ABSTRACT
In the wake of terrorism, survivors must balance two competing tasks: to make sense of the trauma, and to reestablish a secure foundation in the face of intrusions that overwhelm the current time frame. Present-centered group therapy (PCGT) emphasizes attention to emotional responses, needs, situations, and wants, supporting recalibration of trauma-based symptoms, attitudes, and behaviors. A review of literature examining five studies on the efficacy of present-centered or supportive group therapy models for trauma treatment indicates improvements in symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and self-esteem. If a trauma trigger occurs in the group or the treatment setting, the group may become preoccupied with reexperiencing. Occasional inadvertent shifts into discussion of the trauma can be processed in a present-centered fashion, focusing on affective responses to the disclosure. PCGT validates the impact of trauma in the lives of survivors, it focuses away from the details of the terrorism experience in order to diffuse extreme affects related to hyperarousal.
