PsyCare Trauma Research Group

PsyCare Trauma Research Group is a planned non-profit initiative focused on delivering accessible, evidence-based mental health support to individuals who often lack reliable, affordable therapy options—especially those facing barriers such as homelessness, violence exposure, or abject poverty. Advised by a PhD psychologist and two MDs with extensive clinical experience, our founder blends decades of healthcare technology, software engineering, and administrative expertise to create an AI-based therapy assistant. This system is rigorously designed to provide evidence-based tools (e.g., TF-CBT, CBT, DBT, ACT, Seeking Safety) and immediate coping strategies outside traditional office hours—offering 24/7 support for trauma survivors.

While not intended or designed to replace a licensed human psychologist, the program offers structured guidance, standardized screening tests, and thorough referrals to crisis lines or emergency services if needed. The ultimate goal is to empower marginalized or vulnerable populations—especially those in poverty, homelessness, or living with trauma—to receive continuous, user-friendly mental health assistance by smartphone application when they cannot access in-person care.

Founding Background

The creator’s path spans several decades in the mental health field, noting that psychological care can be extremely expensive and unavailable to low income and impoverished populations. Career spans nearly two decades in medical clinic administration, patient care coordination, and system implementation (EHRs, data transfers, network administration). Coupled with over twenty-five years of software engineering, including C/C++, Python, Assembly language, and in recent 5 years in Artificial Intellligence/Machine Learning, learned advanced prompt engineering, exploring and learning design of large language model architectures, vector/semantic search, custom ML models for audio processing, and machine learning pipelines. This expertise and personal experience lead me to use these skills to develop a psychological assistance progrma to the underserved. This stance positions PsyCare Trauma to merge technology with clinically sound interventions and personal dedication to quality. Through open-source or low-cost methods, we aim to reach those most in need by lowering development costs and server time to run the smartphone application.

Therapy modality explanations

Clinical Review & Ethical Safeguards

Advisory Board

Composed of a PhD psychologist and two MDs, all with extensive experience handling trauma, crisis intervention, and vulnerable populations. They periodically audit the AI’s performance and ensure alignment with recognized therapeutic standards.

Ethics & Confidentiality

Hybrid Clinical AI Framework: OpenAI Advanced Models + Symbolic Reasoning Engine

Secure API Calls

Leveraging OpenAI’s advanced models (fine-tuned on an extensive, peer-reviewed psychology and trauma-informed care corpus) allows for deeply empathetic, context-aware dialogues with real-time sentiment analysis and adaptive tone modulation. Each response precisely matches each user’s emotional state and history.

Symbolic Reasoning Engine

A dedicated engine controls the state of therapy by enforcing rigorous clinical decision rules—every response adheres to up-to-date clinical guidelines (DSM–5–TR, APA practice parameters) and evidence-based frameworks (CBT, DBT, TF–CBT).

Crisis Detection

Automatically detects high-risk indicators (e.g., suicidal ideation, domestic violence danger) and triggers immediate crisis interventions (crisis-line referrals, 911 prompts, tailored safety plans).

Adaptive Therapy Pathways

Combines empathic, human-like conversation with structured therapy modules, guiding users through CBT exercises, journaling prompts, exposure hierarchies, and progress checkpoints.

Privacy & Compliance

Data is stored with end-to-end encryption; personally identifiable information is anonymized for retraining (where users have consented), maintaining HIPAA-level compliance.

Mandatory Voice Verification

Enrollment: Users record a brief voice sample to create a unique voiceprint.

Login: Each session, the user must speak 5 random words generated by the system. The app checks both speaker identity and the correct words (to thwart simple playback hacks).

Benefit: This ensures privacy protection if the user’s phone is stolen or if an abuser tries to impersonate them, especially vital in domestic violence or trafficking contexts.

Sample User Experience Illustration

Using the App

Secure Sign-In: On launching the smartphone application (Android/iOS), the user speaks a short voice authentication phrase and then enters a PIN. Once validated, the app greets the user by name.

Text Interactions: Beyond the mandatory login procedure, all therapy conversations occur via text input.

Emotional Cues: Typed language cues help the app estimate distress level or emotional shifts.

Hypothetical PTSD Session

User (Voice at Login, Then Text): “Hi, I had another nightmare about my car accident last night. I woke up shaking and couldn’t go back to sleep.” App: “I’m sorry to hear you went through such a difficult experience again. Would you like to talk about how you felt in that moment, or start with a calming technique?” User (Text): “I’ll try a calming technique. I felt terrified and replayed the crash in my mind.” App: “Let’s try a grounding exercise. First, could you describe your surroundings right now and find something comforting within reach?” User (Text): “I’m sitting on my couch, hugging a pillow. It helps me feel safe.” App: “Excellent. Now take a few slow breaths. As you hold the pillow, notice how soft it feels and remind yourself that you are in the present, not in danger. Take your time.” App: “Whenever you’re ready, please let me know if your sense of panic has lessened. We can also explore what triggered the nightmare if you feel comfortable.” User (Text): “The panic is not as bad now. The nightmare felt so real—like I was trapped in the car again.” App: “Thank you for sharing. We can talk through the memory step by step, or try another method that’s often recommended for re-experiencing nightmares. Which would you prefer?” User (Text): “Let’s talk through it, maybe that helps.” (They proceed with a structured conversation exploring the memory in a safe, controlled manner.)

After the Conversation

Summary: The app produces a concise session summary highlighting the user’s intense fear upon waking, the grounding technique used, and initial discussion of the traumatic memory.

Homework Assignments: The system might suggest a brief written exercise or establish a calming routine. Users can opt in for reminders.

Questionnaires: The user may receive validated mood check-ins (PHQ–2, etc.) to monitor shifts in symptom severity.

Educational Materials: Articles about post-traumatic stress, guided relaxation videos, or exposure strategy explanations are available on-demand.

Key Principles

  1. Privacy and Security
    • Voice + PIN verification ensures only the authorized user logs in.
    • Emotional detection tailors interventions while keeping data private (no sharing without explicit consent).
  2. Flexible Input
    • After login, therapy is text-based by default.
    • The app interprets typed language cues to provide empathic responses and coping strategies.
  3. Evidence-Informed Guidance
    • Exercises are drawn from recognized therapy frameworks (TF-CBT, DBT, ACT, Seeking Safety, etc.).
    • Summaries and homework help maintain progress over time.
  4. Self-Paced, Multiple Sessions
    • Users can pause and resume questionnaires or therapy steps.
    • Each session builds on the last for personalized recommendations.
  5. Safety Boundaries
    • In extreme distress or crisis, the app provides immediate emergency resources and encourages contacting professional help (911, crisis hotlines, or local ER).

SOAP-Style Plan

After a user completes short/long tests (or partially completes if needed, then resumes to complete), the system compiles a SOAP outline:

Detailed Operation of the Smartphone App

Smartphone App Only (No Web Version):

App Flow & Core Features

Mandatory Voice Authentication

GUI-Driven Assessments & Modules

Access to Past Sessions

Phone Number & Recovery Email

Pausing & Resuming

Onboarding & Screening

Chief Complaint First

User’s Primary Concern: On first use, the app prompts: “Please describe your main concern or challenge. Why are you seeking support?”
AI Interpretation: The system analyzes key words (e.g., “flashbacks,” “homeless,” “abuse”) to shape the next screening steps.

50-Item Life Circumstances & Trauma Inventory

Short & Long Tests in Detail

The system selects short test modules (e.g., PC–PTSD–5, PHQ–2, AUDIT–C, WAST–Short) to quickly gauge severity. If scores exceed thresholds, the user proceeds to longer, more diagnostic measures (PCL–5, BDI–II, etc.). Examples:

Crisis Scenario Examples & Enrollment Emphasis

In all crises, the user must already be enrolled (voice authenticated, phone linked). If not enrolled, the app prompts them to call 911 or a crisis line.

Crisis Scenario A: DV Survivor Logging in After Violence

User: “He just hit me again; I’m locked in the bathroom.”

Outcome: The user is marked as high-severity (no donation required) and is guided to a safe exit plan.

Crisis Scenario B: Homeless Veteran with Flashbacks & Alcohol Use

User: “I can’t sleep without getting drunk. The nightmares from Iraq come every night.”

Outcome: Veteran flagged for free service. Encouraged to do daily check-ins and connect with local resources.

Crisis Scenario C: Police Officer with Vicarious Trauma

User: “I saw another horrible child abuse case. I’m shaking.”

Outcome: The officer uses structured exercises to manage acute stress, with suggestions to seek departmental mental health support.

25 Key Populations & Estimated Overlaps

Below is the detailed Population Treatment Details & Protocols section: Each entry includes:

1. Rape Survivors Not Receiving Formal Therapy (Including Those Below Poverty Line)

Population & Trauma Description: Survivors of forced sexual acts who lack insurance or resources. Financial constraints often lead to untreated PTSD or major depression.

Common Psychological Symptoms:

Short Tests & Follow-Up:

Therapy Suitability:

2. Kidnapping/Hostage Survivors of Sexual Human Trafficking

Population & Trauma Description: Individuals abducted or coerced into commercial sexual exploitation, often threatened with violence or death if they try to escape. Coerced drug use or repeated sexual assault is common.

Common Psychological Symptoms:

Short Tests & Follow-Up:

Therapy Suitability:

3. Street-Level Sex Workers (Prostitutes)

Population & Trauma Description: Individuals selling sex in public/semi-public contexts, often lacking stable housing or healthcare. Stigma, repeated assaults, and potential legal pressures compound trauma.

Common Psychological Symptoms:

Short Tests & Follow-Up:

Therapy Suitability:

4. Adults Exploited by Human Trafficking or Forced Labor (Non-Sexual or Mixed)

Population & Trauma Description: Domestic workers or sweatshop laborers coerced into harsh conditions; IDs often confiscated. Threats of deportation or harm are used to control them.

Common Psychological Symptoms:

Short Tests & Follow-Up:

Therapy Suitability:

5. Adults Facing Intimate Partner Violence

Population & Trauma Description: Physical/sexual/emotional abuse from a partner or spouse. Leaving is complicated by finances, children, or unsafe shelter options.

Common Psychological Symptoms:

Short Tests & Follow-Up:

Therapy Suitability:

6. Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Exploitation

Population & Trauma Description: Survivors who were exploited as minors; often carry life-long shame, attachment issues, and intimacy struggles.

Common Psychological Symptoms:

Short Tests & Follow-Up:

Therapy Suitability:

7. Incarcerated Individuals Surviving Prison Brutality

Population & Trauma Description: Individuals who experienced extreme violence, gang conflict, or sexual assault behind bars. Reintegration is fraught with triggers and recidivism risk.

Common Psychological Symptoms:

Short Tests & Follow-Up:

Therapy Suitability:

8. Homeless Individuals with Severe Mental Illness

Population & Trauma Description: Individuals who may lose or lack access to meds, leaving them vulnerable to repeated victimization.

Common Psychological Symptoms:

Short Tests & Follow-Up:

Therapy Suitability:

9. Homeless Individuals with Substance Use Disorders

Population & Trauma Description: Individuals living unsheltered, relying on alcohol/drugs to cope with daily threats. High risk of overdose, repeated victimization, and cyclical withdrawal.

Common Psychological Symptoms:

Short Tests & Follow-Up:

Therapy Suitability:

10. Homeless Veterans with Co-occurring Substance Abuse & Combat-related PTSD

Population & Trauma Description: Former service members living in shelters or on the street, using alcohol or drugs to cope with war memories. May have insufficient VA benefits or have trouble accessing them.

Common Psychological Symptoms:

Short Tests & Follow-Up:

Therapy Suitability:

11. Adults Living in Persistent Community Violence

Population & Trauma Description: Individuals trapped by finances or social ties in areas with frequent shootings or robberies. Chronic stress fosters hypervigilance and desensitization.

Common Psychological Symptoms:

Short Tests & Follow-Up:

Therapy Suitability:

12. Individuals Who Endured Kidnapping or Torture (Non-Sexual)

Population & Trauma Description: People forcibly confined or tortured for political, gang-based, or paramilitary reasons. Poverty or fear often prevents post-release therapy.

Common Psychological Symptoms:

Short Tests & Follow-Up:

Therapy Suitability:

13. First Responders Exposed to Repeated Trauma

Population & Trauma Description: Continuous exposure to accidents, homicides, mass-casualty incidents, often with minimal decompression support. Stigma may deter seeking help.

Common Psychological Symptoms:

Short Tests & Follow-Up:

Therapy Suitability:

14. Public Safety Telecommunicators (Dispatchers)

Population & Trauma Description: Dispatchers experience repeated exposure to graphic emergency calls, often lacking closure or on-scene context.

Common Psychological Symptoms:

Short Tests & Follow-Up:

Therapy Suitability:

15. Adult Survivors of Severe Childhood Physical Abuse

Population & Trauma Description: Individuals subjected to extreme violence by caregivers, often without protective interventions. Long-term attachment and identity problems can occur.

Common Psychological Symptoms:

Short Tests & Follow-Up:

Therapy Suitability:

16. Adults with Severe Disfigurement from Violent Attacks

Population & Trauma Description: Survivors of attacks intended to cause permanent physical harm (facial burns, scars). Stigma, repeated surgeries, and social isolation can deepen distress.

Common Psychological Symptoms:

Short Tests & Follow-Up:

Therapy Suitability:

17. Parents Who Witnessed a Child’s Violent Death or Serious Harm

Population & Trauma Description: Caregivers who observed fatal or near-fatal harm to their child. The loss or severe injury can result in overwhelming guilt, financial strain, and despair.

Common Psychological Symptoms:

Short Tests & Follow-Up:

Therapy Suitability:

18. Stalking Survivors

Population & Trauma Description: Individuals persistently followed or harassed by stalkers, facing threats of harm. May relocate or lose jobs to escape.

Common Psychological Symptoms:

Short Tests & Follow-Up:

Therapy Suitability:

19. Long-Term Survivors of Devastating Natural Disasters

Population & Trauma Description: Adults living in partial refugee status post-disaster; slow or incomplete recovery leads to prolonged stress, community fragmentation, and repeated triggers (e.g., weather alerts).

Common Psychological Symptoms:

Short Tests & Follow-Up:

Therapy Suitability:

20. Survivors of Serious Industrial or Workplace Disasters

Population & Trauma Description: Workers who lived through catastrophic on-site accidents. May face job loss, physical injury, or survivor’s guilt if colleagues died.

Common Psychological Symptoms:

Short Tests & Follow-Up:

Therapy Suitability:

21. Survivors of Serious or Near-Fatal Car Accidents

Population & Trauma Description: Individuals who survived major collisions, sometimes losing companions. Can incur medical debt or fear of driving.

Common Psychological Symptoms:

Short Tests & Follow-Up:

Therapy Suitability:

22. Families of Fallen Soldiers

Population & Trauma Description: Spouses, children, or parents grieving a service member lost in combat. May lack full details of the death or struggle with military benefits.

Common Psychological Symptoms:

Short Tests & Follow-Up:

Therapy Suitability:

23. Missionaries or Aid Workers Formerly in Conflict or Epidemic Zones

Population & Trauma Description: Individuals exposed to war zones, natural disasters, or disease outbreaks. May experience culture shock, guilt, or moral injury post-return.

Common Psychological Symptoms:

Short Tests & Follow-Up:

Therapy Suitability:

24. Caregivers of Seriously or Terminally Ill Patients

Population & Trauma Description: Family or friends offering daily care for dementia, cancer, ALS, etc. The relentless care needs can cause burnout and emotional overload.

Common Psychological Symptoms:

Short Tests & Follow-Up:

Therapy Suitability:

25. Survivors of Cultic or High-Control Group Environments

Population & Trauma Description: Adults leaving groups with strict hierarchy, intimidation, or exploitative leaders. They may be ostracized, financially cut off, or harbor deep guilt.

Common Psychological Symptoms:

Short Tests & Follow-Up:

Therapy Suitability:

Final Summary

PsyCare’s Mission: To compassionately serve those at greatest need—survivors of extreme trauma or poverty—by providing AI-guided mental health support anchored in recognized therapies (TF-CBT, DBT, ACT, Seeking Safety).

Comprehensive Screening & Plan: A robust SOAP framework ensures thorough user evaluation, with short and long tests, plus donation-based or free usage depending on risk severity.

Security & Privacy: Mandatory voice verification, encryption, and strict data policies preserve confidentiality.

Integration with Community Resources: Partnerships with large U.S. nonprofits allow referrals to in-person shelters, crisis lines, and legal aid for severe situations.

Commitment to Reducing Suffering: Organized as a non-profit, PsyCare dedicates resources to empower the most vulnerable, bridging gaps in existing mental health systems.

Disclaimer & Final Note

This extensive therapy assistant model is research-based and not designed to replace licensed mental health professionals. Instead, it augments user access to consistent, on-demand coping methods—especially for high-risk or low-resource populations. The system can direct users to crisis lines or 911 dispatch if urgent help is needed. Using standardized tests (e.g., PC–PTSD–5, PHQ–2, etc.) and recognized therapeutic modalities (TF-CBT, DBT, ACT, Seeking Safety), it adapts to a wide range of trauma profiles and circumstances.

Concluding Summary