The Ernest S. Lawrence Trauma Center

In 1999 under the guidance of Dr Ernest S. Lawrence, in response to overwhelming major mental health challenges within the larger Los Angeles community the Los Angeles Institute and Society for Psychoanalytic Studies (LAISPS) launched the TRAUMA CENTER. The goal was for LAISPS to reach beyond its borders into the city's ethnically, socially, and economically diverse communities.

The mission of the ERNEST S. LAWRENCE TRAUMA CENTER is to provide community service and outreach through psychoanalytically informed treatment of emotional/physical trauma. The belief is that a psychoanalytic perspective can be helpful moving outside its traditional frame in confronting cycles of trauma, child abuse and neglect, and transgenerational violence within the community. It is also believed that psychoanalysis itself could be enhanced by an active engagement with these issues.

The project is made up of two components, one provides psychological services for "at risk" populations, and the other component is to share psychoanalytic thinking and apply that knowledge to issues facing the community.

The first project Parents and Infants Developing Together, provides psychological services for families where multi-generational repetitions of child abuse may be occurring. A group of volunteer clinicians which includes members of LAISPS and the LAISPS Affiliates group travels weekly to the Echo Park section of Los Angeles and sees mothers, fathers, and other family members who are attempting to raise their children without violence. These clients are referred through the Center for Non-Violent Parenting, a non-profit organization in that community. Other Trauma Center therapists provide psychotherapy through the Venice Family Clinic in West Los Angeles.

There are several workshops that have taken place to address clinical issues that occur when working with "at risk" populations. Dr. Neil Altman, psychoanalyst and author of "Analyst in the Inner City" spoke on "Psychotherapy with Inner-City Populations: A Psychodynamic-Systems Perspective" and "Psychotherapy with Foster Children/Youth and their Families: A Psychodynamic-Systems Perspective" These workshops were in collaboration with A HOME WITHIN and The VENICE FAMILY CLINIC.

THE ERNEST S. LAWRENCE TRAUMA CENTER plans to have Dr. Altman return in the Fall of 2007.

The second project, The Soldiers Project addresses the increased need for psychological services for service members and their families. This group of volunteer clinicians offer counseling and support for service men and women, children, spouses, and parents struggling with the overwhelming trauma of war, from deployment to homecoming to post war readjustment.

Another component of the Soldiers Project is its educational outreach to the community. Monthly meetings open to both clinicians and others who are interested in this issue highlight guest speakers in the area of war trauma. An active speakers bureau made up of Soldiers Project clinicians go out to community venues to teach and raise awareness about this population which is greatly affected by the situation of war.

So far the Soldiers Project has had over 50 referrals over the last 10 months and now are setting up other groups of mental health clinicians in other parts of the country.