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Developmental Trauma: Responding with Resilience. Dr Rachel Durkin Acting Senior Educational Psychologist HCPC Registered. Aim of Presentation. Local context: what are our current ways of responding to children who have experienced trauma and adversity?
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Developmental Trauma: Responding with Resilience Dr Rachel Durkin Acting Senior Educational Psychologist HCPC Registered
Aim of Presentation • Local context: what are our current ways of responding to children who have experienced trauma and adversity? • To provide an overview of current theories around ‘developmental trauma’ • How can a resilient community combat the effects of adversity? Hopes and aspirations for future work: How can we work resiliently as a community in St Helens?
How many young people do you know who have experienced one or more ACEs?How are these typically responded to?
Common approaches/ interventions • Nurture groups • Behaviour management plans • Referral for further professional assessment • Referral for therapy • Alternative provision • Additional support Developing resiliency?
Be Reflective Practitioner! • What works: evidence based and practice based. • Be open to new ideas: even if these don’t ‘fit’ with other existing views. • Be curious and wonder about the children we work with. • Be aspirational: whilst the past may shape us it does not define us.
Our core messages… • Attachment is ONLY 1 PART of the puzzle • Developmental Trauma starts in the Brainstem • If we get ‘stuck’ in the Brainstem, other areas of the brain don’t develop well • If we get ‘stuck’ in the Brainstem, our stress response is highly developed and too easily accessed
Young people whose needs were not met naturally find ways of adapting to the adults around them They develop ‘survival behaviours’ which usually fall into fight/flight (hyper-arousal) or freeze/collapse (hypoarousal) responses and always function to protect them from perceived harm.
Mental health services are often organised around psychiatric diagnostic labels. For traumatised children, their survival behaviours are vulnerable to being misunderstood; mis-diagnosed and therefore… treated with interventions targeting the outward symptoms, rather than the hidden unresolved trauma.
How can we work creatively and holistically, with our young person at the centre? • Observe the child at their best • Consult with the child, carer and other key adults • Plan-do-review • Solution focused practice • Team Around the Child meetings • Teach about resilience • Psycho-education
Holistic, therapeutic approaches Creating therapeutic environments
Final thoughts… • How can we work together to use our existing resources to support children who have experienced adversity? • How can we empower those affected by trauma? How can you use your EP time effectively to meet the needs of growing numbers of vulnerable groups?
Thank you for your time and attention. Any Questions…. racheldurkin@sthelens.gov.uk
