Reflection Paper On Trauma

Jane is a nine year old girl who has been brought in to therapy by her mother for stealing, being destructive, lying, behaving aggressively toward her younger siblings, and acting cruelly to animals. Jane has also been acting clingy and affectionate toward strangers.

What is the impact of historical trauma on a particular client population? How can Trauma Informed principals be used to reduce the impact of historical trauma on specific clients?

Trauma can be defined as an event or experience that hinders an individual’s ability to cope (Covington, 2008). These experiences have the power to alter biology and brain function, especially earlier on in life. Trauma can change an individual’s world-view, impacting their sense of self. This can lead to difficulties with self-regulation and higher incidences of impulsive behavior (Markoff et al., 2005). Often, individuals who have endured traumatic incidences turn to self-medication as a form of coping (De Bellis, 2002).

Traumatic events also produce profound and lasting changes in physiological arousal, emotion, cognition, and memory. Moreover, traumatic events may result in the severance of these normally integrated functions from one another. Traumatized individuals may also suffer from the memories of the tragic or horrifying experiences they have undergone. Frequently, as a result of these many symptoms, it becomes inevitable for the individual to develop certain complications associated with trauma-related disorders, such as posttraumatic stress disorder.

Trauma-informed care mainly aims at realizing the impact that trauma brings and identify the potential paths for recovering. It also goes ahead to recognize the symptoms and signs of trauma in the staff, clients, families, and other people who are involved in the system (Withers, 2017). After this, the

A trauma informed model of practice should centre upon a perspective that asks the client user ‘what happened to you’ rather than ‘what is wrong with you’ (Bloom and Farragher). This approach promotes the base line for which the service should be impliemented; an approach which enable to cliet to connect how their trauma has influence their behaviour, feelings, coping mechanisim and general perspective (Felitti et al. 1998). Staff within the home should have a good degree of trauma informed care as this enable for a deeper understanding of how the trauma can impact upon the individual and allow for holistic care (Harris and Fallot, 2001) and enables better support and help reduce to protential for re-tramatisation via triggers and uncousious re-enactment of trauma (SAMHSA, 2010). Implementing the above approach the client can receive the holistic carer they require in order to begin to overcome the trauma they have experienced.

Trauma is an individual’s visceral reaction to a horrible event, events such as early childhood traumas, accidents, sexual abuse, or community violence (apa.org, 2016). An individual may react with shock and denial in the aftermath. As time continues some reactions may comprise of mood swings, intrusive memories, difficulties maintaining relationships and can manifest into physical symptoms to include headache or upset stomach. There are individuals who experience difficulties functioning in their daily lives; these observable responses are a normal response to the trauma (apa.org, 2016).

It will be important to conduct the trauma based assessment as early as possible. However, it is vital that a therapeutic rapport be established with the client before proceeding in asking questions regarding the trauma. It takes time for a traumatized individual to trust and be willing to disclose their experiences. When it is felt that the client is ready it is important to let the client know that they have the right to not answer questions. It is important to discuss why we are asking the questions and ensuring the client that we have their best interests in mind and can provide them with a safe and secure location to work through the trauma.

An apartment complex in Denver, Colorado is testing out a new approach to addressing homelessness by introducing trauma-informed care principles into housing.

“American Psychiatric Association defines trauma as an event that represents a threat to life or personal integrity. Trauma can also be experienced when children are faced with a caregiver who acts erratically, emotional and /or physical neglect, and exploitation” (Maltby, L., & Hall, T. 2012. p. 304). Trauma comes in many different forms including: war, rape, kidnapping, abuse, sudden injury, and

In my position at a Level II Trauma Center as a Transfer Center Coordinator, communication has been a key theme over the last year in particular. As I have previously mentioned, the Transfer Center and our office cohort has a new Director and the growing pains have been great. Before our new Director, gossip was rampant. With the new director, the group is learning a lot about communication, the value of downward and upward communication and the form that communication is received. The most recent source of growing pains was from the change of the type of staff for the mid-shift; staff was changing from non-licensed staff to registered nurses. The Director announced the changes to the group in June, however the pilot project was not yet approved

When working with clients in today’s society it’s extremely important to take into consideration the specific needs of each individual. Serious contemplation is given to the approaches and methods regarding the client’s need and presenting matters. Trauma appears in many forms in society, even from the 1960’s due to the impact on returning soldiers from war. Since this, trauma has been categorised and widely researched leading to numerous theories. Psychotherapies were one of the first approaches to be founded in the 1970’s, which were the foundations to counselling

Trauma means to tolerate and experience a horrific event, where it is a place for human beings come face to face with their vulnerability. When life bombards us with its surprises, such as war, separation, illness and loss of loved ones. Trauma is an emotional response to a dreadful event like war, rape, molestation, sexually and physically abuse, serious accident. Trauma could result in serious long-term effects on individual’s well-being. After the event, the individuals will be in a state of shock and denial because our brain, mind and body are all connected and unpredictable emotions arise. It overwhelms an individual and put in a state of rage, helplessness and despair. The results such as flashbacks, strained relationships set up physical

Dr. Ruth Lanius’s psychology talk, “Seeing the Invisible, Why you can't just get over psychological trauma,” provided an insight of her research and her interpretations of why trauma affects people individually and differently. Dr. Ruth Lanius’s research involves The Ace study. It’s a study that is using neuroimaging on invisible injuries and making them visible. With this processes she's able to see traumas in her patients with an inner perspective. The goal of this study is to reduce stigmas, educaticate and begin early intervention. Another key thing that Dr. Ruth Lanius focused on was trauma disorders that affects an individual response. For example, childhood traumas and witnessing or enduring domestic abuse, can affect an individual's

Thompson and colleagues (2009): Physical and sexual abuse was moderately positively correlated with positive symptom severity (especially grandiosity) among ethnic minority participants (N=17), while general trauma was positively correlated with affective symptoms among Caucasian participants (N=13).