Treating Traumatized Children [Paperback]

Listening to a small child describe a parent's murder can tax the most seasoned professional. Cases of physical and sexual abuse where trauma was deliberately inflicted can particularly challenge a practitioner's defenses.

Treating Traumatized Childrenis the first handbook to provide specific guidance and tools for treating children who have been traumatized by physical and sexual abuse, disaster, divorce, or witnessing violent events. This book will provide helping professionals with a clear blueprint for assessing the impact of trauma and developing specific treatment plans.

Beverly James, a specialist in evaluating and treating traumatized children, outlines creative exercises and techniques that will enable clinicians to join with children in slowly and carefully reviewing their experiences and helping them understand and accept their feelings related to the trauma. Art, play, and drama techniques, among others, are presented in a sophisticated yet straightforward style, useful to clinicians with specialized training in such techniques or those using them for the first time.Beverly Jamesis a clinical social worker who has specialized in evaluating and treating traumatized children for the past twelve years. She has authored a number of articles and coauthoredTreating Sexually Abused Children and Their Families.Currently director of the James Institute in Kona, Hawaii, her training skills have brought her national and international recognition.Chapter 1

What Is Trauma?

Trauma, to paraphraseWebster's New Collegiate Dictionary,is an emotional shock that creates substantial, lasting damage to an individual's psychological development. As used in this book, trauma also refers to overwhelming, uncontrollable experiences that psychologically impact victims by creating in them feelings of helplessness, vulnerability, loss of safety, and loss of control. Although other emotional reactions may be seenl#z