Our Growing RRT Relationships

By Sharon Richie-Melvan, Ph.D.

Certified Practitioner, Rapid Resolution Therapy 

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.

 

Article courtesy of Dr. Sharon Richie-Melvan, Ph.D., Certified Rapid Resolution Therapist. Dr. Sharon also co-authored the book, "Angel Walk: Nurses at War in Iraq and Afghanistan," with Dr. Diane Vines, Ph.D, Certified Rapid Resolution Therapist. Within the book, Dr. Sharon recommends Rapid Resolution Therapy as a PTSD treatment approach (p. 97).