Guilt and shame related to ones’ actions or inactions during a traumatic event are risk factors for subsequent problems such as posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, substance use disorders, and suicidality. Dr. Allard will review research that supports the Non-Adaptive Guilt and Shame (NAGS) conceptual model of posttraumatic distress, how it may present in individuals exposed to COVID-19 related stressors, and treatment options for addressing NAGS, including Trauma Informed Guilt Reduction (TrIGR), a brief manualized intervention designed to help trauma survivors accurately appraise post-traumatic guilt and shame and re-engage with important values to aid in recovery from post-traumatic distress.

Presented by:

Carolyn B. Allard, PhD, ABPP

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify the relationship between guilt and shame and post-traumatic distress.

2. Explain the underlying model of Non-Adaptive Guilt and Shame (NAGS) and rationale for Trauma Informed Guilt Reduction (TrIGR), a transdiagnostic intervention to reduce guilt and shame from trauma and morally injurious events.

3. Describe one or more guilt appraisal strategy(ies).

BIOS:

Dr. Allard is the PhD Program Director at CSPP at Alliant International University and research psychologist at VA San Diego Healthcare System. For over 15 years, she has been providing trauma-focused therapy, training and consultation, and has been conducting research focused on the identification of individual, socio-cultural and contextual predictors of post-traumatic distress and treatment outcomes. Her mission as Division 56 President of is to bridge culturally informed research, practice, and advocacy to affect positive change for all individuals in our local and global communities.

References:

1. Norman, S. B., Wilkins, K. C., Myers, U. S., Allard, C. B. (2014). Trauma informed guilt reduction therapy with combat veterans. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 21(1), 78-88. doi;http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpra.2013.08.001

2. Allard, C.B., Norman, S.B., Thorp, S.R., Browne, K.C., & Stein, M.B. (2018). Mid-treatment reduction in trauma-related guilt predicts PTSD and functioning following cognitive trauma therapy for survivors of intimate partner violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 13, 3610-3629. doi: 10.1177/0886260516636068.

3. Norman, S. B., Haller, M., Kim, H., Allard, C., Porter, K., Stein, M., Venners, M., Authier, C., & Rauch, S. (2018). Trauma related guilt cognitions partially mediate the relationship between PTSD symptom severity and functioning among returning combat veterans. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 100, 56-62. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2018.02.003

4. Norman, S. B., Allard, C. B., Browne, K., Capone, C., Davis, B., Kubany, E. (2019). Trauma Informed Guilt Reduction Therapy: Treating Guilt and Shame Resulting from Trauma and Moral Injury. London: Academic Press.

5. Haller, H., Norman, S.B., Davis, B.C., Capone, C., Browne, K., & Allard, C.B. (2020). A model for treating Covid-19 related guilt, shame, and moral injury. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. doi: 10.1037/tra0000742