Trauma/Feelings/Thoughts
What are some examples of trauma or traumatic events?
-bullying -when a family member dies -car accident -hurricane/tornado -physical abuse -emotional abuse -sexual abuse -abusive relationships -domestic violence
What is a safe adult?
Any adult you can trust with your information that will believe you and help you get the assistance you need.
True or False: It is better to hold in your feelings than to talk about them.
False
It is helpful to talk about your feelings whenever you're really sad or mad. Especially when you talk to someone you trust.
How many teeth do adult cats have? A. 10 B. 25 C. 30 D. 36
C. 30
How do kids feel when they have been through trauma?
Sad, Embarrassed, Disappointed, Depressed, Abandoned, Hurt, Attacked, Confused, Rejected, Lonely, Mad, Scared
What will we be working on writing next session?
A story about YOU!
We'll start with about you and your interests then move into so some tricky stories about scary/traumatic things that have happened to you before.
True or False: kids who parents get separated aren't affected by the separation
False
There are many ways that kids are affected by their parents separation
Cats can jump very high! Up to how many times their height can they jump A. 5x s B. 7x C. 15x D. 2x
A. Five times their height!
When in a difficult situation it best to focus on thoughts that are...
a.) Fun & nice
b.) Scary & confusing
c.) True & helpful
d.) Thought provoking & philosophical
c.) Accurate & helpful
BONUS:
Can you think of an example of a thought that is accurate and helpful?
If a parent yells at a child or another parent, but apologizes the child should be fine.
False
Trauma can have lingering impacts on children even if parents apologize. Examples of symptoms might include sadness, stomach pain, angry outbursts, difficulty sleeping, and poor appetite.
True or False: Talking about your trauma is easy.
False. Talking about your trauma is very difficult and can be stressful.
True or False: When a cat rubs its body or head against you, it is marking you with its scent.
True!
What are the three points of the cognitive triangle?
Example: You walk into the lunch room and your friends start laughing.
HINT: A______ T________ F________
Action/behavior: something happens
Thought: you have a thought about what happened
Feeling: you have a feeling about that thought
Some common reactions to trauma include...
-Crying spells -Anxiety -Feeling numb -Mood swings -Panic attacks -Trust issues -sleep issues -Flashbacks -Fidgeting -Low self-esteem -Depression -Difficulty eating
True or False: Parents are responsible for keeping kids safe
True
It's important for kids to try to be as safe as they can, but it is a parent's job to keep their kids safe from harm
True or False: Cats meow to communicate with humans.
True. Cats developed the ability to meow to communicate with humans. Feral cats do not meow!
Explain fight, flight, and freeze.
Fight: jumping into action and attacking a threat, or becoming argumentative.
Flight: running away, isolating, or leaving the situation
Freeze: being still, hiding, not moving, being quiet
What are three exercises a person can do to calm themselves down?
-Deep breathing -Box breathing
-5,4,3,2,1 senses -Muscle relaxation
-Counting -Picturing a safe space
and more!
True or False: It's the kid's fault when parents are separated
False
No matter what has happened, separation is never the kids fault.
How many pet cats live in the United States? A. 1 million B. 1 billion C. 500, 000 D. 88 Million
D. 88 million, making them the most popular house pet!