When Traumatic Stressors are Not Past, But Now: Psychosocial Treatment to Develop Resilience with Children and Youth Enduring Concurrent, Complex Trauma
Date
2016
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma
Abstract
While providing school-based treatment for 450 urban impoverished children and youth from
2006-2014, we found implementing specific elements of PTSD treatment models reduced
engagement and aggravated clients’ symptoms. Clients’ traumas were neither past nor singletype,
but were multiple (complex) and unavoidably occurring concurrently with treatment, so
we speculated that many trauma treatment elements needed revision to be effective. Using a
participatory action research methodology, we developed a resilience-focused treatment model
for concurrently-traumatized clients. Drawing from the strengths perspective, selfdetermination,
and hope theories, key treatment elements revised here are triggers, re-enactment,
avoidance, “silencing,” and dissociation. Treatment guidelines include creating a safe zone,
entering clients’ worlds completely, frame flexibility, client self-determination of treatment
agendas and duration, and pleasurable play.
Description
item.page.type
Article
item.page.format
Keywords
trauma treatment models, strengths perspective, impoverished children and youth, culturally-relevant services
Citation
McCrea, K. T., Guthrie, D., & Bulanda, J. J. (2016). When traumatic stressors are not past, but now: psychosocial treatment to develop resilience with children and youth enduring concurrent, complex trauma. Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma, 9(1), 5-16.
URI
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Katherine_Tyson_Mccrea/publication/284787288_When_Traumatic_Stressors_are_Not_Past_But_Now_Psychosocial_Treatment_to_Develop_Resilience_with_Children_and_Youth_Enduring_Concurrent_Complex_Trauma/links/565cd48f08aeafc2aac722a8/When-Traumatic-Stressors-are-Not-Past-But-Now-Psychosocial-Treatment-to-Develop-Resilience-with-Children-and-Youth-Enduring-Concurrent-Complex-Trauma.pdf
http://hdl.handle.net/11212/3464
http://hdl.handle.net/11212/3464