The ASSYST Protocol
Common Responses to Trauma
Photo by William Farlow on Unsplash downloaded 3/7/23
Many of us will unfortunately experience at least one significant, negative life event that leaves us feeling scared, threatened, and in complete distress. We may call this trauma, critical incidents, or adverse experiences. These types of events tell your mind and body to protect you through your fight, flight, or freeze response. After an event this scary, it can be incredibly difficult for your body to return to a state of relaxation or calm. In fact, it can take up to 4-8 weeks for those residual traumatic stress symptoms to subside on their own. These symptoms may include sudden and unwelcomed flashbacks, nightmares, unpleasant emotions, or suddenly feeling as if it were happening again. These symptoms are all very normal and common after a trauma. Sometimes, those symptoms struggle to go away on their own, however, which leads to the development of Acute Stress Disorder or Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. While we have some wonderful evidenced-based treatments for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, none of us want to experience those haunting symptoms for that long. With the use of the ASSYST, we can promote healing in the mind and body to immediately reduce distressing symptoms right after a traumatic event and help mitigate the development of stress disorders.
Photo by Super Snapper on Unsplash downloaded 3/7/23
Overview
The ASSYST (Acute Stress Syndrome Stabilization) is an evidence-based protocol, created by Dr. Ignacio Jarero, effective for individuals and groups that have experienced a traumatic event. This procedure can be done in person and online. It can also be used with individuals anticipating a potentially traumatic event, such as impending war. It is ideally done within days of the event but it can be done at later times as well. With its roots in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), it uses Bilateral Stimulation to help the brain begin the healing process it may be struggling to do on its own. You should be feeling much more calm and relaxed by the end of the protocol. And it usually takes less than an hour!
The therapist will usually follow a script to ensure they follow the protocol properly for treatment fidelity. They will help you recognize how distress is being held in your mind and body. This may include sensory input (such as not being able to forget the sounds or smells experienced) or through a memory (a specific part of the event). The therapist will then use Bilateral Stimulation to help your brain process the event better, which reduces your distress! They will regularly check in on how you are feeling and can give feedback for additional ways to reduce your distress throughout the process. Your therapist will also help ensure you have follow up care with a licensed clinician to continue to process the event.
Who Can Benefit from the ASSYST
The ASSYST is designed and researched to be effective with individuals who are currently experiencing significant distress related to a critical incident or adverse experience.
These experiences may include a car crash, community violence, domestic violence, or incidents at higher risk jobs, such as first responders. You may be struggling to go to work/school or engage with those around you. It may disrupt your sleep and lead you to feel on edge all of the time. It is a really unpleasant experience. The great news, however, is that this protocol works!
Our therapists and counselors at Aspire Counseling can help you in the immediate aftermath of a crisis situation using this ASSYST protocol. It can be done within hours of a traumatic event or even up to months later!
How to Participate In the ASSYST Protocol
Each clinician at Aspire Counseling is trained in the ASSYST but we do have a few clinicians that use it more regularly than others. If you are currently working with a clinician at Aspire, feel free to ask them about it! If you do not currently work with one of our clinicians, feel free to reach out about our current options if you believe the ASSYST may be appropriate for you or your agency. The ASSYST can be done in a group format, so please let us know if that best fits your needs. Once you have participated in the ASSYST protocol, our clinicians will work with you to establish follow up care.
Counseling in Missouri
Along with providing ASSYST, we also provide counseling for anxiety, depression, OCD, trauma/PTSD, stress, and much more. Aspire Counseling offers in-person at either our Lee’s Summit location, or Columbia Missouri, or online therapy for anyone in the State of Missouri! Reach out today to our Client Care Coordinator to begin your journey with therapy!
About the Author
Mikayla Wichern is a licensed social worker at Aspire Counseling. She is trained in the ASSYST protocol and has used it multiple times in sessions! Mikayla is also trained in an evidence-based therapy to help heal from PTSD. Mikayla specializes in working with adults and teens with trauma, anxiety, depression, OCD, and stress with work/life balance. She is a big believer in these treatments and would love to help you figure out if one of these would be helpful for you!
