Trauma Archives - Family Christian Counseling

Developing Brain

Posted on July 20, 2019 by Deborah Pettitt

A Number of Things to Remember about Child Development I just finished reading an article from Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child and wanted to summarize the things they want us to remember about how children develop. “Development is a highly interactive process, and life outcomes are not determined solely by genes.” – The environment

Posted in Research, Trauma

Toxic Stress

Posted on July 8, 2019 by Deborah Pettitt

I just listened to an Innovation Hub interview with Dr. Jack Shonkoff director of Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child (you can listen to this interview by clicking on the link). The core of this interview discusses the long term effects of toxic stress. Dr. Shonkoff suggests that everyone knows how it feels to be

Posted in Research, Trauma

What is Trauma

Posted on June 10, 2019 by Kim Van Wuffen

For so long many people have associated post traumatic stress disorder (complex trauma) with only MAJOR events, and while this seems true, it’s not true for every case. As a psychologist (a professional influence of mine) has put it, “trauma is any stress that can disrupt and affect physiology”. In other words anything that occurs

Posted in Research, Trauma

Regulation – Dissociation Part 2

Posted on May 1, 2019 by Deborah Pettitt

While some kids live hyper-aroused and are incorrectly diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder other children respond to early trauma by dissociating. This is particularly true if they experienced trauma as infants or toddlers. The three choices any human has to stress is flight, fight or freeze. Infants are incapable of running or fighting so

Posted in Attachment, Trauma, Uncategorized dissociation, regulation

Regulation rather than consequences

Posted on April 15, 2019 by Deborah Pettitt

Parenting traumatized children requires regulation rather than consequences. Regulation is what these children missed as babies and toddlers. Healthy children had moments where loving parents picked them up and calmed them. The parent held them when they were angry or distressed. They calmly helped them handle a frustration. Neglected and abused children missed these experiences

Posted in Parenting, Trauma regulation