Survivors of violent crime are less likely to seek or receive mental health treatment compared to the general population.1 Many mental health settings are not equipped to address the specific, complex needs of individuals recovering from trauma. Access to care is especially limited for vulnerable populations, such as:
- Young people of color
- Persons who are unhoused or experiencing housing instability
- Individuals identifying as LGBTQIA+
- People with severe and persistent mental illness or substance use disorders
- Non-English speakers
- Individuals experiencing economic hardship
Additionally, violent crime survivors tend to isolate themselves as part of their trauma response, further reducing the likelihood of seeking help.
Trauma Recovery Centers (TRCs) are designed to fill this gap by providing comprehensive mental health and support services to survivors of recent violent crime. TRCs serve individuals affected by:
- Physical assault
- Sexual assault
- Domestic violence
- Immigration trauma
- Community violence
- Hate crimes
- Human trafficking
- Loss of a loved one to homicide2
TRC Core Elements
- Assertive outreach and engagement
TRCs actively engage survivors who face barriers to access traditional services, including those who are unhoused, have mental health conditions, are disabled, are immigrants or refugees, or are involved in the juvenile justice system.
- Serving all survivors of violent crimes
TRCs support individuals affected by a wide range of violent crimes, including sexual assault, domestic violence, battery, homicide, human trafficking, and vehicular assault.
- Comprehensive mental health and support services:
TRCs provide evidence-based interventions such as crisis counseling, individual and group therapy, medication management, substance abuse treatment, case management, and assertive outreach. Services are accessible and can be delivered in homes or community settings.
- Multidisciplinary team approach:
TRC teams consist of a diverse team of professionals, including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and therapists.
- Individualized, coordinated care
Survivors receive integrated services— such as psychotherapy and case management— through a single point of contact, ensuring continuity and personalized treatment plans developed by the full care team.
- Holistic case management
TRCs provide assistance with court and medical appointments, housing and financial aid, victim compensation applications, and employment support.
- Inclusive and non-exclusionary services
TRCs do not exclude clients based on complex behavioral issues such as substance use, anxiety, or low motivation, recognizing these as trauma-related.
- Trauma-informed, evidence-based practices
Clinical care is grounded in established approaches like Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT).
- Goal-driven approach
Services focus on reducing distress, preventing long-term disability, enhancing quality of life, reducing the risk of revictimization, and fostering post-traumatic growth.
- Accountability and duration of services
Treatment includes up to 16 sessions, with the possibility of extensions up to 32 sessions based on clinical review and demonstrated need.
As participants near program completion, TRCs facilitate connections to longer-term mental health care or specialized services, as needed. Some participants return for booster sessions during reactivating events. A scoping review conducted in 2024 found that survivors referred to TRC services had higher treatment access and initiation rates, better mental health outcomes, reduced reinjury rates, and higher rates of filing for victim compensation than those not participating in TRC programs.3
