Trauma-Informed Lens
In your role with children do you wonder why a child is responding the way they are? Why are they being aggressive? Why are refusing to do what is ask? Why they have issues with friendships? Or, why are they having a negative reaction to a situation that the intention was not to upset or frustrate them?
Trauma is not just one simple thing. There is a lot of conversation around what does it mean to be trauma-informed? How do you know if a person is reacting due to a trauma event or because of a label? And, what type of treatment is needed to understand the root cause of someone’s trauma experience?
In the 2-part series Remembering Trauma a true story is shared, which describes how trauma impacts our young children, as they grow up and react in situations and relationships based on their own trauma history. There were moments of watching this series that were hard and got me to reflect on the children and families I work with who have witnessed and been exposed to an event(s) that were traumatic. Multiple trauma events or chronic trauma is known as complex trauma. This trauma typically happens in the presence of caregivers and sometimes we do not even realize how our actions are adding to the complexity of a child’s mental well-being. As caregivers and providers, we may not understand why a child is negatively responding to particular situations or what are they trying to tell us. The Remembering Trauma 2-part series states that we need to never stop being curious about the events in a child’s life and to keep asking the question, “What happened to you?” as to gain a better understanding of what is being communicated by the behavior being displayed, what needs a child has, and how to best treat and support them through similar situations as they arise.
Like all of us, children want to know we care about them, to be validated and told that things are okay and it is normal to feel the way they feel. Children with complex trauma need us to meet them where they are at and help hold the assurance that it will okay, we are there for the journey to heal and grasp a better way to process and interact in future situations. We cannot fix anything without knowing what happened. Educators, parents, and other providers may feel frustrated when a child is displaying a behavior that is disruptive or out of the norm. Children in this situation have learned to cope and survive in unhealthy ways and require instruction on better ways to cope and respond to future situations, as well as advocate for their own needs and perform continuous positive self-talk. As a system we need to become trauma-informed and widen our lens as to never stop being curious. We need to collaborate with other providers and family members to ensure the recommended treatment is the most effective treatment. Taking a step back to seek more information and meet a child where he/she is at will provide support and trust as we investigate what happened to that child, which will lead us to interventions and treatment for the child and the family unit.
You never know what you may have missed or overlooked that could be another piece of information that will guide your practice of being trauma-informed and understand what is the root cause of the behavior. Keep being curious. Keep asking “What happened to you?” -Alison, The Founder of BX-OP
