Emotion Regulation and Trauma Program

The Emotion Regulation and Trauma Program (ERTP) is integrated within the Hope and Wellness Program at Alberta Hospital Edmonton and provides assessment and treatment of individuals with difficulty regulating emotions and those who have suffered psychological trauma.  It takes a transdiagnostic approach within a stepped care model, where treatment intensity is matched to severity of psychopathology.  Treatment ranges from mindfulness and skills groups to trauma informed Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and other evidence-based trauma treatments.  The ERTP collaborates with the CORE team, which aims to engage patients struggling with borderline personality disorder.

Research and education related to trauma-informed care (TIC) is integral, with opportunities for psychiatric resident participation in group therapy settings such as Advanced Skills and DBT.  Residents are welcome to participate in DBT Team conferences, and advanced supervision in EMDR is available for residents who have completed basic EMDR training.  Residents may participate in a 12-week skills group, offering both didactic and experiential exposure to DBT theory and skills, incorporating concepts from TIC.  Opportunities also exist to become involved in research and quality improvement projects related to trauma, emotion regulation, and innovation in psychotherapy.