The document discusses trauma and its treatment in mental health settings. It covers topics like defining trauma, different types of trauma according to Terr (such as type I acute trauma from single events and type II chronic trauma from repeated exposure), and theories on how traumatic material is stored in the brain. Treatment approaches covered include trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) and the neurosequential model. The neurosequential model takes a developmentally informed, biologically respectful approach using patterned activities matched to a child's needs across social, emotional, cognitive and physical domains within nurturing relationships.
8. Trauma Defined
A situation or event that creates psychological
trauma when it overwhelms the individual’s ability to
cope, and leaves that person fearing death,
annihilation or psychosis. The individual may feel
emotionally, cognitively and/or physically
overwhelmed.
9. Trauma Defined
A situation or event that creates psychological
trauma when it overwhelms the individual’s ability to
cope, and leaves that person fearing death,
annihilation or psychosis. The individual may feel
emotionally, cognitively and/or physically
overwhelmed.
The event does not define the trauma, the survivor’s
experience of the event does.
10. TRAUMA
Traumatic material is stored in the right
hemisphere (Siegel, 2000; van der Kolk 1997)
Brain encodes information visually (Terr)
Bi-lateral activity activates the right hemisphere
Kinesthetic experiences stimulate the
formulation of imagery
Kinesthetic & sensory experiences activate
limbic system, followed by cognitive & pre-
frontal systems
12. Type I - Acute (Terr)
Short & severe
One time event in normal life
Very few people develop PTSD
Medical
Natural Disasters
13. Type I - Acute (Terr)
Short & severe
One time event in normal life
Very few people develop PTSD
Medical
Natural Disasters Verbal recall
14. Type II - Chronic (Terr)
Repeated, anticipated (but single incident)
Persistent exposure
High incident of PTSD
Repeated physical or sexual abuse
Neglect
War
15. Type II - Chronic (Terr)
Repeated, anticipated (but single incident)
Persistent exposure
High incident of PTSD
Repeated physical or sexual abuse
Neglect
War
Verbal recall compromised
16. Type III- Complex Cumulative
Multiple Incidents
Cannot separate incidents
Resiliency lost
Impaired fx in all areas/daily
Psychiatric manifestations
From: The National Institute for Trauma
& Loss in Children
18. Neurosequential Model
A developmentally-informed, biologically-respectful approach to working with at-
risk children.
This clinical approach helps professionals determine the strengths and
vulnerabilities of a given child and create individualized intervention, enrichment
and educational plans for children.
Goal is to find the appropriate set of therapeutic activities that match a child’s
current need in various domains of functioning (i.e., social, emotional, cognitive
and physical).
Patterned, repetitive and developmentally-appropriate activities provided in
context of nurturing relationships are the keys to effective intervention.
Active participation of caregivers and other adults in the child’s life is important
to the success of the NMT; indeed, by weaving various activities throughout the
child’s various relationships and environments, the majority of “therapeutic”
experiences are provided outside of the actual context of conventional therapy.
The model has three key components – assessment, staffing/training and the
array of therapeutic, educational and enrichment activities.
