Community Resiliency Model
Created by Elaine Miller-Karas, LCSW and Laurie Leitch, PhD
Trauma Resource Institute
www.traumaresourceinstitute.com
Slides by Miller-Karas (2012)
Community Resiliency Model Skills
TRACKING
refers to monitoring of
sensations
RESOURCING
GROUNDING
Using positive or neutral factors to
create non-traumatic sensations
Being fully present in the moment
SHIFT AND STAY
RESOURCE INTENSIFICATION
Expanding details of the Resource to
build the strength of positive sensations
Shifting to a resource and staying in the
resource state
AMP DOWN OR
RAMP UP NOW
Strategies to get back R-Zone
Slides by Miller-Karas&Leitch 2011(c)
Trauma Resource Institute
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SKILL 1-Tracking
Tracking refers to monitoring
sensations
 Tracking is the foundation for stabilizing the nervous
system
 The person learns to distinguish between sensations of
dysregulation and sensations of balance within the
nervous system
 Rather than inquire about feelings, sensations are
explored
Slides by Miller-Karas&Leitch 2011(c)
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Skill 1:Tracking
•
 Observation of the client’s nervous system and biological
responses
Heart rate, breathing rate, muscle tension, temperature, body
movements, facial expression
 The self-tracking
What do you notice happening inside?”
Slides by Miller-Karas&Leitch 2011(c)
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SKILL 2: Resourcing
 External Resources include positive experiences and
memories and can include the people, places, activities,
skills, spiritual guides, hobbies and animals we know and
love
Internal Resources include experiences, values and
beliefs that sustain, support and that give confidence and
inner meaning


personal characteristics such as kindness,
compassion and humor
body resources such as strong legs, good
sleeper, straight spine, healthy GI system
Slides by Miller-Karas&Leitch 2011(c)
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SKILL 2: Resourcing
Building resources helps expand the ability to bounce
back into your Resilient Zone.
Positive sensations and memories bring a direct
experience of well-being that helps stabilize the nervous
system
A person learns that there are sensations in the body
that are less uncomfortable, neutral, or positive
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Skill 3: RESOURCE INTENSIFICATION
Ask 3 or 4 additional questions about
the resource to expand the sensations
connected to the resource
When describing a resource, it makes the memory stronger
Which helps to shift awareness from unpleasant sensations
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Slides by Miller-Karas&Leitch 2011(c)
SKILLS 2&3: Identifying Resources
1. Write down three resources
2. Circle one resource
3. Write down 3 or more details about your
resource
4. Read your resource and the three details
about your resource
5. As you read about the resource, notice what
happens on the inside
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Skill 4:Grounding
Is the direct contact of the body with the
ground or with something that provides
support to the body
1. Grounding is necessary to be in the present and to
experience safety in mind, body and spirit.
2. The person is encouragds to track sensations while
finding a comfortable position. Grounding can be
accomplished while:
 Sitting on a chair/sofa/ground, or
 Standing against a wall or hard surface, on
 Lying on the floor/bed/sofa/ground
Slides by Miller-Karas&Leitch 2011(c)
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Skill 4:Grounding
If our relationship to the earth is not safe, then all
other relationships do not develop in the best
ways
When we are grounded, we have a sense of self
in relationship to space in the here and now
We are not worried about the past or the future
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SKILL 5:AMP DOWN OR RAMP UP NOW
 Can be used by the practitioner to
help a person amp down or ramp up
Can be taught to family members to
help the a family member get back
into his/her resilient zone if he/she
is stuck on high or low
Slides by Miller-Karas(2012))
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SKILL 5:AMP DOWN OR RAMP UP NOW
1.
2.
Drink a glass of water
Look around the room or wherever you are, paying attention to
anything that catches your attention
3. Name six colors you see in the room (or outside)
4. Open your eyes if they have a tendency to shut
5. Count backwards from 10 as you walk around the room
6. If you’re inside, notice the furniture, and touch the surface,
noticing if it is hard, soft, rough, etc…
7. Notice the temperature in the room
8. Notice the sounds within the room and outside
9. If you’re outside or inside, walk and pay attention to the
movement in your arms and legs and how your feet are making
contact with the ground.
10. Push your hands against the wall or door slowly and notice your
muscles pushing.
Slides by Miller-Karas&Leitch 2011(c)
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SKILL 6: SHIFT AND STAY
CRM Wellness Skill
 A skill that is taught as a wellness skill for self-care.
The person learns to shift from distress, discomfort
and/or overwhelm
To a resource
To grounding
To a sensation that is more comfortable or neutral
To the AMP DOWN or RAMP UP strategies
Shift and Stay is a skill used when a person becomes
bumped out of their resilient zone
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Slide by Miller-Karas (2012)
THE BODY HAS A WISDOM THAT WORDS CANNOT SPEAK
WWW.TRAUMARESOURCEINSTITUTE.COM
Slides by Miller-Karas&Leitch 2011(c)
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