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CCI in a Cross-Cultural Setting by: Dr. Kirk Austin Baako cried incessantly at the orphanage, where he was a resident.  When Jake and Sarah stepped off the plane in Zimbabwe, thrilled to adopt this little 3-year-old boy, they were excited, curious and a tad bit anxious.  They arrived home to Canada and after a number …

Trauma and Culture The purpose of this article is to highlight key considerations when working with psychological trauma from a cultural perspective.  Culture is a broad concept and can be difficult to pin down.  Often culture is understood as ethnicity or race, however it can involve many other facets of identity (or social locations) including …

Inter-Generational Trauma by Fred Chou Sandy was a young adolescent boy that was currently in a foster care placement with two care groups; he was with his grandmother on the weekend in his own reserve and then during the week days he stayed with a foster family in his city.  He presented with behavioral issues; …

Fourteen-year old Malia is a male of Caucasian and Somalian descent who has lived with his foster family for the past 4 years. Prior to moving in with his foster family, Malia lived with his biological Muslim family until he was 10 years old. His foster mother Angela came to me asking for help on …

This article specifically address’ the different kinds of trauma that Indigenous children are exposed to and the reactions that may evolve (ie: ACEs, PTSD & affects in home and school).

The Value of PACE in Parenting by Lisa Frede Have you noticed that “parenting as usual” seems to be backfiring with your child? Do you have a child that retaliates with rage and aggression to traditional discipline? Rather than using conventional behavior modification strategies which may trigger rejection and shame (and the big behaviors that …

CCI in a Cross-Cultural Setting by: Dr. Kirk Austin Baako cried incessantly at the orphanage, where he was a resident.  When Jake and Sarah stepped off the plane in Zimbabwe, thrilled to adopt this little 3-year-old boy, they were excited, curious and a tad bit anxious.  They arrived home to Canada and after a number …

A scientific study on adoption as an effective intervention in the developmental domains of physical growth, attachment security, cognitive development, school achievement, self-esteem, and decreased behavioral problems.

Anxiety, Physiological Responses and it’s Connection to Complex Trauma By Nicole Fakaua Sherri was 11 years old and woke up most mornings complaining her tummy ached and had trouble eating her breakfast.  Her foster father Mike noticed that every time they would drive to her visitations with her bio mom, she would rub her head …

Yoga for Trauma by Lisa Frede Jaime sat cross legged on her new yellow yoga mat, wondering why she had ever agreed to try this. The instructor at the front of the room was addressing the class, yet Jaime’s mind was racing and she could hardly focus on what was being said – something about …

I went to the mall today and I was surrounded by parents and their children who were doing their Back-to-school shopping. I could hear parents tell their children to pay attention and to choose which pair of shoes they liked. As I listened to the conversation, I had a memory of a time when I …

When children are under the influence of an anxious brain, their behaviour has nothing to do with wanting to push against the limits. Once kids have a more solid understanding of why they do what they do, they will be well on their way to finding a better response. Here’s where the adults in their lives will make a critical difference.

Navigating anxiety is an essential life skill that will serve them in the years to come. In the heat of the moment, try these simple phrases to help your children identify, accept, and work through their anxious moments.

This blog written by an educator gives insight and practical tools into how to help your anxious child.

The Great Disconnect by David Brown As a professional clinician, I have been ruminating on the possibility that as therapists and other forms of helpers, we often deny our own embedded emotional pain, trauma, shame and vulnerability.  I think we often will use our professional role as a basis for deciding that our best course …

Adverse Childhood Experiences and their Lifelong Toll By David Brown & Nicole Fakaua   “I just can’t seem to shake my depression, my sense of failure…my lack of energy…it’s all just so much.  I’ve been on and off antidepressants for most of my adult life, struggle with the rum…I never seem to hit my breakthrough…I …

Reducing the Impact of ACEs: A CCI Program Evaluation By: Dr. Kirk Austin The Adverse Childhood Experiences Summit: BC & Beyond was held at the Sheraton Wall Centre in Vancouver BC on November 14th and 15th, 2017. As a partnership between the Doctors of BC and the BC government, the Shared Care Committee invited members …

ACEs are potentially traumatic events that can have a lasting impact on youth and adults.  This simplified calculator will help you determine what your ACE score is.

In my previous post, I talked about the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study (ACEs) and how this is beginning to shake the foundation of how we view mental health problems. Take the ACEs test here The ACEs study points to a powerful connection between stressful childhood experiences and how it can create lifelong difficulties for people …

What if we were able to identify a common thread to be found at the root of many health and mental health concerns? The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study is shaking the very foundations of how we have perceived illness and its causes. So much so that researchers are touting ACEs as the number one …

An introductory video on the impact of childhood trauma, ACES and the connection between life long and chronic health conditions.  Dr Jeffrey Brenner states, “I believe ACE scores should become a vital sign, as important as height and weight”.

A short 5 min. video overview of ACEs, what they are and how they impact on lifelong issues over the course of a lifetime.

Ongoing adversity in childhood leads to a chronic state of “fight, flight or freeze.” Researchers at Yale had recently shown that when inflammatory stress hormones flood a child’s body and brain, they alter the genes that oversee our stress reactivity, re-setting the stress response to “high” for life.

This study explores the link between a positive bedtime behavior and a small tangible reward in reducing disruptive bedtime behavior, night waking and problem behavior during waking hours.  Clinicians suggest an intervention plan that is tangible for caregivers to implement.

Healthy development in the early years provides the building blocks necessary for the developing child. This three-part video series gives us a much better understanding of how early experiences are built into our bodies and brains, for better or for worse.

Dr. B.D. Perry gives a brief introduction to core concepts regarding brain structure and function that provide the basis for developmentally sensitive and trauma-informed caregiving, education and therapy.

Chronic neglect can actually disrupt and weaken the developing brain architecture.  This 20 page article provides scientific analysis of the effects of neglect, implications as well as the impact of intervention for maltreated children. 

A fun-filled activity book about the brain for children in grades K-3 (ages 5-9). Provides an introduction to how the brain works, what the brain does, its importance, and how to take care of it.

An addition to It’s Mindboggling!, this publication is a closer look at learning and memory, the senses, drug addition, and how the brain and nervous system work, for elementary and middle school students.

Resources packed with information about the brain in a fun format of games, riddles, and puzzles for elementary and middle school students.

An online resource to help children understand their brains and nervous system.  Easy language for children.

I went to the mall today and I was surrounded by parents and their children who were doing their Back-to-school shopping. I could hear parents tell their children to pay attention and to choose which pair of shoes they liked. As I listened to the conversation, I had a memory of a time when I …

This three-part video series depicts how advances in neuroscience give us a better understanding of how early experiences are built into our bodies and brains, the impact of toxic stress and the circuitry of the brain in the development of a child.

This is a short but impacting visual on how our brains are structured and the connection between emotional regulation (2.30 mins)

Why Keeping a Developmental Perspective is Critical when Working with Complex Trauma by Dr. Chuck Geddes As we continue working with children and youth who have extensive trauma histories and exhibit severe behavioural problems, it is becoming increasingly apparent to me that establishing and keeping a developmental perspective is a crucial goal.  This perspective helps …

As with all trauma types, children’s responses vary with age and developmental stage. The table below shows a brief list of possible reactions/symptoms by age: young children (birth to age 5), school-age children (aged 6 to 11) and adolescents (aged 12 to 18).

This compilation of developmental stages includes an indepth look at the physical, emotional, intellectual, social and moral milestones from birth-18 years old.

Developmental milestones are things most children can do by a certain age. A simple format that highlights milestones focusing on social/emotional, language, cognitive and physical development/movement from birth to five years.

This developmental stages chart includes normal expectations for developmental milestones for children birth through adolescence including maladaptive behavior from mistreatment/trauma.

Compassion and Shame: When Your Best Interventions Seem to Backfire Little Lisa is sometimes crazed with fury and hatred and often directs this toward her foster mom, Susan. Susan has been learning a lot about shame and connection so she understands that Lisa is lashing out at her because she fears being hurt and being …

“I hate you!” Screamed 6-year-old Lily, her face scrunched up into a snarl. “I hope you die and all your kids die too!” Her foster mom, Jen took a deep breath. Sometimes keeping the attitude of being playful, accepting, curious and empathic (PACE) that Daniel Hughes suggests is key in working with traumatized children felt …

Relationship Repair by: Dr. Kirk Austin It seemed that every time Johnny returned from visiting his mother he would have an “off day”. He had spent the last year in a foster home because his mother was unable to care for him. Her mental health and addiction issues had provided the backdrop of their relationship …

What is emotional regulation vs. emotional dysregulation?  This publication guides caregivers and educators through an understanding of contributing factors to emotional dysregulation and helpful strategies to implement.

Emotional regulation refers to a person’s ability to regulate their emotional responses.  Childen in particular, need to be taught this skill and often act like they are ‘out ofcontrol’.  This article highlights practical skills to aid your child in self mastery of their emotions.

This initiative is engaging efforts throughout school districts to enable children and teens the skills to self regulate their emotions, anxiety, fears etc that would otherwise control and incapacitate them.  This in turn is leading to successful in school and within their own lives.

KIDS & TECHNOLOGY – DAMAGING OR DISCONNECTING? (Part 1) By Angela Murphy, School Psychologist Once when I was visiting a family, the 12-year old adopted son *Josh, took me to his room to show me his game.  Within a 5-minute time span I saw his very real looking character smoke marijuana, pick up a prostitute, …

Complex Trauma and Medications by Chuck Geddes, Ph.D. This post will offer some thoughts on the use of psychotropic medications for children and youth with complex trauma histories.  In a previous post, Complex Trauma and Assessment {https://www.complextrauma.ca/complex-trauma-assessment/ }, I wrote about a young boy named David and how typical psychiatric assessment processes resulted in him …

Children who enter the foster care system typically arrive with at least a few personal belongings but many also arrive with another piece of baggage, one that they are not even aware of.  They have: an “invisible suitcase” filled with the beliefs they have about themselves, the people who care
for them, and the world in general.  This outlines in an easy readable format some of the beliefs to be aware of and practical ways to help.

This article examines the impact of childhood trauma, its effect and the role of healthy relational interactions in buffering the impact of trauma on children.  

Intergenerational Trauma (IGT) refers to the transmission of trauma from one generation to the next.  It is the notion that “traumatic experiences endured during childhood or adulthood, might profoundly influence the well-being of their offspring”.

Disconnect to Connect By Angela Murphy How many of us remember the story of Josh and his parents? Once when I was visiting a family, the 12-year old adopted son *Josh, took me to his room to show me his game.  Within a 5-minute time span I saw his very real looking character smoke marijuana, …

Signature Strengths By Dr. Kirk Austin Michael was in trouble again. The school had called Karen, the foster parent, to report his “bullying” behavior on the playground. In speaking to the principal, Karen learned that Michael had been playing aggressively with the other children. As others had reported, Michael would yell at other kids and …

By Kenzi Dirks, M.A., R.C.C. Twelve-year-old Willow sat on the corner of my office couch, handling some Play-Dough from my box of fidget toys. From the outside, no one would suspect that this intelligent and confident pre-teen was used by her biological father for sexual purposes. Having been adopted for almost two years, Willow’s parents …

This article supports the quote that, “Every child who winds up doing well has had at least one stable and committed relationship with a supportive adult.”

This 4-page article that address’ practical ways teachers and the education community can gain an understanding of and feel better equipped to support children of parents who struggle with mental illness.

Yoga for Trauma by Lisa Frede Jaime sat cross legged on her new yellow yoga mat, wondering why she had ever agreed to try this. The instructor at the front of the room was addressing the class, yet Jaime’s mind was racing and she could hardly focus on what was being said – something about …

Teachers demonstrate and incorporate simple mental exercises in the classroom to promote mindfulness (7 mins).

This is a practical sample of what a Family Care plan could look like for a student: inclusive of emergency #’s, family preference, schedule, what to do in case of an emergency etc.

Trauma and PTSD are silent diseases. Victims often feel isolated and misunderstood and people suffering from PTSD may feel frozen in time, reliving their traumatic experience over and over.  Continue reading to see how you can support those suffering from these debilitating conditions.

This article provides an overview of PTSD in children.  While targeted for an interdisciplinary audience, portions may be helpful to parents and caregivers living with children suffering with PTSD.

In this video, Chris Ulmer takes the time to pay several compliments to each and every one of the eight students in his special education classroom. This is the power of affirmation and resiliency statements in action.

Research has proven that positive self-talk enhances healthy identity. CTR clinician, Dr. Kirk Austin provides some key statements that you can speak over your children and yourself each day.

Working with Complex Trauma is Challenging: Increasing Resilience by: Dr. Kirk Austin Resilience is a funny word. It means to bounce back, to rebound, or to recover. It is an essential life-skill that can lead to healthy identity development.  Sarah Hamill believes that resilience typically refers to the development of competence in the face of …

A moving video of a dad that motivates his daughter every day before school reminds us of the importance of positivity and building self-resilience in our children.

This handbook which contains valuable information for educators to help them on a daily basis as they work with students whose learning has been adversely impacted by trauma in their lives.

Why Self Care is Essential When Supporting Traumatized Children Joanna has been a foster parent for nearly 20 years. She has cared deeply for all of the children who have lived with her and she has done her very best to help them heal and recover. Lately though, she has been feeling bone-tired. There doesn’t …

Self-care is a cornerstone of success for foster and adoptive parents and relative caregivers, thing on which all other successes depend. For this reason, this issue of Fostering Perspectives shares insight and reflections from foster parents and others and points you to self-care ideas and resources.

This article and questionnaire is designed to help you reflect on your experiences, identify your strengths, your support system and give you practical insight into how to aid your behaviorally challenged child/youth.

This article highlights some positive messaging and awareness of self/boundaries that can be incorporated into your life to create peace and balance.

Compassion fatigue can develop from a combination of burnout and secondary/vicarious traumatization. Here are key elements to enhance your resilience in the workplace.

Foster families, this is a worksheet for you to plan out what you would do under extremely trying circumstances, even though this may be rare. It is important to develop a framework using your before you are faced with a crisis or feel overwhelmed.

This assessment helps you identify the activities that you would like to add to your self-care practice in each self-care domain.

This assessment will help you highlight the things you are already doing for yourself and assist you in evaluating areas where there might be an imbalance in how you practice self-care.

This assessment helps you identify what you do now (either well or poorly) to manage the stress in your life.

Factors that can influence the level of Care Team Functionality by David Brown I have been reflecting on my behaviour during some recent events, meetings and interactions with both colleagues and friends. I noticed with significant disappointment how often I would hesitate to say something due to my own uncertainty regarding whether, by saying it, …

This 18-page article, highlights understanding and preventing secondary traumatic stress when working with traumatized and maltreated children.

Dr. Austin, one of CTR’s clinicians, provides some practical strategies framed around the REST MODEL that will aid caregivers with helping children with bedtime routines.

Recently, a foster family came to see me about their nine-year-old son. *Michael had been with this family for about 6 months and the parents were at a loss as to how to help him sleep at night.  Every night, there seemed to be a mixture of reasons, excuses and behaviours that seemed to escalate …

Compassion and Shame: When Your Best Interventions Seem to Backfire Little Lisa is sometimes crazed with fury and hatred and often directs this toward her foster mom, Susan. Susan has been learning a lot about shame and connection so she understands that Lisa is lashing out at her because she fears being hurt and being …

BUILDING EMPATHY THROUGH READING By Kenzi Dirks, M.A., R.C.C.   “We really emphasize saying sorry,” a concerned foster mother said to me, “when Milo hurts someone we always make him apologize.” “How is that working?” I inquired, genuinely curious. “I don’t think he means it,” she responded. Children who have experienced complex trauma can have …

Relationship Repair by: Dr. Kirk Austin It seemed that every time Johnny returned from visiting his mother he would have an “off day”. He had spent the last year in a foster home because his mother was unable to care for him. Her mental health and addiction issues had provided the backdrop of their relationship …

A testimonial about how Jefferson County Public Schools in Louisville, Kentucky are seeing positive results from a district-wide commitment to the CARE for Kids program (Social And Emotional Learning) made just two years ago (6:31 mins).

Studies show that sustained and well-integrated social and emotional learning (SEL) programs can help schools engage their students and improve achievement.  Explore classroom practices that make up the best and most effective SEL programs (6:02 mins)

This article offers a practical guide for teachers on how to create a safe classroom in the first few weeks of a new school year.

Complex Trauma and Medications by Chuck Geddes, Ph.D. This post will offer some thoughts on the use of psychotropic medications for children and youth with complex trauma histories.  In a previous post, Complex Trauma and Assessment {https://www.complextrauma.ca/complex-trauma-assessment/ }, I wrote about a young boy named David and how typical psychiatric assessment processes resulted in him …

This 25 minute powerful documentary with renowned experts, share a new understanding of how trauma effects the development of the mind body system, and how it affects children’s behaviors and social relationships.

Inter-Generational Trauma by Fred Chou Sandy was a young adolescent boy that was currently in a foster care placement with two care groups; he was with his grandmother on the weekend in his own reserve and then during the week days he stayed with a foster family in his city.  He presented with behavioral issues; …

The growing science of child development and trauma should cause us to examine all of our practices and policies if we claim to be working in the best interests of children.  Within Child Welfare much policy is built on the framework of either key VALUES (e.g. “Kids need to be in school so they learn …

This booklet aims to provide an insight into the many challenges that adopted children face, why these challenges might arise and various tips and ideas on how to manage key areas of difficulty for both parents and teachers.

This “Toolkit” on trauma, gives information for educators, parents and caregivers, including facts, suggestions, psychological and behavioral impact of trauma by grade level and self care.

This 25 minute powerful documentary with renowned experts, share a new understanding of how trauma effects the development of the mind body system, and how it affects children’s behaviors and social relationships.

This extensive 18-page article outlines the adverse effects of trauma highlighting developmental lags, attachment, brain development, CTS, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and more.

Signature Strengths By Dr. Kirk Austin Michael was in trouble again. The school had called Karen, the foster parent, to report his “bullying” behavior on the playground. In speaking to the principal, Karen learned that Michael had been playing aggressively with the other children. As others had reported, Michael would yell at other kids and …

This 25 minute powerful documentary with renowned experts, share a new understanding of how trauma effects the development of the mind body system, and how it affects children’s behaviors and social relationships.

This article provides insightful information into the impact of complex trauma, factors to consider, signs and symptoms and how to live and care as a trauma informed parent.

This 17-page booklet will assist parents, caregivers, teachers and various professionals working with maltreated and traumatized children.

Specialists offer helpful insights and practical advice in response to some critical questions that are commonly asked by adoptive and foster parents – video content.

Signature Strengths By Dr. Kirk Austin Michael was in trouble again. The school had called Karen, the foster parent, to report his “bullying” behavior on the playground. In speaking to the principal, Karen learned that Michael had been playing aggressively with the other children. As others had reported, Michael would yell at other kids and …

This 25 minute powerful documentary with renowned experts, share a new understanding of how trauma effects the development of the mind body system, and how it affects children’s behaviors and social relationships.

This article will aid you in learning what trauma-informed care looks like for an organization, its staff, families and youth.  Inclusive of a case study using NMT. 

NMT is a multidimensional assessment “lens” designed to guide clinical problem solving by facilitating the integration of a developmentally sensitive, trauma-informed clinical methodology with traumatized and maltreated children and youth.

This lengthy manual will introduce any laymen to techniques in working with a variety of issues that surround children/youth that struggle with complex trauma.

Complex Trauma and Assessment by Dr. Chuck Geddes We received a referral last month for a young 10 yr old boy. (We’ll call him David although that isn’t his real name.) David was referred for help because none of the existing services were making a difference with his extreme behaviour. David had recently been suspended …

What’s in a Name? Lionel was moody in recent weeks. His parents noticed that he appeared to be more withdrawn at home and spent more time in his room. When they inquired at the school, teachers mentioned that the other kids had been picking on Lionel because it was “different”. Not knowing how to deal …

Fourteen-year old Malia is a male of Caucasian and Somalian descent who has lived with his foster family for the past 4 years. Prior to moving in with his foster family, Malia lived with his biological Muslim family until he was 10 years old. His foster mother Angela came to me asking for help on …

This article analyzes how early childhood experiences shape a child.  This article highlights how traumatic experiences and neglect impact on the neurobiology of the developing brain and the integration of the 6 core strengths towards healing.

This article focuses on key insights that staff members working with traumatised children in various settings might find useful. He address’ three components to help ensure that staff provide the essential context these children need to heal and get back on the appropriate developmental path.

Dr. Joyce and Dr. Vicki help educators aid their traumatized students to be as successful as possible in the learning process.  Engaging in a trauma lens assists children and youth to be successful in their educational environment.

This 25 minute powerful documentary with renowned experts, share a new understanding of how trauma effects the development of the mind body system, and how it affects children’s behaviors and social relationships.

This manual is an aid to better support teachers and staff who are supporting children and youth who have experienced traumatic events.  It provides specific strategies on how to be a trauma informed and practicing classroom.

This article describes the basis for providing a safe and healing environment for children in schools who need to recover from the effects of trauma.  Basic assumptions, values, goals and the process that must be shared by all members of the system are described.

This impacting 10 minute video prefaces the reason for why we need Trauma Sensitive Schools.

Recovery from trauma will occur best in the context of healing relationships.  A must read for teachers and school staff in working towards a trauma informed practice in schools.

This extensive article provides 129 pages of practical understanding of complex trauma, the considerable impact of domestic violence on a child’s ability to learn and practical tools to unfold the framework for being a trauma sensitive school.

This 100-page article, shares the effects of prolonged trauma in children and its inevitable effect on their ability to learn, the science of neurobiology, how to provide support for a dynamic learning environment, integration strategies for a TIP school and more.

This extensive volume of 140 pages, provides a clear, research and practice informed model of how to create a trauma-sensitive school with the hope of ensuring academic success for ALL children.

This article offers a practical guide for teachers on how to create a safe classroom in the first few weeks of a new school year.

Educators and schools do have an informed role to play in the lives of students struggling with unprocessed traumatic memories.  This article addresses the correlation between being a trauma informed school and academic success.

This video is an introduction to a variety of adaptive responses that can be used under threat, with a focus on the hyperarousal and dissociative continuum.

This 10 minute video gives an introduction to the crucial role that patterns of stress response system activation play in pathology and healing.

Chronic neglect can actually disrupt and weaken the developing brain architecture.  This 20 page article provides scientific analysis of the effects of neglect, implications as well as the impact of intervention for maltreated children. 

This article focuses on child traumatic stress, especially that most commonly found among children involved with the child welfare system and looks at effects of child traumatic stress and the most effective treatments.

The loving approach of a caring and responsible adult can be highly stressful for a traumatized child and they may react in ways that are baffling to the adult – lashing out or pushing away in a dramatic way. For some adults this rejection is not just baffling but it is also hurtful.  It can be hard to remember that the child is stressed and that they’ve been so badly hurt that their trust needs to be built ever so slowly – not unlike approaching a wounded wild animal. When we talk about Strengthening Attachment we are referring to how we help the caregivers and parents to build a secure attachment within the child and to counteract the years of insecure or disorganizing attachment experiences.

What Kind of Smart are You?  Understanding Multiple Intelligences By Dr. Kirk Austin Once upon a time the animals decided they had to do something decisive to meet the increasing complexity of their society. They held a meeting and decided to organize a school. The curriculum consisted of running, swimming and flying. Since these were …

This 25 minute powerful documentary with renowned experts, share a new understanding of how trauma effects the development of the mind body system, and how it affects children’s behaviors and social relationships.

What’s in a Name? Lionel was moody in recent weeks. His parents noticed that he appeared to be more withdrawn at home and spent more time in his room. When they inquired at the school, teachers mentioned that the other kids had been picking on Lionel because it was “different”. Not knowing how to deal …

An excellent article written by a collective group of clinicians which addresses trauma and its impact in the classroom.  It’s notable for its content in recognizing potential risk factors and the application of TBRI principles and strategies so children can be successful in learning.

This handbook which contains valuable information for educators to help them on a daily basis as they work with students whose learning has been adversely impacted by trauma in their lives.