Aarc Model Of Therapeutic Intervention

Dr. Bruce Perry, MD, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural sciences at the Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. Dr. Perry is also the senior fellow of The Child Trauma Academy, a not for profit organization based out of Houston, Texas. With the assistance of Co- Author Maia Szalavitz, an award-winning journalist with a specialization in Neuroscience. They worked together to co write “The Boy Who Was Raised As A Dog”, an up to date source of information for individuals interested in childhood trauma. I found the book full of valuable knowledge and stories regarding childhood trauma and experiences, that I feel would be a great resource for anyone in the Human Service Work, Social Work or Teaching profession.

“The ARC framework is a components-based model that identifies three core domains of intervention for children who have experienced trauma and their caregiving systems: attachment, self-regulation, and competency (Blaustein, M & Kinniburgh, K., p.36, 2008). There are three parts of ARC, which are referred to as blocks; the attachment blocks, the self-regulation blocks, and the competency blocks. All sections will

In The Boy Who was Raised as a Dog author Bruce Perry demonstrates how understanding the brain’s inner workings and development can help bring traumatized children from heartbreak to hope, while always balancing that hope with caution. In his book Perry illustrates how empathy is vital to healthy child development. There has been a decrease in the amount of healthy adults involved in a child’s life than in decades before. Families are smaller, teacher to pupil ratio has increased, and so the number of human-to-human interactions where children are being taught and nurtured has suffered. If you are an adult who is involved with children in your daily life, parent, teacher, law enforcement, etc., and you know that a child has been exposed to something that is potentially traumatic the first thing you should be aware of is that not all traumatic events automatically lead to disastrous mental health outcomes. In fact the majority do well, but for these successful outcomes they do need your attention, support, and awareness. What makes children get better following a trauma is connection with other human beings. Connections to people who are kind, patient, present, but not necessarily psychologically insightful, is at the core of a successful therapeutic relationship.

Child abuse is a widespread problem in America and beyond. Every year more than 3 million reports of child abuse are made in the United States involving more than 6 million children(1a). For many years, experts believed that the negative effects of child abuse, such as emotional problems, flashbacks to traumatic events, and even learning problems, were psychological phenomena only, able to be cured with therapy. Now, however, beliefs are being changed with the help of tools such as MRI imaging, able to detect actual changes in brain anatomy, and it appears that what doesn't kill you may still permanently weaken you, at least when it comes to child abuse.

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is a psychotherapeutic approach that involves conjoint therapy sessions of with the child and the parent. This approach is employed among children and/or adolescents that are experiencing emotional and behavioral difficulties that are significant and related to life events that are traumatic (Cohen, Mannarino, & Deblinger, 2012). TF-CBT is a components-based model of treatment that includes intervention that are trauma-sensitive and cognitive behavioral, family and humanistic therapy

removed from the family environment, a primary relative had to relocate or the death or destruction (e.g. fatal accident, domestic violence, natural disaster) of a close individual (Faust & Katchen, 2004). (Faust et al., 2004)The fourth factor emphasizes that age may be a factor in children’s responses to traumatic events which thus determines the course of therapy (Faust & Katchen, 2004). (Faust et al., 2004)Very young children struggle with cognitive components of cognitive-behavioral intervention strategies because it exceeds their developmental capabilities (Faust & Katchen, 2004). (Faust et al., 2004)As previously noted, a child is at a greater risk for the effects of severe sexual abuse in the first years of life (Faust & Katchen, 2004). (Faust et al., 2004)

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) was stablished by Congress in 2000 and brings a comprehensive focus to childhood trauma. This network raises the average standard of care and improves access to services for traumatized children, their families and communities throughout the United States. The NCTSN defines trauma‑focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF‑CBT) as an evidence‑based treatment approach that is shown to help children, adolescents, and their caregivers overcome trauma‑related difficulties. It is designed to reduce negative emotional and behavioral responses following a traumatic event. The treatment addresses distorted beliefs related to the abuse and provides a supportive environment so the individual can talk about their traumatic experience. TF‑CBT also helps parents cope with their own emotional issues and develop skills to support their children.

Many children are exposed to traumatic events before they even become adults. All around the world they are exposed to child abuse, rape, natural disasters, terrorism, car accidents, and school violence among many others. Studies have shown that these traumatic events, if left untreated, can result in significant psychological problems, such as post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other anxiety disorders, depression, or a number of other behavioral difficulties (Cohen, Mannarino, Berliner & Deblinger, 2000). These difficulties can become chronic and produce negative effects which could last into adulthood. It is therefore imperative that effective treatment strategies be

Stories and illustrative examples of art-based interventions provided evidence-based approaches using art therapy to heal the children of trauma. There are connections between what the art revealed and how it opened up a line of communication for the child and adult. Art benefited the child by providing a medium to express and communicate the traumatic experiences. It also helped a child seek self-development, reduce physical stress, and improve methods of dealing with traumatic memories. Art therapy also benefited the teacher by providing meaningful approaches to address the child, ask questions, build a trusting relationship, and develop further healing approaches.

There are a variety of evidence based practices that are being implemented for children and families within the welfare system. Many of these contemporary evidence based practices can be found online. The website known as The California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare contains a list of all the different evidence based practices related to topics such as, anger management, substance abuse treatment, interventions for neglect, and depression treatment. One successful contemporary evidence based practice that has shown great effectiveness is known as Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). The primary focus of this paper will consist of TF-CBT and will explore the methodology and effectiveness of this

When children experience a traumatic event, not only does it affect their emotions but it can affect many areas of development if not all of them. Equally, health and learning difficulties can also have a less desirable effect on holistic development. By looking at how such factors can affect child development, we can work towards finding a suitable learning method and helping children overcome and recover from their experiences.

Childhood is a time for playdates and learning, a time for big dreams and imaginary adventures. Safety and security should not be questions that linger in uncertainty. However, this is not the case for many children across the globe. Thousands of children from all walks of life each day are faced with unspeakable horror and must deal with the resulting trauma from then on. However, in children, managing this trauma takes a different toll on the mind and heart than it does in adults. While the type of trauma may vary in pervasiveness across countries, trauma occurring in childhood has the ability to cause long term damage to the growing neurological functioning in the brain and negatively influence children’s spiritual development, wounding

Trauma focused CBT research seems to have a strong interest in effectiveness in children, and especially in adolescents (Jensen, Holt, Ormhaug, Egeland, Granly, Hoaas, & Wentzel-Larsen, 2014). The reason is because a significant number of children throughout the world, experienced trauma. If left untreated, trauma can cause mental disabilities to develop. It has been supported that Trauma focused CBT is an effective form of treatment for children

Because of the depiction made within the media, I also assumed that victims of childhood trauma were only able to overcome through the use of therapeutic care. Therapeutic care is often depicted as the only option that victims use that will ensure that they do not fall into a state of depression or begin to abuse drugs. It is rare to see movies where they are promoting social relationships as a bonus to the use of therapeutic services. Although it is not often depicted, social relationships do help in the quest to overcome the horrors of childhood trauma. Social relationships are any form of bonds created between a person and their

The correct application of treatment is equally important as choosing the right evidence-based treatment for children in crisis. Both play a significant role in dealing with mental health issues. Two significantly important evidence-based treatments that depend fully on the delivery of the clinician and applying the correct adaptations of the treatment for success are, Child- Parent Psychotherapy and Parent- Child Interaction Therapy.