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Trauma Professional Development Session

Colin Gordon-Smith
Senior Education Officer
Fremantle and Perth District

Impact of Trauma in the Classroom


Children in Care are disadvantaged in educational outcomes
Not only as a result of trauma
Often have little exposure to books or being read to

“Overwhelming, uncontrollable experiences that psychologically impact victims by creating


feelings of helplessness, vulnerability, loss of safety and loss of control”

Impacts how child understands with/relates to world


Impacts behaviour
Experiences carried into new interactions
Struggle to develop empathy
Distorted emotional template  anti-social behaviour

EQ is essential! Self-awareness, regulation, motivation, empathy, social skills

Toxic stress derails healthy development


Co-regulation
Stress response remains activated in children who are abused  overloads developing
systems  stress response constantly on high alert
Toxic shame is a by-product of trauma- need for perfection- can’t handle failure!
Trauma and depression linked!
3 Responses
FIGHT- outbursts/anger
FLIGHT- run away, avoid
FREEZE- non attentive, glazed expression

Trauma can affect genome, implications for future generations!


Suffering from deep, long lasting pain
- Grief and loss
- Abandonment and neglect
- Physical/sexual abuse
- Emotional abuse
- Persistent anxiety

Trauma tree vs healing tree


Emotional calm in the classroom is essential for children with trauma

Children with trauma have unmet needs  reason for behaviour


Don’t judge the child- try and find out WHY they behave the way they do
ALL BEHAVIOUR IS MOTIVATED

Impacts on Academics/Social function


- Reduced cognitive ability
- Sleep disturbance  poor concentration
- Memory
- Language delays
- Need for control
- Attachment difficulties
- Poor peer relationships
- Unstable living situation

“He’s not in charge of you. He can’t make you react a certain way.”
Therapeutic Crisis Intervention
Triggers
- Contact with parents

Teacher conflict/crisis cycle


Teachers can impact the outcome through their own response
Co-Regulation
- Body language and expression
- Give space
- Say little/ be empathetic
4 Questions
- What am I feeling? What does this young person need/want? How is the environment
impacting the child? How do I best respond?
Recovery response  Higher (educator) understand trauma and resolve issues rather than just
extinguishing fires as they occur or become an abuser

IESCAPE
Isolate
Explore
Summarise
Connect behaviour to feelings (empathy + agree on consequences)
Alternative behaviour options
Practice new behaviour
Enter the child back into the regular routine

Educational plans can build trust with children – direct input into plan makes them
accountable
Identify needs
-Baseline behaviour? Is it typical? Child/family worldview? Pain based behaviour? Feelings?
Why today?
CALM, CONNECTED AND SAFE
LAUGHTER IS POWERFUL
Time in- not time out! When you’re reading come back! Time out is seen as further
rejection…
Offer choices! Let them help!  purpose
Offer descriptive praise- focus on the job done! ie. “I liked how you showed thoughtfulness”
“you were very creative in your assignment!”

Recovery can only take place within the context of a relationship


Safety and connection is essential
Help them recognise feeling (ie. I can see you’re angry, is your heart beating fast?)

Trauma sensitive school


50% of adults had traumatic childhood experiences
Greeted as they are getting off the bus!
Culture of awareness!
Attention to environment!
Importance of connecting with children! Greet them at the door, ask how their weekend was,
be around during lunch
Support the students as a whole! Breakfast, after school programs
Social and emotional wellbeing at the forefront
Academics come secondary to behavioural stuff
Strong expectations on how adults react with children! How they support students!
It’s a mindset- not curriculum, lesson plans etc
Importance of staff support from school, co-workers etc.
ANY CHILD COULD LEARN- GIVE THEM THE CHANCE! THEIR SITUATION DOES
NOT DEFINE THEM! YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO MAKE AN IMPACT!

SMART online training- DO THIS!!

Helping a child CONNECT and CELEBRATE growth


REFRAME their world
Hope, joy and a bit of laughter

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