"We cannot undo or erase stressful things we have experienced. Facing them often seems impossible. But it isn't. And if we face them, we can learn to live with them" - Prof. Dr. Rita Rosner, psychological psychotherapist and member of the StAR project team.
Rising demand for (online) therapy services
Even before the Corona pandemic, a rising trend of trauma experienced by children and adolescents was noted. With the lockdown, domestic violence cases have risen even further. "Domestic violence and abuse, just like witnessing rampages, natural disasters or a serious illness of one's own, are events that represent a state of emergency of extraordinary threat and are therefore often experienced as traumatic," explains Christina Schulte, Research Associate at the Assistant Professorship of Psychology and Digital Mental Health Care. Traumatic events can leave traces that sometimes become apparent immediately, sometimes months or years later. If these traces persist, lead to suffering and/or interfere with everyday life, it is advisable to work through the experience with the help of therapeutic support.
Online training StAR as an opportunity for sufferers
However, therapy places are rare and often associated with long waiting lists. "For young people, moreover, shame, fear of stigmatization and also a lack of knowledge about available services play a major role in not seeking on-site therapy," explains Prof. Ebert. The StAR online training, which was specially developed for adolescents and young adults with post-traumatic stress disorder, is therefore a low-threshold offer and a great opportunity for those affected to work through what they have experienced with the help of trained eCoaches over a period of around twelve weeks and to develop effective strategies for the future. The eCoaches are at least in training to become psychological psychotherapists. Especially for young people who cannot or do not want to start on-site therapy for the time being, the offer can provide timely low-threshold support.
Participants wanted!
Participants for the pilot project StAR are still being sought. Anyone between the ages of 15 and 21 who has had one or more bad experiences in the past can register for the study. In the case of minors, the consent of both legal guardians must be obtained. At the beginning of the study participation, an intake interview is conducted with a licenced psychotherapist, in which it is diagnosed whether the affected person suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. Afterwards, the participants can work through the nine online units independently and are accompanied by an eCoach. The goal of the training is to find a way for the stressed adolescents and young adults to better deal with the experience in the future and to lead a self-determined life despite the experience.
More information about the StAR study
To the homepage of the Assistant Professorship of Psychology and Digital Mental Health Care
to the website "Protect Lab" of Professor Ebert
Contact:
Prof. Dr. David Daniel Ebert
Assistant Professorship of Psychology and Digital Mental Health Care
Georg-Brauchle-Ring 60/62
80992 München
E-Mail: david.daniel.ebert(at)tum.de
Dr. Anna-Carlotta Zarski
Assistant Professorship of Psychology and Digital Mental Health Care
Georg-Brauchle-Ring 60/62
80992 München
E-Mail: anna-carlotta.zarski(at)tum.de
Christina Schulte
Assistant Professorship of Psychology and Digital Mental Health Care
Georg-Brauchle-Ring 60/62
80992 München
E-Mail: christina.schulte(at)tum.de
Text: Nina Hofmann
Photos: private/"Protect Lab"