The Effects Of Trauma On Children And Adolescents

At first, I would provide introduction of child life services and ask some questions to assess the patient and his family. I will encourage the patient and his family to discuss questions or concerns about what they experienced and will experience. Then, I will provide brief explanation of procedures and treatments he will experience during this hospitalization. If the patient will experience the surgery, I will provide preparation. I will chart on the patient after each intervention, evaluate and plan the next

This prevalence rate is considerably higher than that of the general population, therefore confirming the theory that trauma occurring in childhood has the ability to play a significant role in the development of mental illness. In addition to broad and generalized findings, they also found specific age groups to be related to specific forms of trauma in terms of what can result in the most detrimental effects. In relation to emotional abuse, it is considered most damaging at ages 6, 14, and 16. Sexual abuse is most harmful at age 12. Non-verbal abuse was found to be more detrimental at age 14 (Schalinksi, 2016). All of these findings also proved to be predictive of the development of PTSD as well as other mental illnesses, such as

“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

Communication is a crucial skill for every Child Life Specialist to possess as a professional. Each day the Child Life Specialist must communicate with not only the parents, but also the child and his or her siblings. However, the specialist cannot converse with children in the same manner they do with adults. Children require alternate means of communication because they are not always fully able to convey their thoughts and emotions with words alone. As a result, the Child Life Specialist may utilize therapeutic

The facility provides medical care for children and adolescents with severe physical and intellectual impairment conditions. The TWSCCC provides 24-hour skilled nursing care, 24-hour Respiratory Therapy services, Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy, Licensed On-site teachers, and a large variety of specialty care services (Truman W. Smith). The facility offers a viable and solicitous option for parents who are unable to take of their chronically ill children in their home, and for children who have been placed in state custody. The TWSCCC allows patients to receive the care they need and might otherwise not receive, in an adequately equipped facility via a staff of specialized care providers who advocate for the patients wants, rights, and well-being. The TWSCCC facility welcomes residents regardless of race, gender, religion, or economic status.

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

Sullivan, Murray, and Ake (2016) identified that in the child welfare system, the provision of trauma-informed care is particularly critical due to the fact that when compared to other child-servicing systems, it has been determined that within this system, the likelihood of exposure to traumatic events is higher. Their study is focused on the description and evaluation of the first nationally available trauma-informed training resource developed for

Once the CCLS is aware of the reason why the patient is in the unit, they will be able to assess the methods they will use depending on the child’s condition. This will also help the other health professionals aiding the patient. With this policy, families will have the option whether to consult with the child life specialist. Doing this could touch on the psychological issues that the patient is dealing with. This can aid the mental and emotional stress that comes when dealing with major health decisions with themselves or the child’s/patient’s family member. There will be strategical procedures and programs that help children that deal with mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression. They can do interventions that were done like in the studies mentioned. For the patients that suffer with emotional and mental stress, there

1. The square and compass facility setting provided a neutral and calm environment to incorporate excellent patient care. Starting in the waiting room, a playful set up was encompassed to direct to the pediatric patient population. Back in the treatment area, the walls obtained neutral tones with calming artwork throughout the environment. The noise was appropriate for the setting and smell was clean with an absence of any foul odors. Lighting throughout the facility was appropriate and not too overwhelming for the patients. The temperature was warm and comfortable for all individuals in the facility. Privacy and personal items for the patients were maintained in their individual rooms with a door for separation. This form of privacy contributed to the excellent patient care provided by the healthcare professionals. Overall, the square and compass primary care facility obtained an effective environment to ensure the well-being of the patients.

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.

The major stressors of hospitalized children include fear of the unknown and unfamiliar people. Lying to children about upsetting realities, such as their diagnosis or a procedure that is occurring, is ineffective and does not help children deal with stress. Educating children on their treatment better prepares them for stressful situations while hospitalized. While nurses identify crying as a sign of stress, child life specialist recognize crying as an effective coping mechanism for stress (Kaddoura). While both nurses and child life specialists are helpful to treating a child, child life specialists focus on children’s emotions while nurses focus on medical care. The issue here is that not all hospitals have child life specialists, so the emotions of children are disregarded. Although medical care is obviously a priority while a child is hospitalized, a child’s emotion and stress are very important to their recovery and health. Research shows that focusing on children’s emotions with the use of child life specialists makes a difference for children and families. Child life programs have been shown to reduce children’s pain, decrease the emotional distress children feel while in the hospital, and lower parents’ anxiety about their children’s hospital stays

Trauma is one of the many issues facing children of all ages today. Trauma can be defined as any negative experience that causes a child psychological or emotional stress or damage. Exposure to trauma can hinder development in many areas for children, including brain development, social development, and emotional development. The purpose of this study was to determine what impacts trauma-informed care practices had on students in a second grade classroom. Throughout the study all students had access to a calm corner, which is a place they could go if they were feeling overwhelming emotions. Students participated in daily morning community meetings. Students were also taught direct

It is estimated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human services that one million children are victims of child abuse and neglect in the U.S every year. This number may be an underrepresentation however, as many cases are unreported. Children who experience trauma in early childhood years or adolescence have impacts that follow them throughout adulthood. The common effects include relationship attachment issues, mental disorders, substance abuse, increased

Brown, E. J. (2005). Clinical characteristics and efficacious treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in children and adolescents. Pediatric Annals, 34, 2, 138-46.

If the child is staying in the hospital for a long time this can lead to a highly toxic environment, making it uncomfortable not only for the staff but also for the child and the family. This can seriously effect the family system, adding lots of added stress, emotions and struggle to an already daunting situation. Children need all the support they can get in this trying time. Not only the honesty of their parents but, also the honesty of their doctors and the hospital