Helping Parents and Children in Trauma

Kevin Wing, Director of Counseling at Montcalm School was Lon Woodbury's guest on LA Talk Radios "Parent Choices for Struggling Teens", discussing the warning signs parents need to watch for in their children who may have been overexposed to traumatic events, such as the recent shooting tragedy in Aurora, Colorado, or typical life experiences or transitions that children may be faced with that could be considered traumatic. Such events include divorce, a parent's job loss, changing schools, moving or homelessness. As Kevin shared with us- "the term trauma can be any experience(s) that leaves a person feeling hopeless, helpless, fearing for their life, their safety or feeling out of control. Trauma is the emotional reaction to these experiences. In addition, a person doesn't have to be a direct witness to a traumatic event to experience PTSD."

Yet following a 4-6 week period following the experience or perceived threat, whether it is real or imagined, behaviors that are outside of the norm for the child would be a sign of trauma or PTSD. Parents should watch for behaviors that include- clinginess, more scared or afraid to leave the house, hyper-vigilance, trouble sleeping, feelings of anxiousness, avoidance of anyone or anything that reminds them of the event or trouble concentration (like in a school setting). A child may re-experience the event, unable to get the thoughts or images, sights or sounds out of their heads.

Parents can help their children in coping with trauma by limiting the amount of exposure they see, by turning off the TV if a traumatic event is shown. To listen to their child as to what they are experiencing, without judgments or belittling their feelings and fears and to answer honestly, any questions they may have concerning the traumatic event. It is also important to give the facts without unnecessary details. Children that experience trauma need to know that everyone has a reaction or a lack of reaction to trauma and everyone responds differently, which is normal and absolutely ok.

To listen to the full interview go to Helping Parents and Children in Trauma on LATalkRadio.
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Lon Woodbury is the owner/founder of Woodbury Reports Inc. and www.strugglingteens.com. He has worked with families and struggling teens since 1984 and is the host of Parent Choices for Struggling Teens on LATalkRadio Mondays at 12:00pm, Pacific Time, Channel One.

Kevin Wing has worked at Starr Commonwealth and their programs for 22 years in various roles. He graduated from Central Michigan University in 1979 with a BA in Social Work, continued his education at Michigan State University, earning a Master's degree in Social Work in 1984 and he is also a licensed social worker through the State of Michigan. Most recently, Kevin was named the Director of Counseling Services for Montcalm School. Prior to that, Kevin was the Intake Director for Starr's residential programs in Albion, an outpatient therapist and an intensive in-home counselor working with children and adolescents.