Trauma Informed Biographical Timelines

Rachel shares her thoughts on asking the question: What happened to you? when supporting someone along their healing journey, and how that might reveal a different lens for what "help" looks like along a person's healing journey. Rachel Sorg is a Wraparound Coordinator for Clermont County Family and Children First

In this episode on Trauma Informed Biographical Timelines, Mary walks through the process of a timeline - and the research she's done that has helped evolve the process to focus on resilience.  Mary Vicario, LPCC-S is the Founder of Finding Hope Consulting and a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor Supervisor, Certified Trauma Specialist who holds a Certificate in Traumatic Studies from Bessel van der Kolk’s Trauma Center at the Justice Resource Institute. Through her affiliation with the Jean Baker Miller Training Institute at Wellesley College and ongoing training at Harvard Medical School, Mary translates Relational-Cultural Theory (RCT) and neuroscience into in-home and community-based trauma programming to build resilience and improve stability for individuals of all ages and ability levels. Mary began her career as an elementary educator in Montessori and traditional schools, moved into school counseling and then into agency work specializing in trauma survivors. During her 30 years of experience, she has been a People to People counseling delegate to China and Mongolia and an international guest lecturer at universities and a conference on human trafficking in Germany.  She has been part of several Strong Families, Safe Communities Grants through the Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Services (OMHAS) and the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (ODODD) to further develop trauma informed curricula and link trauma informed communities in Ohio. She has also been active in the clinical implementation of several Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grants. 

One of the most important pieces of a Trauma Informed Biographical Timeline is uncovering the hidden resilience a person has demonstrated over a lifetime. In part one of this episode with Mary Vicario, she explains the research and stories behind the Five Resilience Factors, and how to understand how these factors are founded in neuroscience.  Mary Vicario, LPCC-S is the Founder of Finding Hope Consulting and a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor Supervisor, Certified Trauma Specialist who holds a Certificate in Traumatic Studies from Bessel van der Kolk’s Trauma Center at the Justice Resource Institute. Through her affiliation with the Jean Baker Miller Training Institute at Wellesley College and ongoing training at Harvard Medical School, Mary translates Relational-Cultural Theory (RCT) and neuroscience into in-home and community-based trauma programming to build resilience and improve stability for individuals of all ages and ability levels. Mary began her career as an elementary educator in Montessori and traditional schools, moved into school counseling and then into agency work specializing in trauma survivors. During her 30 years of experience, she has been a People to People counseling delegate to China and Mongolia and an international guest lecturer at universities and a conference on human trafficking in Germany.  She has been part of several Strong Families, Safe Communities Grants through the Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Services (OMHAS) and the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (ODODD) to further develop trauma informed curricula and link trauma informed communities in Ohio. She has also been active in the clinical implementation of several Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grants. 

Dean shares his experience with when timelines can go south, and how to keep in mind a person's perspective around trauma, as it relates to their perception.  T. Dean Swartz has worked in the disabilities field since 1985, in both the county and state systems.  He has experience in recreation; residential; educational and vocational/day habilitation settings.  During his time in the field, Dean co-developed the CORE values approach at the Clermont County Board of DD, as well as the SURE crisis de-escalation program.  Dean is an accomplished teacher/trainer on topics such as: ASD, Behavior, Trauma Responsive Care, Person-Centered Planning, Crisis Intervention, the Sanctuary Model, Direct Service Provision, and Disability Awareness.  He is certified as a Service and Support Administrator with DODD and has his Trauma Responsive Care certification through the Tristate Trauma Network. Dean presently works for the Clermont County Board of DD, as a Behavior Support Specialist, as well as a contractor with the Academy for Direct Support Professionals.  He participates in the Sanctuary Model of trauma informed care as a Steering Committee member, Core Team member and trainer/facilitator. Dean has been a participant in the Resilience Project for over five years, representing Clermont County Board of DD on interdisciplinary teams. He has completed a M.Ed. with a focus on Autism Education. 

Ilea talks about her role walking alongside families in the timeline process, from preparing them ahead of time, to supporting them during the timeline and following up after. She also answers the question - are timelines worth doing? Shared ownership Ilea Scott is a unique addition to the Peer Support Partners at Families Connected of Clermont County working in the Resilience Project. Her history with trauma provides her with a deep sense of empathy and compassion for the families she supports, as well as a firm belief that individuals and families can not only survive, but also thrive when given the appropriate support and interventions. Ilea is particularly passionate about the "why" of trauma and the deep insights that neuroscience is providing to these difficult questions. Although, Ilea has a background in business and contracts, she is pursuing higher education in psychology along with certification in Trauma Responsive Care through the Tri-State Trauma Network. She is currently exploring the trauma responsive application of yoga, mindfulness, meditation, and prayer in her own life and those of the families she supports. 

As a facilitator, David thinks that getting everyone on the same page, and continuing to meet regularly after the timeline as a team, is one of the most transformative outcomes of the process. David Long is a Behavior Support Specialist for Hamilton County Developmental Disabilities Services

Jo talks about the evolution of timelines, beginning with her first experiences facilitating timelines for people who were leaving state run institutions. She also reflects on the evolution that teams go through during the process, as often people will realize that what they were doing to support someone might have been the best they knew at the time, but now they know better. Jo Krippenstapel offers facilitation, consultation, and training focused on enhancing quality lives for individuals, more responsive organizations, and richer community life. She has worked as an independent consultant for over 25 years. She facilitates conversations among people served by human services, families, and staff in order to support teams of people to learn and take action together. She helps organizations engage in planning that strengthens capacity to identify and act on the vision and mission. Her life path has been strongly influenced by the experience of growing up as one of seven children, the oldest of whom has significant disabilities.  The commitment of her parents to create a full life of participation and belonging for her brother continue to inspire her to this day. Jo has lived and worked in five states – offering her the opportunity to learn from and work many leaders in disability services. She now lives in Bellevue, Kentucky, near Cincinnati, Ohio where she works and is involved as a citizen in several community building efforts. Jo can be reached at JoKripp@cs.com.

Sarah talks about screwing up as a facilitator of Trauma Informed Biographical Timelines, and what she has learned about being intentional before, during, and after a timeline to make for the best outcome. Sarah Buffie MSW, LSW, founding director of Soul Bird Consulting believes that nothing has the power to heal like supportive relationships. Specializing in trauma responsive care, she helps organizations and individuals disrupt current models of thinking by building empathy and understanding around the effects of trauma.  Sarah has worked in community organizing- specifically, Asset Based Community Development, for over a decade and has a deep passion for her work. Her focus is to spread awareness about how trauma affects the brain and body, and teach effective approaches for developing resilience within the people organizations strive to serve, and the people closest to the work: caregivers and direct providers.  Sarah received her Masters in Social Work from Northern Kentucky University with a focus in trauma, positive psychology, and mindfulness. With years working closely in her Cincinnati community through her Americorps service as well as abroad with her Peace Corps service in Namibia, Africa, Sarah brings a unique community building lens to her work. 

Maggie talks about how she prepares herself for a Timeline, so she can be present. She also talks about the transformation timelines have taken her on, flipping what she thought was her role in the system - on its head. Maggie Center has been the Resiliency Care Manager with Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services for the past two years of the Resilience Project. Her professional background is  rooted in offering trauma responsive care, from her Bachelor’s of Science degrees in Human Development and Family Studies/Women’s Studies from Colorado State University to community based healing opportunities with Denver Colorado’s sexual assault prevention and care center, RAAP, and most recently with the Resilience Project, supporting underserved teens to  young adults with co-occurring diagnoses and complex trauma histories. With two of her great passions being creating art and the practice of yoga, Maggie’s work has impacted the Resilience Project by using movement and pictures to grow participant’s abilities to respond to what has happened to them without the pressure that can arise in traditional therapeutic settings.

In this episode you'll hear from Kimi, who facilitates Biographical Timelines as part of her role. She shares her ideas for helping the entire group participate, and what expectations to let go of as a facilitator. Kimi Remenyi is the Behavior Support Supervisor for Hamilton County Developmental Disabilities Services. She is the county board representative for the Resilience Project and responsible for coordination of referrals and program participation for the agency. Kimi has a rich history serving individuals with severe and intensive behavioral support needs and trauma histories. Currently in school to get her Masters of Psychology in Applied Behaivor Analysis, Kimi is passionate about blending traditional behavioral psychology with trauma informed care practices to provide innovative resilience building strategies to those she supports. Kimi attends all leadership meetings for the Resilience Project and is an active part of the planning group this year.