FALL 2026
Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services
How Trauma Informed Care Helps the People
We Serve In this issue of Mindful Matters, we will be looking at how Trauma Informed Care (TIC) plays a role in everything we do at Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services (GCBHS).
We will also examine tools such as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and programs like DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) that we use to assist those who have been exposed to severe trauma and how these options allow us to continue to make a difference in the lives of our patients. First, let’s talk about what TIC is. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) defines the Trauma-Informed approach as, “A program, organization, or system that realizes the widespread impact of trauma and understands potential paths for recovery; recognizes the signs and symptoms of trauma in clients, families, staff, and others involved with the system; and responds by fully integrating knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures, and practices, while seeking to actively resist retraumatization.” Cindi Crew is the GCBHS Director of Integrated Counseling Services and has been with our organization for over 29 years.
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She understands why using this approach is important to the work that we do and says, “Trauma Informed Care recognizes that a person’s past experiences can shape how they feel, think, and respond. By creating a safe, trusting and understanding environment, we can support healing without causing further harm.”
Cindi Crew, GCBHS Director of Integrated Counseling Services
Although Trauma-Informed Care is key to all the services that GCBHS provides, some programs use specific tools to assist young people who have been subjected to severe trauma. These include, but aren’t limited to, School-Based Services, Parents and Children Together (PACT), and Transition to Independence Process (TIP). Learn more about these services beginning on page 2.
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Building Emotional Strength
One Skill at a Time What if the skills needed to manage emotions and navigate difficult moments could be learned? Discover how GCBHS uses DBT to help clients build practical skills and take control of their behaviors.
EDMR Uses bilateral stimulation, often eye movements, to help reprocess traumatic memories Used for trauma related disorders, such as PTSD Helps reprocess traumatic memories to become less distressing and reactive
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DBT Teaches skills to manage and change intense emotional reactions and behaviors Used for disorders with emotion dysregulation and trauma Helps build skills for managing
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is a curriculum used by trained therapists at Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services (GCBHS) to instill positive cognition and modify behaviors. It is a skills-based form of therapy where clients attend a group class each week as well as an individual session. They can also reach out if they feel they may be close to engaging in a negative activity such as self-harm. Alyssa Eichhorn is a GCBHS counselor whose clients have a mental health diagnosis and a developmental disability. She explains it this way, “DBT is based on the biosocial theory model which states some individuals who are born emotionally and impulsively more sensitive often have difficulties with controlling their actions when in invalidating environments/ situations. Sometimes these situations are not intentionally invalidating, but the messages they send can reinforce behaviors that are out of control.” Licensed Independent Social Worker and Hamilton County Transition to Independence Process (TIP) counselor, Clare Hover, says DBT is helpful to many of her clients who feel like they didn’t learn important things about growing up. “Some just weren’t taught these important life skills
that we take for granted. Others were dealing with major trauma, so they were in survival mode most of the time and didn’t have the capacity to learn these skills. So, DBT can come in and teach them how to manage their emotions, communicate, and deal with harmful urges. It allows them to feel more in control of themselves.” DBT learning is done through four core modules: Interpersonal effectiveness, emotion regulation, mindfulness, and distress tolerance. Sometimes the framework of the skills needs to be modified for a specific person. Alyssa likes to compare the skill curriculum of DBT to a pants pattern. “Not every pattern fits every person, so we alter the pattern, but we’re still making pants.” Clare adds, “It can seem complicated and overwhelming but once they practice the skills, they’ll say, ‘Oh, I get it now.’ And because I am working with young people, I find that some clients, even if they aren’t in the full DBT class, can benefit from learning a specific DBT skill.” “We’re focusing on changing behaviors,” says Alyssa. “We deal with the here and now, before we can get into the past trauma, otherwise we are just adding fuel to the fire.”
to Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep – a period of sleep where the brain is able to sort, process, and store new information. It also aids in regulating emotions which is beneficial to mental wellness. EMDR helps the brain to shift its thinking pattern. The brain becomes distracted to allow for the restructuring of the negative self-beliefs that are formed by the traumatic event.
Making room
for Healing
Helping the mind move beyond the lasting effects of trauma. In early 2025, Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services (GCBHS) received funding from the Daniel and Susan Pfau Foundation to allow 15 of our School-Based therapists to attend Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) training. EMDR is an evidence-based therapy found to be quite successful when helping people (particularly young people), process trauma. “I wasn’t sure what to expect,” said Carlie Yersky, who attended the training. “Even now, when I try to explain what EMDR is, it can be difficult for people Carlie Yersky, Schoolto understand the Based Therapist concept.” Mara Wozniak is an integrated therapist who is also trained in EMDR. She says it is not easy, “The training is about 24 hours of in class learning. It’s very intensive. You also
role play so you get to see what it’s like to be in the client’s shoes and understand the effectiveness of it.” Carlie concurs, “It’s not only the coursework, but then an additional ten hours of consultation with a certified EMDR trainer to discuss how you are using the tools with your clients.” Simply put, when someone experiences severe trauma, the brain and body get stuck in high-alert survival mode which can affect their thoughts, feelings, and physical health. EMDR helps the brain re-access and restore memories so there is a reduction in emotional intensity as well as negative thinking or beliefs. But how does it actually work? The science behind the training is that by using bi-lateral eye stimulation or movement (the client follows an object with their eyes, back and forth, and back and forth, or repeats a motion over and over), the brain produces something similar
Sophia Kiser, who oversees the Transition to Independence Process or TIP program in Clermont County (pictured left, demonstrating the use of EMDR), explains that there are preparations you take before diving into the rapid eye movement. “For at least the first few sessions, we go over things that make you resilient and prepare the client for reliving the trauma. Maybe the situation is that you were bullied by a classmate and now you are focused on the negative belief that you don’t deserve any friends. In EMDR, we would promote logical and positive thinking…῾I am worthy of friends who appreciate me for me.’ For some clients, especially children, it can be effective pretty quickly.” In the TIP program, Sophia works with adolescents whose brains are still developing. “We want to work through things sooner rather than later. The longer you wait to treat trauma after the significant event, the more repressed it can become, making it more difficult to treat. Much like untangling wires or jewelry, the longer you wait, the harder it becomes to untangle it.” By working to reduce the emotional distress associated with the trauma, the goal of EMDR is to keep the individual from continually re-living the trauma. “Your mind is a garden and EMDR helps pluck the weeds, so the flowers have room to grow,” says Sophia.
Overcoming Childhood Trauma In Warren and Clinton counties, Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services (GCBHS) offers a very special program that helps youth ages 5-21 overcome the effects of severe trauma. “Parents and Children Together” or PACT, is a trauma-focused program for both the child and their safe caretaker. The program is specific to the needs of children who have experienced severe trauma. They have been subjected to or witnessed abuse, possibly suffered through a serious medical condition, or felt the loss of someone close. Although many children can experience a Continued on back page >
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traumatic life event, for them to be enrolled into PACT, the trauma is the main focus, according to Jen Vaughn, the GCBHS Clinical Supervisor in Warren/Clinton counties. She says, “We include the ‘safe’ adult to help them process their own trauma so that they do not unintentionally compound the negativity that the child is already feeling.” Jen uses an evidence-based treatment model called Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) in a child appropriate setting. The children can express themselves and tell their story through art and toys. By allowing them to choose “how” they want to express themselves, Jen says they are able to find their voice. “Every child processes trauma differently.” She encourages her clients to communicate through drawing, sand trays, and puppets (play is a natural way for a child to express themselves), creating a safe space for them to work through their anger, grief, and fear. “I saw a child use the puppets as characters in her narrative. She had them play out her ‘power’ over the abuser and they (the puppets) were able to do that for her.”
The hand-print banner (pictured above) celebrates the graduation of the individuals in the program and their stories. It also serves as a reminder to children just starting their journey, that others have been there, and it gives them hope.
In the Lebanon office, a banner hangs on the wall to celebrate each child being able to tell his or her own story. Their secret is out and they are finally free from the weight of the trauma they have been carrying around. Jen also compares artwork from when therapy begins to when a child has come to terms with what has happened. She acknowledges there is a noticeable difference. “The before is typically dark and empty, whereas the after is brighter. They use more color. You can actually see the change in their sense of self-esteem.”
Jen has been doing this type of therapy for 22 years and is still amazed at the children’s resilience and sense of hope. “Kids do heal,” she says. “When you see them realizing that it’s not their fault, and they find the strength to validate who they are on their own terms… they literally find their butterfly wings and learn to soar. Just because something bad happened, it doesn’t define you. It’s very hopeful to be the person who witnesses that growth.”