Trauma Informed Practices

CSPU 512

Audria Gazzar-Cohen
Beatriz Huerta
Johanna
Tabaldo-Hernandez
Youlia Weber
 Agenda
I. What is Trauma?- 5 min
II. Types of Trauma - 5 min
III. Research and Statistics - 10 min
IV. Warning Signs- 5 min
V. Consequences of Trauma- 10 min
VI. Trauma and the Brain - 10 min.
VII. Principles of Trauma Informed Practices - 5 min.
VIII. Coping Skills and Strategies - 15 min.
IX. Support Systems in the Community - 10 min.
X. Wrap-up/Reflection - 5 min.
 What is Trauma?

Trauma:
Trauma is the response to a deeply distressing or disturbing event that overwhelms an individual’s ability to
cope. It causes feelings of helplessness, diminishes their sense of self, and their ability to feel a full range of
emotions and experiences.
 What is a Traumatic Event?

A traumatic event is a frightening, dangerous, or violent event that

poses a threat to a child’s bodily integrity or life. Witnessing a
traumatic event can also be traumatic for children. This is important
for young children because their sense of safety depends on the
perceived safety of their attachment figures. When a child feels
intensely threatened by an event he or she is involved in or witnesses,
that event is called trauma. There is a range of traumatic events or
trauma types to which children and adolescents can be exposed.
 Evidence Based Research

● Estimated rates of witnessing community violence range from 39% to 85% — and estimated
rates of victimization go up to 66%.
● Rates of youths’ exposure to sexual abuse, another common trauma, are estimated to be 25 to
43%.
● Rates of youths’ exposure to disasters are lower than for other traumatic events, but when
disasters strike, large proportions of young people are affected, with rates varying by region and
type of disaster. Children and adolescents have likely comprised a substantial proportion of the
nearly 2.5 billion people affected worldwide by disasters in the past decade.
 Statistics
● 60% of adults report experiencing abuse or other difficult family circumstances during childhood.

● 26% of children in the United States will witness or experience a traumatic event before they turn four.

● Four of every 10 children in American say they experienced a physical assault during the past year, with one in 10 receiving an

assault-related injury.

● 2% of all children experienced sexual assault or sexual abuse during the past year, with the rate at nearly 11% for girls aged 14 to 17.

● Nearly 14% of children repeatedly experienced maltreatment by a caregiver, including nearly 4% who experienced physical abuse.

● 1 in 4 children was the victim of robbery, vandalism or theft during the previous year.

● More than 13% of children reported being physically bullied, while more than 1 in 3 said they had been emotionally bullied.

● 1 in 5 children witnessed violence in their family or the neighborhood during the previous year.

● In one year, 39% of children between the ages of 12 and 17 reported witnessing violence, 17% reported being a victim of physical assault

and 8% reported being the victim of sexual assault.

●
People who have experienced trauma are:
● 15 times more likely to attempt suicide
● 4 times more likely to become an alcoholic
● 4 times more likely to develop a sexually transmitted
disease
● 4 times more likely to inject drugs
● 3 times more likely to use antidepressant medication
● 3 times more likely to be absent from work
● 3 times more likely to experience depression
● 3 times more likely to have serious job problems
● 2.5 times more likely to smoke
● 2 times more likely to develop chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease
● 2 times more likely to have a serious financial problem
 Types of Trauma that
Students Experience

Acute Trauma: Events that occur at a specific time and place that is short-lived. Some
examples include: natural disasters, accidents, sudden loss, violence.
Chronic Trauma: Experiences that occur repeatedly over long periods of time. Examples
include: chronic abuse/neglect, on-going community violence, long-term illness, homelessness,
chronic exposure to poverty.
Historical Trauma: The collective and cumulative trauma experience by a particular group
across generations still suffering the effects. Examples include: assimilation policies, slavery,
racism and discrimination.
Complex Trauma: Chronic exposure to trauma that begins when a child is young, often by
caregivers and leads to immediate and long-term difficulties in a variety of areas in life.
 Examples of Trauma
Students Experience
Accidents/Injuries Serious Illness House Fires Crimes

Community School Violence Sudden loss of a Combat Injuries

Violence Loved One

Domestic Violence Abuse/Neglect Homelessness Bullying

Natural Disasters Acts of Terrorism Living in or Stress

Escaping a War
Zone
 Warning Signs:
Many people experience strong physical or emotional reactions immediately following the experience of a traumatic
event. Most people will notice that their feelings dissipate over the course of a few days or weeks. However, for some
individuals, the symptoms of psychological trauma may be increasingly severe and last longer. This may be the result of
the nature of the traumatic event, availability of emotional support, past and present life stressors, personality types,
and available coping mechanisms. Some of the most common symptoms of psychological trauma may include the
following:
Cognitive: Physical:
Behavioral:

● Intrusive thoughts of the event ● Easily startled

● Avoidance of activities or
that may occur out of the blue ● Tremendous fatigue and exhaustion
places that trigger
● Nightmares ● Tachycardia
memories of the event
● Visual images of the event ● Edginess
● Social isolation and
● Loss of memory and ● Insomnia
withdrawal
concentration abilities ● Chronic muscle patterns
● Lack of interest in
● Disorientation ● Changes in sleeping and eating patterns
previously-enjoyable
● Confusion ● Vague complaints of aches and pains
activities
● Mood swings throughout the body
● Extreme alertness; always on the lookout for
warnings of potential danger
What are some consequences of trauma in the brain?

Key Point: Initial reactions to trauma can include exhaustion, confusion, sadness, anxiety, agitation, numbness,
dissociation, confusion, physical arousal, and blunted affect. Most responses are normal in that they affect most
survivors and are socially acceptable, psychologically effective, and self-limited
 Consequences of Trauma Explained:
Childhood:

Following a child's exposure to a traumatic event, parents and teachers are likely to observe the following
symptoms:

● Reexperiencing — constantly thinking about the event, replaying it over in their minds, nightmares.
● Avoidance — consciously trying to avoid engagement, trying not to think about the event.
● Negative Cognitions and Mood — blaming others or self, diminished interest in pleasurable activities,
inability to remember key aspects of the event.
● Arousal — being on edge, being on the lookout, constantly being worried.

Adulthood:

● Trauma can also impact a person into adulthood as they experience feelings of shame and guilt, feeling
disconnected and unable to relate to others, trouble controlling emotions, heightened anxiety, depression and anger.
● Research has shown that children who experience early childhood trauma, abuse or neglect are more likely to go on
to develop profound and long-lasting mental health problems in adulthood, such as 'complex PTSD'

Infographic Handout: click here

 Trauma’s Effect on the Brain
● Smaller brain size and
structures
● Fewer neural connections
● Difficulty trusting others and
forming healthy relationships
● Increased behavioral issues
● Dissociative responses
● Increased risk for mental health
issues
● Poor social skills - needing to
control, poor eye contact,
averse to touch and contact
● Heightened baseline level of
arousal
● Difficulties with learning,
memory and emotional
regulation
● Lower self-esteem
● Focus on survival versus future
orientation and goals
● Impulsivity
● Lack of self-awareness
 Trauma’s Effect on the Brain

Amygdala: Responsible for emotions, survival

instincts and memory. With trauma the amygdala
becomes hyperactive and leads to chronic stress,
heightened fear and increased irritation, making it
hard for children to calm down and get restful sleep.

Hippocampus: Responsible for storing and

retrieving memories. Poor memory results in
difficulty distinguishing between past trauma and
current experiences and learning difficulties.
 Trauma’s Effect on the Brain

Prefrontal Cortex: Responsible for

executive functioning skills and emotional
regulation. Trauma may result in deficits
in executive functioning skills including
difficulties with: beginning and managing
tasks, planning, organization, solving
problems, coping with emotions, focusing,
concentrating, maintaining attention,
adapting to changes and transitions, and
predicting future consequences to
actions.
Trauma’s Effect on the Brain
It is Important to Remember….

Neuroplasticity can be defined as the brain’s physical ability to change through

growth and reorganization. The brain is capable of remapping, making new neural
connections and systematic adjustments to past trauma and behaviors.

“When it is disheartening to learn that trauma changes the brain,

remember that healing changes the brain, too.” - Anonymous
Trauma Informed Practices
 Six Principles of Trauma Informed Practices
1 Safety Make sure students and families feel physically and psychologically safe.

2 Trustworthiness and Be as honest as possible. Cultivate a trusting relationship by listening

closely, showing that you care, and following up on promised support.
Transparency

3 Peer Support and Mutual Encourage students and families to seek out family, friends, and
community groups with similar experiences. Refer to resources.
Self-Help

4 Collaboration and Mutuality Let families and students know they are not facing this situation alone.
Healing happens in relationships.

5 Empowerment, Voice, and Bring families into the decision-making process as much as possible.
Recognize and build upon individual and family strengths. Help develop
Choice
new skills as necessary. Focus on resilience.

6 Context Seek to understand and encourage family healing.

Coping Skills/Strategies - Individual -
● Identify physical sensations associated with emotions

● Expand vocabulary to describe emotions

● Understand the triggers

● Learn how to self-regulate (journaling, breathing, etc.)

● Learn how to express emotions in healthy ways

Grounding Technique 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

You are Not Your Thoughts

How to change negative way of thinking

 Coping Skills/Strategies - Family -

● Know the warning signs - Reading

8 things you unconsciously do when
depressed
Puzzles and Games

● Do things together
Music and Dance

● Virtual Wellness -
Coloring
Meditation, Animal Cameras, Photo Gallery
● Relaxation Practice Log
 Coping Skills/Strategies - School -
Prevent
● Clear rules & expectations
● Clear routines & transitions
● Respectful language and tone
● Reinforcement
Positive
Support Repair
● Avoid arguing, ● Avoid disconnection
de-escalate
● Learn triggers, what helps
● School counselor, SP
● Follow-up / Debrief
● Provide calm space
● Support groups
● Access to Tier 2 & 3
Respectful Restorative
Activity #1 - With a Partner
Story Hand - helps to cope with stress, anxiety
while addressing the positive and validating concerns

.
e .. at
at Lov e
od e to
Go Lik

d
rrie
Wo ut...
to do abo
Like
Activity #2 - Individual
Raisin - meditation -

Sit up straight in a comfortable position. You will be given 1 raisin. Please

take the time to examine it as if you have never seen the object before.
Does it produce any sound? Feel it with your fingers, notice the uneven
texture on all sides, the color and the size of the object relative to your
hand. Smell the object, gently rub against your lips and notice the
sensation. Place it in your mouth and feel the texture with your tongue,
notice what it feels like against the roof of your mouth and the inside of
your cheek. Gently roll it around in your mouth and then bite on it and
notice the taste. Slowly swallow it while reflecting on your sensations and
observations involving all senses of perception - sight, touch, smell, taste,
sound. Focus on your presence in the moment.
 Support Systems in the Community

Cognitive Behavior Therapy

Examines the things you think Examines the things you do

ne In Se
-o gro lf -
on e up he
e- Onlin s lp
bo
On ok
s

Making Sense of CBT

 Support Systems in the Community
Solution Focused Brief Counseling - places focus on
person’s present and future circumstances rather than past experiences
in order to find solutions to challenges.

Individuals Families Couples

Naturalistic approach of “BEING” not just “DOING” - Miracle Question of SFBC

Challenging Thoughts Worksheet
 Wrap-up/Reflection

● What are you already doing that aligns with this

presentation?
● Identify THREE major points you would take away from this
presentation.
● Identify TWO resources or methods of supports that you
might use later.
● Identify ONE specific step that you can take with someone
experiencing trauma.
Handouts
Handout
 References
Achievement for All: What We Need to Know About Children in the Care System.
https://afaeducation.org/content/cla-resources/resources-in-english-adnoddau-saesneg/about-this-resource/what-we-need-to-know-about-children-in-the-care-system/.

Emergencies and National Disasters: Helping Children and Families Cope. Emergency Resources. https://challengingbehavior.cbcs.usf.edu/emergency/index.html.

Team, G. T. E. (2018, August 3). Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT). Solution–Focused Brief Therapy Overview, Solution–Focused Therapist.
https://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/types/solution-focused-therapy.

Healthy Brain vs a Brain That Experienced Childhood Trauma. https://www.parentingfile.com/healthy-brain-vs-a-brain-that-experienced-childhood-trauma/

Thatcher, T. (Retrieved, February 18, 2021.) Can Emotional Trauma Cause Brain Damage? https://highlandspringsclinic.org/blog/can-emotional-trauma-cause-brain-damage/.

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy Role Play - Miracle Question with Social Anxiety. https://youtu.be/gcXENqOwulw.

Mind, the mental health charity. (2015). Making Sense of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. https://youtu.be/9c_Bv_FBE-c.

Ohio Family Engagement Center at Ohio State University. Family Engagement with Trauma Informed Schools: Toolkits for Elementary School Staff. (Retrieved February 18, 2021.)
https://ohiofamiliesengage.osu.edu/2019/09/18/family-engagement-within-trauma-informed-schools-toolkits-for-elementary-school-staff/.

Terry Johnson Consulting. https://johansonconsulting.ca/tag/trauma/.

Psychological First Aid for Schools - The National Child Traumatic Stress Network. Taking Care of Yourself. ohiofamiliesengage.osu.edu.
https://ohiofamiliesengage.osu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/9.-Taking-Care-of-Yourself-Checklist.pdf.

University of California. (2019). Your Brain is Wired for Negative Thoughts - Here is How to Change It. https://youtu.be/3ThUrVXz9j0.