At the Trauma Resilience and Education Center of Greater Washington, D.C. (TREC DC), we believe in the power of community to drive change, foster resilience, and create lasting impacts. As a collective of psychotherapists, educators, and researchers, we are deeply committed to not only treating trauma but also preventing it through active community engagement and advocacy.
Our outreach efforts are grounded in a philosophy of empowerment, justice, and cultural humility. We actively seek partnerships with organizations and communities that share our commitment to trauma prevention, mental health advocacy, and social justice. By working together, we can provide vital resources, education, and support to those affected by trauma.
Drs. Lea Didion and Lisa Carlin, co-founders of TREC DC, have been vocal advocates for mental health services for victims of gun violence. They testified at the Department of Behavioral Health Budget Hearing in Washington, D.C., advocating for increased funding to ensure that victims receive the mental health care they need.
Dr. Lisa Carlin, in her role as a psychologist and co-founder of TREC DC, has continued to push for greater resources for mental health services for all trauma survivors. Her testimony at the Department of Behavioral Health Budget Hearing emphasized the critical need for comprehensive support for those affected by trauma.
Understanding the profound impact of trauma on young people, Dr. Lea Didion provided a presentation to a local PTA group on the issues of racism and bullying. This presentation was part of our ongoing efforts to address trauma at its roots and equip communities with the tools to support children and adolescents.
In response to incidents of mass violence and terrorism, Dr. Lea Didion led a Facebook Live discussion with affected communities. The discussion focused on how to talk to children about trauma, engage in self-care, and navigate the aftermath of such tragedies with resilience.
Dr. Jess MacIntyre, co-founder of TREC DC, led an insightful discussion with a community experiencing chronic trauma. Her work focused on providing psychoeducation, normalizing trauma responses, and offering resources to access mental health services. This initiative underscores our commitment to supporting communities that are often overlooked and marginalized.
Keynote Address: “When Work Wounds: Addressing Professional Trauma” keynote address by Dr. Didion at the Hidden Wounds of War annual conference
Panel Discussion: Dr. Didion participated in an Accenture BRG panel discussion titled “Demystifying Mental Health in the AAPI Community”
Resilience Talks: “Resilience in and out of the AAPI Community” presented by Dr. Didion to Kohl’s Business Resource Group
Cultural Competence Training: “Cultural Competence in Working with Women Veterans of Color” presented by Drs. Didion and Carlin at the Military Cultural Diversity Symposium
Veteran Support: “Working with Women Veterans” presented by Dr. Carlin at the Veteran’s Symposium
Trauma Education: “PTSD and Trauma: Overview and Treatments” presented by Dr. Peppers and Ms. Emery-Rhowbotham at Marymount University
Veteran Mental Health: “Trauma, PTSD, and Veteran Mental Health” presented by Dr. Didion to Kohl’s Resource Group
The impact on not just an individual but a whole community can be immense. Training for community providers in evidence-based mental health interventions can be limited and costly, and the need for therapy often far outweighs resources.
In my experiences working within a public healthcare system, providers and clients are often put in an untenable position where providers need to focus on access to care and initial risk assessments for triage and crisis services, but are often unable to balance the need for continuity of care in the recommended form of weekly, individual psychotherapy sessions to address symptoms of PTSD and associated disorders. And, the private sector provides limited resources for those that are uninsured or underinsured.
This can lead to long wait times for weekly, affordable therapy without the support of government funding of appropriately staffed public resources.
It should be noted that most studies of the trajectory of PTSD and depressive symptoms show that symptoms get worse without appropriate intervention, which means that longer wait times could result in more complicated sequelae and additional psychosocial burdens that can come with unaddressed mental health symptoms.
From her testimony before the Department of Behavioral Health Budget Hearing in Washington, DC, to advocate for increased funding for mental health treatment for victims of gun violence.
