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This section provides the following: How to obtain the Seeking Safety book (including client handouts and clinician guide) Translations of Seeking Safety (Spanish, French and other languages) Tools for implementing Seeking Safety (e.g., videos, Spanish version, poster) Becoming or finding a contact person for Seeking Safety in your area Click to download Key Information about Seeking Safety (2 pages) What is Seeking Safety? Seeking Safety is a present-focused therapy to help people attain safety from trauma/PTSD and substance abuse. The treatment is available as a book, providing both client handouts and guidance for clinicians. The treatment was designed for flexible use. It has been conducted in group and individual format; for women, men, and mixed-gender; using all topics or fewer topics; in a variety of settings (outpatient, inpatient, residential); and for both substance abuse and dependence. It has also been used with people who have a trauma history, but do not meet criteria for PTSD. It was begun in 1992, under grant funding from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. It was developed by Lisa M. Najavits, PhD at Harvard Medical School/McLean Hospital. Seeking Safety consists of 25 topics that can be conducted in any order: Introduction/Case Management, Safety, PTSD: Taking Back Your Power, When Substances Control You, Honesty, Asking for Help, Setting Boundaries in Relationships, Getting Others to Support Your Recovery, Healthy Relationships, Community Resources, Compassion, , Creating Meaning, Discovery, Integrating the Split Self, Recovery Thinking, Taking Good Care of Yourself, Commitment, Respecting Your Time, Coping with Triggers, Self-Nurturing, Red and Green Flags, Detaching from Emotional Pain (Grounding). Life Choices, and Termination. For a brief description of all topics, click here.
The key principles of Seeking Safety are:
1) Safety as the overarching goal (helping clients attain safety in their relationships, thinking, behavior, and emotions). 2) Integrated treatment (working on both PTSD and substance abuse at the same time) 3) A focus on ideals to counteract the loss of ideals in both PTSD and substance abuse 4) Four content areas: cognitive, behavioral, interpersonal, case management 5) Attention to clinician processes (helping clinicians work on countertransference, self-care, and other issues) "This landmark volume presents
a cutting-edge approach to the treatment of patients who depend on drugs to
soothe the pain of PTSD. In stunning detail, Najavits shows how the same
therapist can treat both conditions concurrently. Her kinder and gentler
approach is a welcome change from traditional confrontational
interventions....All therapists attempting to help these patients should
have this book to guide them." "Fabulous! This treatment
manual provides practical, clearly described procedures for treating an
extremely difficult group of clients. The organization of the treatment is
superb. From my perspective, the most important parts of a comprehensive
treatment are here attention to the client's safety, targeting substance use
simultaneously with targeting PTSD, integrating ideals and values (I love
the quotations!), a core of cognitive-behavioral interventions, a focus on
interpersonal relationships, and attention to the needs of the therapist.
Very impressive. Obviously written by an experienced clinician." "As empirically guided
treatment manuals begin to emerge in greater numbers and varying quality,
Najavits maintains an essential and elegant balance between a lucid map of
treatment directions, on the one hand, and the complex dynamics of the
clinical territory on the other. This is a very important work that I highly
recommend for clinicians of every stripe."
The treatment manual is published as a book titled, Seeking Safety: A Treatment Manual for PTSD and Substance Abuse (Guilford Press, New York, 2002). It is 401 pages, and provides client handouts for use in sessions and clinician guidelines for conducting the treatment. The list price is $40, but discounts may be available. It can be ordered from: Note: The client
handouts can be xeroxed for personal use in unlimited fashion (e.g., the
clinician can copy them for any number of clients). However, for
reproducing the handouts in any published electronic or written form or for
any use other than one's own clinical practice,
permission
is needed from Guilford Press. The book can also be ordered from the publisher, Guilford Press (800-365-7006, extension 223). Guilford can send books on a consignment basis: an organization can order books for a conference or other purpose, and if some books are not sold, ship them back to Guilford for full refund. Contact Guilford (Ellen Garretson: 800-365-7006). w Asking for Help (sample interpersonal topic) w Compassion (sample cognitive topic) w Red and Green Flags (sample behavioral topic) w A brief description of all Seeking Safety topics Translations of Seeking Safety Several translations are currently available (those marked by an asterisk below) and others are upcoming.
En Busca de la Securidad (entire Seeking Safety book in Spanish- available now) Estrategias seguras para hacer frente (poster of Safe Coping Skills in Spanish- available now)
À la recherche de la sécurité (entire Seeking Safety book in French- available now)
Finden sicherheit (entire Seeking Safety book in German to be available in late 2008; email info@seekingsafety.org if you would like to be notified when it is available)
We would like to sincerely thank several foreign colleagues, who have been instrumental in making some of the above translations possible. These include: Josée Sénéchal of the Centre de santé Valcartier (Quebec, Canada); Ingo Schäfer, MD of the University of Hamburg (Germany); Madeleine Sköld of Maria Ungdom (Stockholm, Sweden); Hein de Haan, MD and Margreet Jansma of Tactus (Markelo, Netherlands); Tomoko Kiyoshige (Japan); Remos Armaos and Genie Christofolli of Kethea Institute (Athens, Greece); and Jaime Mauricio Fatás Cabeza (translator of the Spanish version).
Note: if you have any suggested changes to any translated version (for accuracy or nuances of the language), please email info@seekingsafety.org -- we welcome your ideas. Copying / Adapting / Reprinting / Translating from Seeking Safety We are delighted to know of your interest in Seeking Safety. Please note that the copyright to the Seeking Safety book is held by Guilford Press. Except for "personal use" (which means an individual clinicians' use of the materials with his/her own clients), permission from them is needed for all other uses. Please see details below. (a) Copying from the Seeking Safety book (e.g., handouts). Guilford Press (who owns the Seeking Safety book copyright) offers the following description of how the book handouts can be copied: "An individual (1 person) can use the handouts without writing for permission. However, a clinic (or agency, program, institution) does not qualify as the 'individual purchaser.' The Limited Photocopy License is quite specific about what can and can not be done. For clinics or multiple users we ask that they write for permission and tell us how many clinicians would use how many books. If it's only 2 or 3 we might approve this at no charge; otherwise we assess a small licensing fee or ask that they purchase additional copies of the book for multiple users. Part of the reasoning is we want clinicians to have all the necessary background information included in the text when using the handouts." For inquiries on this, contact Kathy.Kuehl@guilford.com or 800-365-7006, extension 245. (b) Adaptation / Reprinting. If you are interested in adapting Seeking Safety or reprinting parts of it (beyond personal use), please note the following. If you plan to publish, research, or broadly distribute an adapted version of Seeking Safety, or parts of it (e.g., certain handouts), you will need to obtain written permission from Guilford Press in advance. You can contact Guilford Press (800-365-7006, extension 245), or you can go directly to their page (www.guilford.com, click "permissions"). If you would like Lisa Najavits' assistance in adapting it, please contact info@seekingsafety.org. (c) Translation. There are a variety of options for translation (all of which require advanced written permission from Guilford Press). (1) One option is to obtain the right to translate all or part of the book, and then to distribute it via this Seeking Safety website. This is, for example, how the Spanish and French translations were done, which are now available from the section "Order". The benefit is that others will be able to use the translated version, and that you will receive some payment for it. (2) A second option is to contact a publisher in your country, who can directly obtain from Guilford Press the right to publish and distribute the book. (3) A second option is to obtain the right to translate all or part of the book, just for use in your agency and for a limited period of time, without the right to distribute it to anyone else. If any of the above are of interest or you have questions about this, contact info@seekingsafety.org or 617-731-1501. Tools for Implementing Seeking Safety a) There are a variety of freely downloadable articles to assist with implementing Seeking Safety. b) There are also materials that can be ordered for a fee. These include: A set of training videos on Seeking Safety (developed under a grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse). The videos are: 1. Seeking Safety. A 2-hour training video by Lisa Najavits, and including clips from real clients and clinicians. 2. A Client's Story. A 20-minute video in which a man describes the impact of sexual abuse and addiction, and his attempts to obtain treatment. 3. Example of Teaching Grounding to a Client. A 16-minute example of teaching a real client the skill of "grounding" using the script from the Seeking Safety manual. 4. Therapy Session: Asking for Help. A 1-hour video of Lisa Najavits conducting a group session with real clients. 5. Adherence Rating Session: Healthy Relationships. A 1-hour video of a clinician conducting a group session with real clients. This session was designed to show both good and poor elements, and is for use with the Seeking Safety Adherence Scale. A poster of the Seeking Safety "Safe Coping Skills" is available (in English or Spanish). Translations of the Seeking Safety book (Spanish and French available). A card deck of the Safe Coping Skills (can be played as a game). How to locate Seeking Safety treatment The following are clinicians who have emailed to be added to this list as currently conducting Seeking Safety and accepting client referrals. Please note that these are self-listings and not an endorsement of particular programs or clinicians; nor are these trainers in Seeking Safety. For training in Seeking Safety, please see the training section of this site. If you are a clinician or program and would like to be added to this list, please contact Lisa with the details, and it will be added here. Northeast Brookline, MA: Kay M. Johnson, LICSW; group and individual Seeking Safety; private practice with sliding scale. 617-731-1500 kmjcsw@aolcom [posted 12/6/05] Hamden, CT: Trauma and Substance Abuse Therapy for Women. Contact Gilberte Najamy, MS 203-288-0210 gilberte411@sbcglobal.net [Posted 9/27/05]
Holyoke and Springfield, MA: Holyoke Medical Center and
River Valley Counseling Center offer The Women Seeking Safety
Project: A SAMHSA funded program providing treatment and
case-management for homeless women dealing with substance abuse
and PTSD. Contact Nancy O'Hare, Program Manager 413-737-2437
x126 or Baxter Chandler, LICSW, Clinical
Supervisor 413-534-2653
chandler_baxter@holyokehealth.com [posted 5/08]
Bridgeport, CT: The Center for Women and Families. Contact Margaret Weeks, MSW at 203-334-6154 x45 or mweeks@cwfefc.org Fall River, MA: Stanley Street Treatment and Resources (SSTAR) (outpatient Seeking Safety group for women Tuesdays from 10:30 - 12:00, led by Flinda Behringer, LICSW). To join, make an appointment for a general intake at SSTAR by calling 508-679-5222 [Posted 2005] Cape Cod, MA: Gosnald Treatment Center (Seeking Safety groups
offered in Falmouth and New York, NY (upper west side) (various times); see
www.whpnyc.org or call
212-523-7693; current schedule of Seeking Safety groups is
Tampa, FL: HealthCare Connection of Tampa (group for women, and some individual treatment); contact John Harden, LCSW, CAP, MPH, 800-444-4434 or 813-931-5560 www.healthcareconnectionoftampa.com [posted 9/27/05] Chapel Hill, North Carolina: OPC Area Program-Northside Clinic (Outpatient Seeking Safety group for women; 12 weeks closed group, Wednesdays 4-6 p.m. Must be Orange County resident to qualify. Led by Susanne Kaiser, MA, LPC. Contact her at 919- 913-4200. [Posted 2005] Alexandria, VA: private practice; contact Denise Tordella, MA, LPC, dutordella@aol.com 703 517-6379 [Posted 9/27/05] West Coast Oakland, CA: Martha Schmitz, PhD; group and individual Seeking Safety; private practice. 510-595-4195 marthaschmitz@sbcglobal.net [posted 3/06] Los Angeles, CA: PROTOTYPES Women's Center (multiple levels of care), at 845 E. Arrow Hwy in Pomona. Contact www.prototypes.org Elk Grove, Sacramento County, CA: Ann Burke, LCSW (Lic# 21482); Counseling/ Therapy to address trauma and traits of addiction teaching and practicing using tools from Seeking Safety. 916-683-3700 x2; www.burkeann.com [posted 3/06] Burlingame and Half Moon Bay, CA: Kristin L. Dempsey, MFT (650) 219-7779 dempseywood@earthlink.net [posted 1/07] Anaheim, CA and Huntington Beach, CA (group treatment); one is at 1st Baptist Church in Anaheim, CA and the other at Redeemer Lutheran in Huntington Beach, CA. Does not take insurance, but will provide a receipt for reinbursement by the client's insurance company. This is a professional Christian Counseling agency and so prayer and Scripture will be integrated into the group format. Contact Darlene Lemmo (licensed marriage and family therapist) dlemmo@socal.rr.com [Posted 9/27/05] South North Little Rock, AR - Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (weekly groups for residential patients and outpatients); Contact Kevin Reeder, PhD; 501-257-3480 or Kevin.reeder@va.gov (groups are open to veterans with VA benefits only). [Posted 9/6/07] Becoming or finding a contact person for Seeking Safety in your area Sometimes it can be helpful to connect with others using the model. Here are some people who have agreed to be contacted for this purpose. However, please note that this list solely reflects people who have emailed to be listed here-- they have not necessarily been trained in the model, they are not associates of Lisa Najavits to provide standard training in Seeking Safety (see Training), nor has their clinical implementation been reviewed in any way. This is just intended as an informal, helpful resource. If any questions or concerns, contact Lisa. (1) Elke Rechberger, PhD 907-624-1233 (2) Ann E. Burke, LCSW (has been using
SS material in groups and trainings since 2003); P.O. Box 582023, Elk
Grove, CA 95758 (916) 683-3700 x2;
neeshka@frontiernet.net
(3) Kristin L. Dempsey, MFT (located in Burlingame and Half Moon Bay, CA) (650) 219-7779 dempseywood@earthlink.net [posted 1/07] If you would like to be added to the list above, please contact Lisa with any information about your work that you would like to provide (whether you accept referrals and if so, whether for group or individual Seeking Safety sessions, insurance or other practical information, how long you have conducted Seeking Safety, research interests related to it, etc.). Thanks for your interest! Seeking Safety has been used in the VA since the mid 1990's and is currently implemented in a wide variety of VAs around the country. It has been effectively used with both men and women veterans (the model is designed for both genders), at all levels of care, by all types of clinicians, in group or individual format. It is a highly flexible model, allowing use in as short or long a timeframe as you have available, by any clinician in any type of VA program. The model has also been studied in several VA research projects (see Outcomes for more on these).
The model was originally designed for clients with PTSD and substance abuse, but has been used in VA with a broader range of clients (just one or the other disorder, a history of one or the other, etc.). Because it focuses on coping skills in the present, it has no known adverse consequences and thus can be used from the start of treatment entry, with any client.
For VA research studies in which Lisa Najavits is involved, please download here her VA biosketch and VA Other Support. Lisa Najavits has been a clinical research psychologist at the National Center for PTSD (VA Boston) since 2004. Contact Lisa within the VA at lisa.najavits@va.gov or 857-364-2780.About Lisa Najavits and Associates Lisa M. Najavits, PhD is Professor of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine; Lecturer, Harvard Medical School; clinical psychologist at the National Center for PTSD, Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System; and psychologist at McLean Hospital. She is author of the books Seeking Safety: A Treatment Manual for PTSD and Substance Abuse (2002) and A Woman’s Addiction Workbook (New Harbinger Press; 2002), as well as over 125 professional publications. In 1997 she was recipient of the Chaim Danieli Young Professional Award of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies; in 1998 the Early Career Award of the Society for Psychotherapy Research; and in 2004 the Emerging Leadership Award of the American Psychological Association's Committee on Women. She is past-president of the New England Society for Behavior Analysis and Therapy; and on the advisory boards of Psychotherapy Research, Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, and the Journal of Gambling Studies. Dr. Najavits has received a variety of National Institutes of Health research grants, including an independent scientist career award from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. She is a fellow of the American Psychological Association; board certified in behavioral therapy; a licensed psychologist in Massachusetts; a psychotherapy supervisor; and conducts a psychotherapy practice. She received her PhD in clinical psychology from Vanderbilt University (Nashville, Tennessee) and her bachelor’s degree with honors from Columbia University (New York, New York). Her major clinical and research interests include: trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder; substance abuse; and psychotherapy outcome research. For more detailed information, you can download Lisa's short c.v. (3 pages) or long c.v. (over 20 pages).
Associates: Several Seeking Safety experts provide training, consultation, and clinical services on the model. Click here to learn more about them. If you are interested in potentially working with Lisa or associates please email info@seekingsafety.org. We will be happy to describe various options. Please note that various other people around the country conduct training on Seeking Safety that they have developed, but these have not been reviewed or supervised by our group, and thus we cannot determine their quality. |
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