Expanding treatment for relationship trauma and complex post-traumatic stress disorder virtually

In response to the heightened relationship trauma posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Dynamic, Attachment-Focused Relational Therapy Program (DaRT), has emerged as the province’s specialty program for people needing help with relationship trauma and complex stress-related disorders. 

The program provides support to adults with complex emotional trauma resulting in unhealthy relationship patterns and behaviours with oneself and others,” said Dr. Jackie Kinley, clinical director of the program. “At a time where psychiatry often prioritizes medication, it can feel like it misses the person. The program is unique in that it uses a very different approach, one that emphasizes relationships, and leverages emotion in the service of healing and repair. The evidence shows this profoundly changes biology!” 

The DaRT program helps people gain knowledge and skills to improve self-awareness, manage, and express their emotions, set and follow through on goals, build healthy relationships, and cope with or prevent future mental health problems.”

DaRT, located at the Dr. Clyde S. Marshall Building on the Nova Scotia Hospital site in Dartmouth provides both in-person care and also offers a virtual stream. 

The virtual stream aims to facilitate province-wide access to specialized treatment for the often chronic and debilitating consequences of complex relationship trauma or having experienced complex relationship trauma.  

The program won an Award of Excellence in Mental Health and Addictions Quality Improvement for the 2024 Nova Scotia Health Quality Awards for “Extending access to specialty group psychotherapy services for individuals with relationship trauma and complex stress disorders.” 

Central to the success of the virtual stream has been rigorous research and continual program evaluation. 

“The virtual program has been successful because we did thorough research and continually checked how it was working,” explained Dr. Sandra Reyno, the team’s research psychologist. “This helped us create a strong plan to help people make important changes in their lives.” 

Participants in the virtual stream have reported significant positive changes across various domains, including complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms, psychological symptoms such as depression and anxiety, emotion regulation, beliefs about self and others, and improvements to relationships, and resilience.

People who have been a part of the program say it has made big differences in how they handle their emotions and how they see themselves.

"I learned not just about managing emotion but about separating, identifying and understanding each one and what was underneath,” said a past program participant. “It was hard for me to differentiate anger, shame, hurt or guilt. I can do this now."

The implementation of DaRT’s virtual stream has not only expanded accessibility to specialized treatment services but has also facilitated extensive outreach with clinicians and services across the province. 

Through ongoing outreach, education and supervision, DaRT aims to distribute best practices in group-based treatment for complex PTSD, ultimately empowering clinician’s province-wide to deliver the virtual program.

DaRT’s virtual stream represents a significant stride forward in the delivery of specialized treatment for relationship trauma and complex stress-related disorders. By leveraging technology and evidence-based practices, the program aims to enhance accessibility and effectiveness to help people heal from the effects of trauma.

People can currently access care and support at the DaRT program through community mental health teams, and/or through a referral from a psychiatrist.

For more information on the DaRT program, call 902-464-3222 or visit https://mha.nshealth.ca/en/services/dart-program.

Photo of (left to right) Dr. Sandra Reyno, PhD Psychology; Megan Horner, Masters in Social Worker (MSW); Brendan Tweedie,MSW, and Dr Jackie Kinley, DaRT Program Director. Sitting, from left to right: Andrew Welch, Clinical Therapist; Alice Embree, Admin. Missing from photo: Kate Sampson, Recreational Therapist; Neal Henderson, MSW, Program Manager.