If a child or teenager in your care has been through a traumatic experience, there is a lot you can do to help. Your own coping style and mental wellbeing can significantly influence how well a child or teenager in your care recovers from a traumatic event. As a caregiver, it is therefore very important to look after yourself first and seek help as early as possible if you are finding it hard to cope.
Children’s reactions to trauma can often be misunderstood as ‘difficult’ or ‘naughty’ behaviour. It’s normal to find this frustrating, but expressing anger or blaming the child for this behaviour might make things worse. Instead, try the following strategies:
If you have concerns about the recovery of a child or teenager, in your care, the first thing you should do is set aside some time to talk to them about how they are feeling.
Encourage them to talk openly about how they have been feeling since the traumatic event. Try to get an idea about any worries they may have or difficulties they are experiencing. Provide comfort and support and let them know that lots of people struggle with unwanted thoughts, feelings and memories after a traumatic event. But also let them know that you are there for them and that there is extra help available.
If you feel they are not improving after using some of the strategies discussed here, or are having problems managing their feelings, getting along with others or doing their daily activities, take them to a GP.
You can then ask them to tell the GP about what is troubling them. They may or may not be concerned about the trauma itself – sometimes, children and teenagers find it easier to talk about other difficulties rather than focus on the trauma itself.
If your GP is concerned that your child may be suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or another trauma-related issue, they can arrange for a referral to a child and adolescent counsellor who specialises in helping children and teenagers who have been affected by a traumatic event.
Usually, the counsellor will begin with a thorough assessment of the child or teenager’s behaviour and emotions. This will involve speaking to you and the child or teenager in your care, and perhaps other family members, as well as their teachers.
The counsellor will also want to know how other family members are coping. The counsellor should explain the diagnosis and the treatment options available to you and the child or teenager in words that you both understand, so that you are informed about how and why a treatment can work and feel ready to participate in it.
Trauma-focussed therapy is an effective, recommended treatment for PTSD for children and teenagers. Medication is not recommended as the first-line treatment.
The recommended treatment for children and teens diagnosed with PTSD is a ‘talking therapy’ known as Trauma-focussed Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT). This has been found to be helpful for children of early primary school age and older. Treatment is tailored to the age and developmental stage of the young person being treated.
Most people, when something bad happens to them, try to avoid thinking about it or talking about it as it makes them feel uncomfortable and upset. But it is this avoidance that keeps the person always on edge and stops the mind from being able to make sense of the memory and pack it safely away.
Trauma-focussed Therapy for children and teenagers works by gently supporting and encouraging them to start to talk about or express their feelings about the traumatic event. It is done in a way that is safe and that helps their minds make sense of what has happened. This treatment teaches age-appropriate skills to help the young person better manage their scary or upsetting feelings about the trauma.
During trauma-focused therapy the child or teenager will:
Parents or caregivers will also be supported, with the aim of helping the child or teenager recover.
When choosing a counsellor, it is okay to discuss the following points:
Confidential 24/7
counselling and referrals
