By Sharon Richie-Melvan, Ph.D.
IRRT Research Director
Thank
you to each certified practitioner (CP) who has volunteered for the IRRT Study
2 Research Project! We now have 3 new volunteers garnered from the recent Level
II training held in Tampa, FL. We appreciate their help with the training AND for
volunteering to participate in the study. Applications to participate in the
study will be made available onsite at the Level III Retreat 1-3 June in
California. I look forward to seeing you there and will be available to answer
questions. We understand how busy you are and even with the greatest of
intentions, we know that time flies by and you still may not have sent in your
IRRT Study 2 application. No worries!! We will do whatever it takes to help you
be a part of this historic study. Remember that we are laying the groundwork to
provide evidenced-based research for peer reviewed journal articles; future VA
& DoD research funding; television, radio and print media exposure/outreach
and expanded awareness of this revolutionary treatment. This groundwork is
being laid, one therapist at a time just by documenting your RRT work with the
trauma clients you are seeing in your practice.
Based
on our anticipated research program results and our "field tested anecdotal
success" to date, we are already forming partnerships with other non-profit
organizations to expand our outreach efforts and to establish reimbursement
channels for certified RRT practitioners (CP) who can treat military veterans
and survivors of sexual violence. CP's with 3-5 years experience with veterans
are encouraged to email jenny@notalone.com to be registered
with their program which will pay you to see veterans and their family members
anonymously and confidentially. Please note and help me to spread the word that
I have a weekly online support group for female veterans, "Military Women at the
Crossroads" each Tuesday evening at 8pm EST. They can sign in at notalone.webex.com with
the password "crossroads". Each RRT CP is encouraged to register with "Give An
Hour" to volunteer your services for a veteran. Increasingly, this registration
is becoming a mandatory benchmark to reimburse therapists for the care of
veterans, service members and their families. The original Wounded Warrior
Project (WWP) is looking for CP therapists to provide RRT on site and accompany
10-15 veterans on a 3-5 day "Odyssey Project" such as swimming with Dolphins in
Key West Florida or Horseback riding in Alabama. The WWP pays for travel, hotel
and food for volunteer therapists.
Thank you to the WWP's Southeast United States
coordinator Russ Dean who just completed his Level II RRT training. Russ will
be sending WWP brochures for each upcoming RRT training session. Please contact
him directly at rdean@woundedwarriorproject.org if
you would like to volunteer for the Odyssey Project, receive brochures or need
a speaker. We also are working with the founders of "Vets Journey Home"
to provide RRT support for their weekend programs around the country. More info
is forthcoming so stay tuned. Please remember that each of you can volunteer at
your local rape crisis center to enhance your RRT skills and make a profound
difference in someone's life.
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