Trauma
What is trauma?
Trauma is when a person experiences an event as scary or harmful, and it has long-term effects on how they think, feel, and act.
What does PTSD stand for?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
How many kids lose a parent by the time they turn 18?
About 1 in 10 (over 6 million kids in the US)
What will a normal therapy session look like?
1/2 the time with the child, and 1/2 the time with the caregiver/parent
Why do people develop PTSD symptoms after going through trauma?
Many factors contribute to developing PTSD, such as how our brains are wired and what is going on in our environment. But ultimately, PTSD symptoms are just people's bodies are trying to protect themselves.
True or False: PTSD is a permanent, life-long condition.
False! PTSD is treatable, and PTSD symptoms tend to go down over time with the proper treatment.
True or False: Kids who lose a parent before the age of 12 are LESS likely to develop PTSD and depression than older kids who lose a parent.
False
What will we be tracking each week in therapy?
The 3 symptoms that bother us the most. These are the symptoms that we expect to see go down over time.
What happens in the brain when people are triggered by reminders of their trauma?
The upper brain (the thinking brain) shuts down temporarily, and the lower brain (the feeling brain) takes over. This makes it hard to calm down and make good decisions.
____ out of 5 kids who complete TF-CBT no longer have PTSD after.
4
Name 2 common ways that losing a parent affects a child.
Examples include strong feelings of sadness, fear, and loss; crying; difficulty sleeping; difficulty succeeding at school; thoughts of death or suicide; and mental health conditions like PTSD, depression, and anxiety disorders.
How soon do people start to feel better with this type of therapy? (even a little)
Within about 1 month from the first treatment session.
How do people heal from trauma?
Gradual exposure, cognitive (mental) coping skills, somatic (body) coping skills, and support from others. We develop new skills and try not to run away anymore.
What parts of life does PTSD effect?
Many things! Including school, family, friendships, and mental health.
Name 2 more common ways that losing a parent affects a child.
Examples include strong feelings of sadness, fear, and loss; crying; difficulty sleeping; difficulty succeeding at school; thoughts of death or suicide; and mental health conditions like PTSD, depression, and anxiety disorders.
True or False: In therapy, the child and parent/caregiver will usually have some kind of homework each week to practice.
True
With trauma, what are things we can NOT change, and what are things we CAN change?
We cannot change what happened. The past is the past.
We CAN change our relationship to the traumatic experience, how we react now, and how we move forward in life.
Distressing memories, avoidance of the past, negative thoughts, and strong reactions in the body.
True or False: Grief is a normal and healthy reaction people have to losing a loved one. It is only when the experience of grief lasts a long time and disrupts our lives that we may need additional support to heal.
True
True or False: Once treatment starts, the child and parent/guardian will never work together in therapy.
False! Every couple of weeks, the child and parent/guardian will come together to share what they have learned and practice together. The child and parent/guardian will also support each other outside of sessions.