The traumatized child

Streaming video - 2014

"When trauma occurs early in life, children do not develop the capacity to regulate their experience, to calm themselves down when they're upset, to soothe themselves, to interact in appropriate ways with other people, to learn from their behavior" Margaret Blaustein, PhD. The impact of abuse and neglect on children, on their behaviors, on their sense of self, and on their capacity to form attachments with new caregivers can pose challenges for foster and adoptive parents, as well as for teachers and other professionals. In this video series, therapists Margaret Blaustein, Joyanna Silberg, Frances Waters, and Sandra Wieland describe how traumatized children understand the world and interact with others differently from other ...children, and how adults can respond most effectively. They explore such topics as anger and anxiety, trauma triggers, dissociation, de-escalation strategies, grounding techniques, and the process of building a trusting relationship. Their observations are reinforced by the accounts of parents, teachers, and former foster children. The presenters emphasize the importance of understanding what drives traumatized children's behaviors, rather than simply reacting to them. They provide concrete suggestions for stabilizing traumatized children and improving adult/child interactions. Useful for foster and adoptive parents, teachers, school counselors and psychologists, and mental health professionals. more