and flashbacks.

10:15 to 11:45 a.m. - DBT Skills and Imaginal Exposure Groups

Stage 1: DBT Skills Group

• Learn and practice DBT skills targeted for PTSD.

Skills include safely managing intense emotions/urges, improving mindfulness, prioritizing self-care, using assertive communication, and balancing acceptance with change when managing challenging thoughts and feelings.

Stage 2: Imaginal Exposure Group 

• Share trauma memories in a safe, supportive group setting with an experienced facilitator.
• Explore and gain new perspectives on traumatic events and the experience of talking about them, as well as the daily impact and meaning of trauma.

11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. - Break/Individual Sessions/Lunch

12:45 to 1:30 p.m. - THRIVE: Trauma Healing and Recovery In Vivo Exposure Group

Stages 1 and 2:

• Identify current avoidance behaviors.
• Identify manageable steps for facing fears to reconnect with meaningful activities and relationships.
• Work together and support other group members to meet daily goals.

1:30 – 2 p.m. - Break/Individual Sessions/Lunch