By Shannon M. King, PsyD
BRAVE TRC stands for Buffalo Rising Against Violence at Erie County Medical Center (ECMC). It is a hospital-based violence intervention trauma recovery center that serves individuals who have experienced acute victimization, such as physical abuse, sexual abuse, robbery, gunshot, etc. Care is provided in a trauma-informed culture of compassion and cultural humility. Providers and counselors share a vision of hope and leadership through assertive outreach, advocacy, and holistic therapeutic services. BRAVE TRC consists of a multi-disciplinary team of licensed clinicians, including clinical case managers and credentialed mental health therapists committed to continuous growth, community respect, and making the community aware of its existence.
Funded through federal and state grants, and donations from generous individuals, BRAVE TRC primarily focuses on two types of violent crimes — penetrating injuries (gunshot and stab wounds) and interpersonal violence, including domestic violence and sexual assault. Clinical case managers and SNUG (NYS-funded street outreach program) hospital responders meet individuals and families at the bedside upon receiving a referral from the ECMC Emergency Department, Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP), Detox Unit, or Partial Hospitalization Program. BRAVE TRC’s Clinical Case Managers provide intensive case management to individuals interested in and eligible for services through linkage to helpful community resources, obtaining Office of Victim Services (OVS) funds, and accompanying victims to court when necessary. For example, gunshot wound victims are paired with appropriate community outreach partners who have this type of experience.
BRAVE TRC also provides holistic therapeutic services for individuals who have experienced an acute victimization within the past three years, are 18+ years old, and reside in New York State. The therapeutic services team consists of a licensed clinical psychologist, one full-time Licensed Master Social worker (LMSW, two part-time LMSWs, and several doctoral-level psychology interns). Care is provided free of charge to remove any possible barriers to an individual’s ability to access mental health services. Treatments focus on safety and stabilization in processing traumatic experiences through evidence-based interventions such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), cognitive-processing therapy (CPT), dialectic behavior therapy (DBT), and harm reduction. Other therapeutic interventions include brainspotting (a therapy that helps individuals identify, process, and release the source of their emotional and body pain and trauma symptoms).
Interested BRAVE TRC patients can also receive Alpha-Stim, a cost-effective, drug-free, FDA-cleared electrotherapy device for treating anxiety, insomnia, and pain. BRAVE TRC providers using Alpha-Stim, say it has been extremely helpful in alleviating the anxiety they experience in treating trauma victims. Patients using Alpha-Stim are also reporting its positive effects. Learn more about Alpha-Stim at www.alpha-stim.com, or call 1-800-367-7246.
BRAVE TRC is dedicated to assisting victims of violence to recover from both emotional and physical trauma by empowering survivors with the skills, services, and opportunities to live safe and healthy lives. Learn more about BRAVE TRC at https://www.ecmc.edu/about-ecmc/brave-program. To speak with a BRAVE TRC Hospital Advocate today, call 716-898-6461.
Shannon M. King, PsyD is the Clinical Director of BRAVE TRC at Erie County Medical Center. She is a NYS licensed clinical psychologist and a certified brainspotting therapist.
