Trauma: What it is, what it looks like, and how to help:
Trauma can occur as a result of experiencing, witnessing, or secondary to another person’s trauma experience. These experiences can be the result of many things, (abuse, loss, exposure to domestic violence, separation and divorce) and are experienced differently by each child.
Common symptoms of trauma may include:
· Difficulty concentrating or remembering information.
· Intense reactions.
· Unusual clinginess, need to be with parent or caregiver.
· Changes in mood (anxious or agitated, excessive fearfulness or lack of fear, withdrawn).
· Refusal to talk about what happened or inability to stop talking about what happened.
· Difficulty sleeping, fearful of sleeping alone or being left alone even for short periods of time.
· Easily startled (terrorized) by sounds, sights, and smells similar to those that existed at the time of the event.
· Hypervigilance watching out for and anticipating that they are about to be or are in danger.
· Regressive behaviours atypical for child (sleeping with parents, bed wetting, nail biting, thumb sucking).
· Headaches, stomach problems, fatigue, and other ailments not previously present.
Common symptoms of trauma may include:
· Difficulty concentrating or remembering information.
· Intense reactions.
· Unusual clinginess, need to be with parent or caregiver.
· Changes in mood (anxious or agitated, excessive fearfulness or lack of fear, withdrawn).
· Refusal to talk about what happened or inability to stop talking about what happened.
· Difficulty sleeping, fearful of sleeping alone or being left alone even for short periods of time.
· Easily startled (terrorized) by sounds, sights, and smells similar to those that existed at the time of the event.
· Hypervigilance watching out for and anticipating that they are about to be or are in danger.
· Regressive behaviours atypical for child (sleeping with parents, bed wetting, nail biting, thumb sucking).
· Headaches, stomach problems, fatigue, and other ailments not previously present.
Helping Your Child:
Compassion and Safety – Tauma is like no other experience and may evoke behaviours and feelings uncharacteristic to your child. This is not unusual or intentional; your child is doing the best he/she can to survive and needs a sense of safety more than anything.
Affection and Protection - Provide them lots of love, affection, and connection. Feeling alone is common to children who have experienced trauma. Take extra care to soothe them through sensory activities that are calming and by providing connection and affirmation.
Empowering and Normalizing - This can be confusing and overwhelming for them also. Listen, without a need to understand, allow an opportunity for them to share what their experience was like for them and normalize their reactions. This provides a sense of empowerment and security.
Supportive and Structured Care - Structure and predictability will help provide a sense of safety. Understand that behaviour may be intense at times. In this time, limit consequences, instead stop, listen, and talk about it - providing teachable moments in a controlled and calm manner.
Affection and Protection - Provide them lots of love, affection, and connection. Feeling alone is common to children who have experienced trauma. Take extra care to soothe them through sensory activities that are calming and by providing connection and affirmation.
Empowering and Normalizing - This can be confusing and overwhelming for them also. Listen, without a need to understand, allow an opportunity for them to share what their experience was like for them and normalize their reactions. This provides a sense of empowerment and security.
Supportive and Structured Care - Structure and predictability will help provide a sense of safety. Understand that behaviour may be intense at times. In this time, limit consequences, instead stop, listen, and talk about it - providing teachable moments in a controlled and calm manner.
Resources:
Infographics:
Hand Brain Model - Flipping Your Lid
Understanding Triggers
Websites:
· The National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children (TLC) Parent Resource Site
· Child Trauma Academy
Readings:
· Daniel Siegel and Mary Hartzell, Parenting from the Inside Out.
· Gordan Neufeld and Dr. Gabor Mate, Hold On To Your Kids.
· Brave Bart, a book for traumatized children.
· TLC offers a booklist for parents, children, and professionals.
· Trauma Proofing your Kids: A Parents' Guide for Instilling Confidence, Joy, and Resilience, by Peter Levine and Maggie Kline
Counselling:
Engaging in counselling with a qualified trauma specialist will allow your child to work through and have a greater sense of safety about their trauma experience. When selecting a counsellor for trauma treatment it is important to determine whether they are trained in trauma intervention. TLC maintains a directory of certified trauma specialists that can be accessed by calling: 1-877-306-5256. Counselling is also available to support parents of children who have experienced trauma.
Adult Trauma Information Handout
Hand Brain Model - Flipping Your Lid
Understanding Triggers
Websites:
· The National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children (TLC) Parent Resource Site
· Child Trauma Academy
Readings:
· Daniel Siegel and Mary Hartzell, Parenting from the Inside Out.
· Gordan Neufeld and Dr. Gabor Mate, Hold On To Your Kids.
· Brave Bart, a book for traumatized children.
· TLC offers a booklist for parents, children, and professionals.
· Trauma Proofing your Kids: A Parents' Guide for Instilling Confidence, Joy, and Resilience, by Peter Levine and Maggie Kline
Counselling:
Engaging in counselling with a qualified trauma specialist will allow your child to work through and have a greater sense of safety about their trauma experience. When selecting a counsellor for trauma treatment it is important to determine whether they are trained in trauma intervention. TLC maintains a directory of certified trauma specialists that can be accessed by calling: 1-877-306-5256. Counselling is also available to support parents of children who have experienced trauma.
Adult Trauma Information Handout
Lori's Blog Articles for The National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children (TLC)
Link to blog Article: The Relationship Between Attachment and Addictions
Link to blog article: About Trauma, Trauma Intervention, and the Brain
Link to blog: Suicide Awareness: Providing Hope for Life
Link to blog article: Anticipatory Grief and Bereavement
Link to blog article: Making Connections in Case Formulation and Treatment Planning: Exploring attachment, historical trauma, and self concept
Link to blog article: Suicide Awareness - Providing Hope for Life
Link to blog article: About Trauma, Trauma Intervention, and the Brain
Link to blog: Suicide Awareness: Providing Hope for Life
Link to blog article: Anticipatory Grief and Bereavement
Link to blog article: Making Connections in Case Formulation and Treatment Planning: Exploring attachment, historical trauma, and self concept
Link to blog article: Suicide Awareness - Providing Hope for Life
Articles, Video Links, and Information
Please find a link to some of our favourite trauma resources below:
Links to training, trauma resources and programs, as well as research articles can be found at the National Centre for Trauma and Loss in Children
Dr. Bruce Perry has several articles and resources that can be found on his website Child Trauma Academy
Please find a link to the blog entry I recently completed for the National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children. There are several great blog entries created by professionals on various topics focusing on trauma.
Dr. Gabor Mate has some excellent resources on attachment and parenting, ADHD, and addictions. There are a multitude of video resources in varied lengths available on you tube, as well he has several books that are full of insightful and empowering information.
Links to training, trauma resources and programs, as well as research articles can be found at the National Centre for Trauma and Loss in Children
Dr. Bruce Perry has several articles and resources that can be found on his website Child Trauma Academy
Please find a link to the blog entry I recently completed for the National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children. There are several great blog entries created by professionals on various topics focusing on trauma.
Dr. Gabor Mate has some excellent resources on attachment and parenting, ADHD, and addictions. There are a multitude of video resources in varied lengths available on you tube, as well he has several books that are full of insightful and empowering information.