Kimberly N. Rezarch MSW

Empowerment into the mainstream through advocacy, education, training and assisting in the healing of others. I am a survivor of more than 20 mental health diagnoses, including Bipolar II, with Psychosis, Schizoaffective Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder and Dissociative Identity Disorder. During my lifetime in "the system", I was prescribed over 15 medications to treat these "disorders", often taking 8 to 10 at a time. I have been hospitalized over 30 times, including a 30 day inpatient stay on a trauma unit. I would have died in the mental health system had I not, finally, been SEEN by a trauma-informed Psychiatrist and treated by a trauma-informed therapist. I discontinued receiving Social Security Disability Benefits in 2005, finished my master's degree in Social Work and have not been hospitalized in 9 years. I spent the following years working as Trauma Therapist, until I could no longer tolerate the treatment of trauma survivors within the system. I had been severely traumatized during my lifetime, but it had been buried beneath so many diagnoses, I was invisible. Through my personal experiences and as a Clinical Social Worker treating hundreds of trauma survivors, I have learned that “mental illness’ rarely exists. Instead, people are experiencing an accumulation of trauma responses that, over time, manifest into symptoms of “mental illness.” Because so few people are aware of trauma responses, do not understand how people behave to "get needs met" and are ill-equipped to treat trauma, they label their clients as "mentally ill". These trauma responses create a person’s entire identity, their beliefs about themselves and their place in the world. Because the responses are created to compensate for the lack of essential needs of children, they are developed from a place of pain, confusion and ambivalence. Therefore, these responses often do “not make sense” to the helping profession. They are pathologized and labeled as mental illness. Trauma is multifaceted, layered and complex. It is difficult to treat and many feel overwhelmed by the complexity of many trauma responses. However, if people begin to recognize that all behaviors are responses to trauma a rational response can be applied. There is always an answer. Trauma Response Syndrome Model for Self Empowerment offers a rational alternative to the current Medical Model Diagnostic approach to “mental illness”. Trauma causes every symptom of every diagnosis in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual-V. The labels placed upon survivors of trauma reinforce their traumatic responses. This leads to chronic suicidal idealization, self harm and other self deprecating coping skills through the reinforcement of their self hate. When the symptoms are the focus (all diagnoses and labels placed on people) the survivors are distracted from their truth. They are indoctrinated by the Medical Model approach to treatment to believe that they are the problem, they have a mental illness causing their symptoms and medication is the answer. Trauma is discussed as an afterthought, occasionally acknowledged as part of a social history, but never as the direct cause of the presenting issues. There are very specific approaches utilized within the TRSM that are essential to heal from trauma. Without a thorough understanding of these concepts trauma survivors continue the cycle of trauma. I have created a model that addresses every aspect of Trauma Response Syndrome and the tools needed to address these issues. Clinicians can feel empowered, because they always know the answer to what their clients (and often themselves) are dealing with; what are the trauma responses, how are the TRSM identified coping skills manifesting and what are healthier ways to get needs met? It is quite possible for the helping profession to master the needed skills to treat trauma, but they must seek the training for themselves. The lack of trauma-informed and trauma-specific treatment approaches are seriously lacking in most settings. Equally important is trauma survivors become empowered through their transformation process and have answers to why they “do what they do.” When “trauma” is the answer to everything there is always the possibility of growth. Although, I continue to fight the battle of trauma, I now stand in the forefront as a warrior. It is my responsibility to provide a voice for those silenced by the system and the Medical Model approach to treatment. Few people recover from the experiences I have had, not because I am extraordinary, but because I received trauma focused treatment. I was fortunate that I was recognized as a trauma survivor under the layer of diagnoses, medications and indoctrination of self hate, so few people are. My experiences within the system are not unique, they parallel thousands. The difference is I got out. I no longer live in the shame and stigma that is the shadow of the mentally ill. I wear my recovery as the badge of honor that it is. I am empowered by my daily interactions with trauma survivors, their families and other advocates. I am creating a shift in the paradigm of trauma treatment and living as an example of what The Trauma Response Syndrome Model to Self Empowerment can do. I am currently accepting new clients and am available for training, speaking engagements and workshops. for more information about
Trauma Response Syndrome Model



Coming Soon;
Autobiography-Trauma Response Syndrome, the True Cause of “Mental Illness.”
Trauma Response Syndrome Model- Self Empowerment Manual
Trauma Response Syndrome Model Certification; Level 1-3
Trauma Response Syndrome Model-Healing Intensives
One Planet Healing Center