Helping Children Cope After Traumatic Events
More than two thirds of children reported at least 1 traumatic event by the age of 16. Child trauma occurs more often than you think and children need support to overcome the impact. In the face of fear, children seek out their parents. Parents can help a child overcome traumatic events with their support, comfort and reassurance. In addition to support from parents, evidence based treatment by a professional therapist provides research based treatment that help children overcome post trauma stress symptoms that may arise following a traumatic event(s). Kids can recover after trauma with the right responses, reactions, interventions and support.
Restore a child’s sense of safety and security
Trauma impacts a child’s sense of safety and security. One of the ways parents can help their child overcome the impact of traumatic events is by restoring their child’s sense of safety and security. Parents can let their child know they are safe, protected and supported by:
Reassuring them- parents can remind their child that they are safe and protected.
Maintaining routine and structure- when parents maintain their child’s routine and structure it gives a child one less thing to worry about. Knowing what’s ahead and what to expect allows a child to feel some sense of control following the event.
Offer attention and affection- this calms the attachment system which often is often impacted during traumatic situations.
Open communication- parents can offer developmentally, age appropriate, explanations of what is occurring
Paying attention to and noticing their cues- being attuned to your child’s cues, distress and worrys allows you to help them cope.
Allow expression of feelings
Children express what is bothering them in their play and in their every day interactions. Noticing and paying attention to your child’s cues and emotions and normalizing and validating their feelings is important to help them overcome traumatic events.
Show your child ways to cope with distressing or difficult emotions- children can learn that even difficult emotions can be dealt with and managed. Parents can remind and support children in using coping strategies.
Help your child name their feelings- when we are able to put our feelings into words it reduces the intensity and overwhelm of the emotion and helps children feel able to manage and cope.
Allow your child to own and tell their story
Parents often think if we do not talk about it or just move on children will forget about what happened, but that is far from the truth. It is empowering for a child to be able to own and tell their story of what occured. At Child Therapy Solutions, PLLC the evidence based treatments used often involves an aspect of a child being able to tell their story. Sometimes professional support is needed to help you hear this and Child Therapy Solutions PLLC in North Carolina is here to support you and your child during this process.
Having a coherent story helps your child make sense of their experience.
Children can feel empowered when telling their story.
Connect WITH SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY AND SUPPORTERS
Traumatic events often leave people feeling alone and isolated. The presence of a supportive adults can help them overcome the impacts of their trauma.
Connect with supports
Reach out for for professional help
Seek out help from a Professional
If your child has experienced a traumatic event there is help, healing and hope after. Parents, you hold a crucial role in helping your child overcome their trauma but just know that you do not have to figure this out alone, there is help. At Child Therapy Solutions PLLC, we specialize in treating trauma using evidence based treatments including Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) , Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) , Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP). There is hope after trauma.