Implementing an Evidence-Based Practice: Seeking Safety Group

Abstract

This article presents findings from a multisite study on adopting and implementing an evidence-based practice, Seeking Safety, for women with co-occurring disorders and experiences of physical and sexual abuse. It focuses on what implementation decisions different sites made to optimize the compatibility of Seeking Safety with the site's needs and experiences and on issues posed by Rogers (1995) as relevant to successful diffusion of an innovative practice. A total of 157 clients and 32 clinicians reported on satisfaction with various aspects of the model. Cross-site differences are also examined. Results show that Seeking Safety appears to be an intervention that clinicians perceive as highly relevant to their practice, and one that adds value. Clients perceive the treatment as uniquely touching on their needs in a way that previous treatments had not.

The Effectiveness of Seeking Safety on Reducing PTSD Symptoms in Clients Receiving Substance Dependence Treatment

“…These results are congruent with other effectiveness studies on SS (e.g., Brown et al, 2007;Cook et al, 2006;Grupp, 2008;Hien et al, 2009;Najavits et al, 2006;Najavits, Gastfriend, et al, 1998;Najavits, Weiss, et al, 1998;Norman et al, 2010;Zlotnick et al, 2009;Zlotnick et al, 2003). This existing research provides strong evidence that SS is an effective intervention.…”

“…According to Grupp (2008), many substance abuse facilities are not adequately equipped to treat people with co-occurring disorders, and many people with PTSD symptoms are referred elsewhere for psychiatric treatment. Without adequate treatment, however, many dually diagnosed (i.e., PTSD and SUD) women will be vulnerable to continued relapse and trauma exposure (Brown et al, 1999;Brown et al, 2007;Grupp, 2008). Najavits (2002) developed the SS model for treating co-occurring PTSD symptoms and SUD.…”

“…SS has been studied with many different populations including female prisoners (Zlotnick et al, 2009;Zlotnick et al, 2003), adolescent females (Najavits, Gallop, & Weiss, 2006), females in community treatment (Brown et al, 2007;Grupp, 2008;Hien et al, 2009;Najavits, Weiss, et al, 1998), and male and female Veterans (Cook, Walser, Kane, Ruzek, & Woody, 2006;Norman et al, 2010). Study designs range from multisite randomized controlled trials (RCTs; e.g., Hien et al, 2009) to uncontrolled pilot studies with very small samples (Najavits, Schmitz, Gotthardt, & Weiss, 2005).…”

“…One fourth to one half of these events occurred as childhood abuse (Zlotnick et al, 2003). Some researchers and practitioners, therefore, emphasize the importance of screenReducing PTSD Symptoms 239 ing for, and providing treatment for, comorbid PTSD and SUD in substance abuse treatment facilities (Back, Waldrop, Brady, & Hien, 2006;Brown et al, 2007). This article presents findings from an evaluation of a Seeking Safety (SS) program offered at a residential treatment facility.…”

“I Feel Like I Am Finding Peace”: Exploring the Use of a Combined Art Therapy and Adapted Seeking Safety Program with Refugee Support Groups

“…Seeking Safety helps individuals establish a greater sense of safety through psychoeducation and the use of effective coping skills (Najavits, 2002). Positive results in both individual and group formats have been demonstrated, with a wide variety of clients who have both diagnoses, one of the two diagnoses, as well as those that have symptoms not severe enough for either diagnosis (Brown et al, 2007;Lynch, Heath, Matthews, & Cepeda, 2012;Najavits, 2002Najavits, , 2009.…”