We have been looking at several options for school-related and brain-based interventions for issues facing students. I realize that that for many children, a level of intense and rather sophisticated therapy may be required. For those of us who are dealing with adolescents who have been severely traumatized, it is helpful to have research and options available.
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
One very thorough resource is the National Child Traumatic Stress Network out of the Medical University of South Carolina. It currently has an online publication that focuses on clinical and research evidence, with culture-specific information related to interventions therapeutically helpful to children and adolescents.
Although the study shown here is vast and comprehensive, it is helpful for clinicians to have in their tool belts when thinking about clinical possibilities available to children and adolescents and needing to incorporate these very serious traumatic symptoms into treatment plans.
Also, cultural sensitivity is such an important factor.
Different cultural legacies and behaviors need to be seriously considered when developing an approach to treating traumatic symptoms and any surrounding issues.
As in any clinical approach, a significant part of treatment needs to be sensitized to the cultural aspects of one’s own core beliefs. In this way, we will give our children freedom to be loyal to their cultural and family backgrounds and access educational and clinical approaches that have proven to be successful in helping to regulate the impact of trauma.
Rather than continue to describe the vast amount of information available in this project, I will refer you to The National Children Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) for comprehensive and very helpful information.
Thanks so much for continuing to read Lakeside Connect.
Gerry Vassar, President/CEO, Lakeside Educational Network
