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Introduction to Childhood Introduction to Childhood Trauma – Part 1Trauma – Part 1

Brian Lowery MPA, LSWBrian Lowery MPA, LSWLowery Training AssociatesLowery Training Associates

Cleveland, OhioCleveland, Ohio

E-mail: E-mail: Brian@LoweryAndAssociates.comWeb: Web: www.LoweryAndAssociates.com

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Getting to Know Each Other

Name & AgencyName & Agency

Years in Child WelfareYears in Child Welfare

What I hope to Learn TodayWhat I hope to Learn Today

Ice BreakerIce Breaker

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Why a Trauma Workshop?Why a Trauma Workshop?

Many children in out-of-home care Many children in out-of-home care have lived through traumatic have lived through traumatic experiencesexperiences

Children bring their traumas with Children bring their traumas with them to placementthem to placement

Trauma effects a child’s feelings, Trauma effects a child’s feelings, behavior, relationships and view of behavior, relationships and view of the world in profound waysthe world in profound ways

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Why a Trauma Workshop Why a Trauma Workshop (Continued)(Continued)

Children’s trauma effects us to:Children’s trauma effects us to: Compassion FatigueCompassion Fatigue Painful memoriesPainful memories Secondary traumaSecondary trauma

Trauma’s effects—on children and on Trauma’s effects—on children and on us-can disrupt a placementus-can disrupt a placement

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The ChallengeThe Challenge

Caring for children who have Caring for children who have experienced trauma can leave staff & experienced trauma can leave staff & resource parents feeling: resource parents feeling:

ConfusedConfused FrustratedFrustrated UnappreciatedUnappreciated AngryAngry HelplessHelpless 1212

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The Solution: Trauma Informed The Solution: Trauma Informed CareCare

When you understand what trauma is and When you understand what trauma is and how it has affected your child/client, it how it has affected your child/client, it becomes easier to:becomes easier to:

Communicate with the childCommunicate with the child Improve the child’s behavior and attitudesImprove the child’s behavior and attitudes Reduce the risk of your own compassion fatigue or Reduce the risk of your own compassion fatigue or

secondary traumatizationsecondary traumatization Become a more effective and satisfied staff person Become a more effective and satisfied staff person

or resource parentor resource parent

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Trauma 101Trauma 101

What does the word What does the word “TRAUMA” mean?“TRAUMA” mean?

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A traumatic experience…A traumatic experience…

Threatens the life or integrity of a Threatens the life or integrity of a child or someone important to that child or someone important to that child (parent, grandparent, sibling)child (parent, grandparent, sibling)

Causes an overwhelming sense of Causes an overwhelming sense of terror, helplessness and horrorterror, helplessness and horror

Produces intense physical effects Produces intense physical effects such as pounding heart, rapid such as pounding heart, rapid breathing, trembling, dizziness or breathing, trembling, dizziness or loss of bladder or bowel controlloss of bladder or bowel control

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““Lisa 911”Lisa 911”

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Types of TraumaTypes of Trauma

Acute Trauma:Acute Trauma: A single event that lasts for a A single event that lasts for a

limited timelimited time

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Types of Trauma Types of Trauma (continued)(continued)

Chronic TraumaChronic Trauma The experience of multiple traumatic The experience of multiple traumatic

events, often over a long period of timeevents, often over a long period of time

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When Trauma When Trauma is Caused by is Caused by Loved OnesLoved Ones

The Term The Term complex trauma complex trauma is used to is used to describe a specific kind of chronic trauma describe a specific kind of chronic trauma and it’s effects on children:and it’s effects on children:

Multiple Traumatic events that begin at Multiple Traumatic events that begin at

a very young agea very young age Caused by adults who should have Caused by adults who should have

been caring for and protecting the childbeen caring for and protecting the child

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How Children Respond to TraumaHow Children Respond to Trauma

Long term trauma can interfere with healthy Long term trauma can interfere with healthy development and effect a child’s:development and effect a child’s:

Ability to trust othersAbility to trust others Sense of personal safetySense of personal safety Ability to manage emotionsAbility to manage emotions Ability to navigate and adjust to life’s Ability to navigate and adjust to life’s changeschanges Physical & emotional responses to Physical & emotional responses to stressstress

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How Children Respond to Trauma How Children Respond to Trauma (continued)(continued)

A child’s reaction to trauma will vary A child’s reaction to trauma will vary depending on:depending on:

Age and developmental stageAge and developmental stage TemperamentTemperament Perception of the danger facedPerception of the danger faced Trauma history (cumulative effects)Trauma history (cumulative effects) Adversities faced following the trauma Adversities faced following the trauma Availability of adults who can offer help,Availability of adults who can offer help, reassurance & protectionreassurance & protection10

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How Children Respond to Trauma How Children Respond to Trauma (continued)(continued)

Hyperarousal:

NervousnessNervousness JumpinessJumpinessQuickness to startleQuickness to startle

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How Children Respond to TraumaHow Children Respond to Trauma(continued)(continued)

Re-experiencing (flashbacks)

Intrusive images, sensations or Intrusive images, sensations or dreamsdreams

Intrusive memories of the traumatic Intrusive memories of the traumatic event or eventsevent or events

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How Children Respond to Trauma How Children Respond to Trauma (continued)(continued)

Avoidance or withdrawal

Feeling numb, shut down Feeling numb, shut down

or separated from normal lifeor separated from normal life

Pulling away from activities Pulling away from activities

and relationshipsand relationships

Avoiding things that prompt Avoiding things that prompt

memories of the traumamemories of the trauma13

Lets take a Break!Lets take a Break!Thanks for all your hard work, so far!Thanks for all your hard work, so far!

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Wrap-UpWrap-Up

Great job….everybody!!!Great job….everybody!!!

Thanks for all of your hard work on Thanks for all of your hard work on behalf of Ohio’s most vulnerable behalf of Ohio’s most vulnerable children & youth!children & youth!

BrianBrian