Finding Safety and Recovery: How Silver Hill’s Triumph Program Transforms Trauma Care
Since launching in November 2023 under the leadership of Emily E. Haas, MD, Silver Hill’s Triumph Program at Barrett House has thrived and gained a national reputation for excellence. As one of the country’s only psychiatrist-led residential programs for the treatment of complex trauma and dissociative disorders, Triumph has been in high demand since launch, confirming the need for specialized care of trauma.
Recognizing a nationwide shortage of education in treating complex trauma and dissociation, Dr. Haas has focused heavily on sharing her knowledge over the past year. In addition to training staff in her program, she has led several on-site trauma trainings for Silver Hill doctors, nurses, and social workers in other programs at the hospital.
Dr. Haas is also an assistant clinical professor at Yale School of Medicine and teaches psychiatric residents, of varying levels of training, about the diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of complex trauma and dissociative disorders annually. Dr. Haas also instructs medical students who rotate with her through the Triumph Program.
In January of this year, Dr. Haas was elected, by peers in the field, to be a new member of the Board of Directors of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation, or ISSTD, the primary organization of specialists in complex trauma and dissociation in the country. In this role, she gets to support the continued success and advancement of the ISSTD. Additionally, she presented on the challenges of teaching and learning about dissociation at the ISSTD Annual Conference in March. Dr. Haas was also an invited speaker along with Rachel Yehuda, PhD, Lauren Lepow MD, PhD, and David Mintz, MD on a panel presenting on the many “masks” of trauma at the American Psychiatric Association’s Annual Meeting in May. In November, she will present an in-person grand rounds event at the University of Vermont Medical Center Department of Psychiatry on “Putting the Puzzle Together: Understanding Dissociative Identity Disorder.”
Treatment at Triumph involves a comprehensive evaluation and assessment of symptoms and a combination of eclectic programming such as training in trauma symptom management skills, trauma-focused psychoeducational groups, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), attachment focused groups, cognitive processing therapy (CPT), and process groups. The program includes weekly psychiatric appointments, three times weekly individual therapy, and intensive group programming led by expert Silver Hill team members who are highly trained in the treatment of complex trauma and dissociation.
The program continues to focus on new ways to strengthen community among patients, which is an essential component of trauma recovery. For instance, all meals are now served at the house rather than the cafeteria, strengthening camaraderie while also allowing staff to safely monitor patients’ nutritional needs. Other well received advancements include off-campus outings as a group and on Sundays, patients participate in a community dinner, planning and preparing a meal together in consultation with a Silver Hill dietitian.
Dr. Haas will soon add an occupational therapist to her team to help patients with daily living activities that can become overwhelming following severe trauma, including personal hygiene routines and household tasks.
Triumph is also participating in the beta testing of AI software designed specifically for trauma-informed treatment settings. The technology securely records therapy sessions and generates clinical summaries, allowing therapists to spend less time on documentation and more time focused on patient care.
Before discharge, Triumph patients leave with a comprehensive plan collaboratively compiled by the clinical team that includes a safety plan, daily schedule, sleep recommendations, symptom-management strategies, and other tools to support continued recovery.
Despite an almost continuous waiting list, Dr. Haas is committed to maintaining a small milieu at Barrett House to ensure every patient receives the individualized attention needed to effectively treat their complex situations. She credits Triumph’s success to an exceptional, highly specialized, multidisciplinary team, comprised of extremely dedicated team members who consistently go above and beyond for the clients they work with every day.
Learn more about the program and meet the Triumph team.
Hear from former patients who have found recovery through the Triumph program.