Witnesses to a violent or traumatic event are considered “secondary victims.” When the “secondary victim” is a child, parents and other caregivers are often unsure of how to respond to the effects of trauma. It is essential for children to be able to talk about their feelings and attempt to … Read More
EMDR Therapy and Trauma
Treating trauma can be difficult. There is emotional distress that needs to be addressed, as well as the effects of trauma on the body and nervous system. One of the evidenced-based interventions effective for transforming trauma is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). When we experience a traumatic event, we … Read More
Recognizing Trauma
The American Psychological Association defines trauma as the emotional response someone has to an extremely negative event. It is also possible to suffer trauma when you are not the victim, but a witness. For some, the effects can be so severe that they interfere with the ability to live a … Read More
Have I Experienced Trauma?
Any experience that is less than nurturing and causes you to change your perception of yourself, others and the world can be defined as trauma. The truth is we all have experiences in life that affect us negatively and cause us to suffer. The second truth is we are often … Read More
Traumatic Stress
People may experience a variety of reactions, many of which are understandable in the context of experiencing or witnessing traumatic events. Experiencing physical or emotional symptoms in response to a traumatic event is normal and is called a traumatic stress reaction.
Community Trauma: How the Events in Ferguson Touch Us All
The events in Ferguson are traumatic not only for his family but for the community at large. It’s important to recognize the effect it can have on all of us.
The Growing Parent: Trauma in the Media (Part 7)
There are a number of different things we parents can do to help minimize our children’s fears, as I’ve noted in the previous posts, but more than most anything else our children need a sense of security. For a child to know their parents are there to take care of him has the propensity to create a stable platform for him to build off of and excel.
The Growing Parent: Trauma in the Media (Part 6)
“With all the violence and natural disasters in the media today my children are constantly afraid. What can I do to help them not be so scared all the time?”
The Growing Parent: Trauma in the Media (Part 5)
As your child sees trauma in the media, stories of events that might make them scared, it’s important not to get too detailed when you talk about it.
The Growing Parent: Trauma in the Media (Part 4)
Ultimately, the responsibility for appropriate communication lies on the shoulders of the adult. Being conscious not to color our language with a multitude of descriptions and information can go a long way when talking to our children
