Trauma and the Brain
What is a trauma?
Witnessing, directly experiencing or learning about a life threatening event AKA a scary and violent experience that our brains have trouble making sense of.
What does TF-CBT stand for?
Bonus: What does PTSD stand for?
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Bonus: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
What is domestic violence?
Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior used by one individual against another to exert power and control. Domestic violence can include children, relatives or others within the home.
What is emotional abuse?
Emotional abuse is when a person uses emotions to control and manipulate others. This involves words and actions and may occur with or without physical abuse.
Emotional abuse can include witnessing domestic violence and experiencing bullying.
How do children feel when hearing about a trauma, like a loved one being hurt/injured?
Children may have many feelings when hearing about someone they are close to feeling harmed. Children may become scared, sad, angry or hurt.
Which is not a trauma symptom: A) nightmares and difficulty sleeping, B) watching excessive amounts of TV or videogames, C) difficulty concentrating or staying focused, D) anger outbursts or irritability
B! Watching excessive amount of TV or playing videogames is not a symptom of trauma
True/False: Confidentiality looks the same for TF-CBT as it does for any other therapy.
Bonus: What is confidentiality?
False! TF-CBT is a collaborative model that works with parents/caregivers and children, so it will involve sharing what is discussed with parents throughout the process within conjoint and parent sessions so caregivers are able to provide support and assist children with managing and reducing symptoms.
Confidentiality means keeping what is said during therapy session between the therapist and client, unless client expresses wanting to hurt/kill herself, another person, or someone is hurting the client.
True/False: Young children will not be effected by domestic violence since they are too young to remember anyway.
False! Research suggests the young children are deeply affected by witnessing violence especially if the perpetrator or victim of violence is a family member.
What are some examples of emotional abuse?
bullying, belitting, yelling, cursing, calling names, rejection, criticizing, humiliating, excessive demands on a child's performance., witnessing domestic violence.
What is most helpful in reducing trauma symptoms?
Complex trauma means:
A) taking an extended period of time to move past and talk about your trauma.
B) exposure to multiple trauma events or experiences
B! Complex trauma means that someone has experienced multiple traumas.
20% of all youth experience complex trauma.
25% of kids experience at least 1 trauma by the age of 16.
True/False: The TF-CBT model is effective for people ages 3-18.
True! TF-CBT is an evidenced based model that has been proven to be an effective intervention for kids and their parents to overcome the negative effects of traumatic life events.
True/False: Domestic violence is only when someone is becoming physical with another, such as hitting or punching them.
False! Domestic violence can be verbal, emotional, sexual, and physical.
How does bullying make a child feel?
Children may feel hurt, sad, angry, scared when being bullied. Bullying may lead to or worsen feelings of isolation, rejection, exclusion, and despair, as well as depression and anxiety, which can contribute to suicidal behavior.
What happens if traumas are not addressed?
If traumas are not talked about and better understood, the symptoms will become worst and result in more distress such as negative thinking, suicidal thoughts, unstable relationships with others, difficulty trusting others.
True/False: Trauma changes the way the brain works.
True! When you experience a trauma the prefrontal cortex (reasoning, judgement and thinking part of the brain) shuts down and the amygdala (fear center) and brain stem activate to prepare your body for fight, flight, or freeze (survival mode).
Fill in the blanks: In TF-CBT, children will become the master of their _____, ______, and _____ related to their trauma symptoms.
Thoughts, feelings, and symptoms.
Throughout TF-CBT, children will be taking back their power over their trauma experience.
What are they effects on children when witnessing domestic violence? What are some emotional reactions? Physical reactions?
Emotional responses can look like depression, anxiety, fear, sadness, sleep issues, guilt.
Physical responses may look like: stomachaches, headaches, difficulty concentrating, wetting the bed.
What are the different types of bullying?
Bullying can be cyberbullying (internet/social media); being the subject of rumors or lies; being made fun of, called names, or insulted; pushed, shoved, tripped, or spit on; being left out/exclusion; threatened with harm; others tried to make them do things they did not want to do; property was destroyed on purpose.
How often do children witness violence in their families?
1 in 5 children witnessed violence in their family or the neighborhood during the previous year.
More than 60% of youth age 17 and younger have been exposed to crime, violence and abuse either directly or indirectly.
Why is it important for caregivers to be involved in TF-CBT treatment?
It is important for caregivers to be involved in treatment because they will be learning how to support and assist child with managing their symptoms, thoughts and feelings. When caregivers are involved in treatment is helps to reduce feelings of self-blame, shame, and distorted thoughts with child.
True/False: Children will never get over their trauma experiences.
False! Children may not forget their traumas but with treatment, children can go on to live healthy, happy, and normal lives.
How often does bullying happen?
About 20% of students ages 12-18 experienced bullying nationwide.
True/False:
People who have experienced trauma are:
True! Attempted suicide, depression and medications are not a life long issue for those who experienced trauma. With help from a therapist or professional, individuals can increase mood and decrease need for medication.