Trauma Informed Guilt Reduction Therapy: Treating Guilt and Shame Resulting from Trauma and Moral Injury

Trauma Informed Guilt Reduction Therapy (TrIGR) provides mental health professionals with tools for assessing and treating guilt and shame resulting from trauma and moral injury. Guilt and shame are common features in many of the problems trauma survivors experience including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, substance use, and suicidality. This book presents Trauma Informed Guilt Reduction (TrIGR) Therapy, a brief, transdiagnostic psychotherapy designed to reduce guilt and shame. TrIGR offers flexibility in that it can be delivered as an individual or group treatment. Case examples demonstrate how TrIGR can be applied to a range of trauma types including physical assault, sexual abuse, childhood abuse, motor vehicle accidents, and to moral injury from combat and other military-related events. Conceptualization of trauma-related guilt and shame, assessment and treatment, and special applications are covered in-depth.

Summarizes the empirical literature connecting guilt, shame, moral injury, and posttraumatic problemsGuides therapists in assessing posttraumatic guilt, shame, moral injury, and related problemsProvides a detailed look at a brief, transdiagnostic therapy shown to reduce guilt and shame related to traumaDescribes how TrIGR can be delivered as an individual or group interventionIncludes a comprehensive therapist manual and client workbook

Part 1 Introduction and background 1. Introduction 2. The connection between guilt and shame and mental health problems 3. Overview of TrIGR

Part 2 Preparation and case related considerations 4. Is TrIGR the right choice for your client? 5. Assessment of guilt, shame, PTSD, and other posttraumatic distress 6. Preparing clients for TrIGR 7. Considerations for therapists 8. Therapist self-care 9. TrIGR in a group format

Part 3 Therapist manual Module 1: Introduction to posttraumatic guilt and shame Session 1: Overview of TrIGR, introduction to guilt and shame Session 2: Common problems and types of guilt related to trauma Module 2: Debriefing the traumatic event and appraising trauma-related guilt and shame Session 3 and 4: Guilt appraisal Module 3: Commitment to living a value-driven life and setting value-driven goals Session 5: Commitment to living a value-driven life and setting value-driven goals Session 6: A plan to live a valued life

Part 4 Client workbook Workbook Module 1: Introduction to posttraumatic guilt and shame Session 1: Overview of TrIGR, introduction to guilt and shame Session 2: Common problems and types of guilt related to trauma Workbook Module 2: Debriefing the traumatic event and appraising trauma-related guilt and shame Session 3 and 4: Guilt appraisal Workbook Module 3: Commitment to living a value-driven life and setting value-driven goals Session 5: Commitment to living a value-driven life and setting value-driven goals Session 6: A plan to live a valued life