The ABELLA Model
Leading High-Stress Professionals with Trauma-Informed Practices
Is It Just Stress... or Something Deeper?
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Discover the breakthrough professionals in high-stress fields have been searching for. The ABELLA Model: Leading High-Stress Professions with Trauma-Informed Practices offers a lifeline to legal, healthcare, first responders, public service professionals, and countless others in high-stakes environments who find themselves overwhelmed by the weight of PTSD, vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, or burnout.
If you’ve ever wondered whether true resilience and fulfillment are possible in your demanding career, this book delivers a resounding yes.
At the heart of this essential guide is The ABELLA Model™—a practical, six-step framework designed to guide you from awareness to lasting transformation. Through real-world insights and actionable strategies, you’ll learn how to break free from cycles of blame, examine and evaluate your well-being, leverage the right resources, and apply action to create meaningful, sustainable changes.
Whether you’re struggling personally or leading teams that serve others in crisis, this book promises new tools and fresh hope for thriving in the face of adversity.
The ABELLA Model
It was about 4 am, and there was a knock on my door. I opened the door and saw him standing there, completely drenched in blood from head to toe. His eyes were bloodshot from crying, and he couldn't utter a word. I immediately started screaming, "Oh my God, no, no, no."
The night before, my police academy class celebrated our first anniversary of graduating from the LAPD academy at a restaurant in Pasadena. Afterwards, a few of us drove to my home in Hollywood to drink and party more. It was November 17, 1981.
Sometime after 2:00 a.m., one of the female officers, who was very drunk, wanted to drive home from Hollywood to the San Fernando Valley. All of us knew that she was too drunk to drive home. We tried to stop her. We took her keys away from her. We held her back and told her she was in no condition to drive. This went on for a while. As time went on, she seemed to finally give in, and we thought she would not drive, spend the night at my house, and drive home in the morning when she was sober.
However, at some point, she grabbed the keys from another officer's hand and ran out the door. She got into her car and drove away at a high rate of speed. A male officer jumped into his car and followed her. After driving about 20 miles, she tried to exit the freeway and flew off the embankment at a high rate of speed. The male officer, who had been following her the entire time, exited his vehicle and tried to rescue her, but she had been killed upon impact.
TESTIMONIALS
What others are saying
"The Abella Model presents a framework for individuals in high-stress professions, equipping them with essential trauma-informed practices. This book is both candid and brave, featuring Ms. Abella’s personal experiences while providing invaluable guidance for prioritizing well-being. This is a great resource for lawyers and others in the legal profession."
Jennifer Johnston Terando, R.N., Esq.
"As a lawyer who constantly juggles the demands of the profession, motherhood, wifehood, and self-care, this book resonated with me. It provides practical methods to alleviate stress and foster a healthier work-life balance. Lita bravely reveals how her own intense personal and professional experiences significantly impacted her mental health, sparking her passion to guide other professionals through similar challenges. The ABELLA Model offers a profound exploration of the physiological toll that high-pressure careers, compounded by personal adversities, can take on an individual. Through this framework, Lita equips readers with tangible strategies they can implement to regain control of their lives and mental health."
Jasmin E. Darron, Esq.
"Filled with useful examples from the school of life, this slim volume offers a wealth of insights into the dynamics of personal change. If you want to bring meaningful change to a stress-filled life, read this book and follow each of the steps it details."
Bruce Monroe, Retired Government Attorney
"If you’re a professional, work within an organization, or are self-employed, this very personal inspirational narrative is a must-read. Whether you feel overwhelmed, stressed, or simply stuck in your routine, this book will open your eyes to the many ways trauma can impact you and those around you."
Carol Arias, Retired Educator of 40 years
"Lita Abella has created a valuable tool designed specifically for high-stress professions. In the ABELLA model, readers will find heart, solutions, power, assistance, and support to recraft their own futures and avoid the inevitable breaking points of severe trauma unaddressed. I recommend this book and the help it offers to individuals, teams, departments, and organizations."
Susan Zytnik-Künzler, MSOL, ACC, BCC, CBC
Credentialed Coach, Business Consultant
Author Lita Abella draws on two decades in law enforcement, over 25 years as an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, and health and wellness professional, as well as her experience as a board-certified coach, mediator, and sought-after public speaker. Her powerful blend of professional expertise and deeply personal accounts of overcoming traumatic events makes her a trusted and empathetic guide for those ready to move beyond mere survival and achieve true excellence.
If you are ready to break the cycle of overwhelm and achieve true excellence—for yourself, your team, and those you serve— the path to lasting change begins here.
Contact us today for a free 30 minute consultation!
www.LitaAbella.com
(909) 228-1700
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