Returning to Joy: When the Pain is Too Deep – For Children

Helping the Traumatized Child and Those Who Assist Them

Advocacy for children is an important mission whether your role is to protect, guide or provide therapy for children who have been traumatized.

This workshop will help you understand how traumatic experiences affect children and what caregivers can do to foster the healing process from trauma.

Training will include the topic of when children verbally, physically and/or sexually abuse other children. These children are at high risk to be placed in foster homes and with other children. Their behaviors are manifested through coercion, force, intimidation and secrecy.

Who are these children and why do they do the things they do? Although no one has all the answers to this question, we do know that there are contributing factors in the development of these children.  Many times they slide between the cracks of the social system or institution.

This seminar does not label or categorize or predict the pathology of a wounded child.  It does not suggest an all inclusive approach.  It does not replace clinical therapy.  Yet through activities that provide structure it is intended to help children and caregivers aid impulsive children to bind their anxiety in appropriate and predictable ways.

The training includes simple, therapeutic activities intended to engage children aged 4-13 in their own treatment. It is designed to be practical for therapists and fun for the children they serve.

In addition, adults who were traumatized as children bring strengths as well as some liabilities to their work and lives.  These are highlighted along with suggestions for self-care of child helpers.

This workshop can be formatted to a one day event but is best presented in a three day format.

A sample of information for those who attend this workshop is:

• Definitions of abuse for emotional, physical and sexual abuse.
• Four domains needed for children to move through healing as victims or abusers.
• Panic attack intervention and the healing help of storytelling to children.
• Traumatized children’s resilience traits and adaptive behavior responses.
• Tools to aid impulsive children to bind their anxiety in appropriate ways.
• Understanding when children are the abusers.
• Recovery and Intervention strategies.