In Conroe Texas The ChildinFamily Approach to Helping

In Conroe, Texas The Child-in-Family Approach to Helping Hurt Children Heal Beth Powell, LCSW www. infamilyservices. net 979 -733 -3232 1

The Child-in-Family Approach to Treating Children from Hard Places 1. Source-based, not symptoms based 2. Systems-based; child or teen is not seen alone; even young adults must come with primary caregiver, support person or mentor 3. Strong teaching component for client, caregiver, support person or mentor 4. Recommendations for treatment are comprehensive and sequentially arranged. 4. Caregivers are trained as co-therapists so interventions continue at home 5. Evaluation is on-going; interventions are continually updated 6. Cost and time effective 7. Strengthens bonds and relationships between caregivers and child 8. Ideal caregivers are: a. “Hands-on” parents who want to know what to do at home to help their children be all they can be and who possess the time, the will and the determination to be able to do so. Beth Powell, LCSW, 2017 2

A Systems Approach to Intervention Beth Powell, LCSW, 2015 3

Most Children Who Are Living in Foster/Adoptive Homes Have Had Disruptions in Various Systems That Have Caused Them Emotional and/or Developmental Challenges. Just Because Kids “Look” Like They Are Doing Okay Doesn’t Mean That They Are. Beth Powell, LCSW, 2015 4

It Takes More Than Love and a Good Home to Help Kids from Hard Places. Notice What Has the Most Influence. Beth Powell, LCSW, 2015 5

Too Many Children Are Challenged Mentally, Neurologically, Physically, Spiritually, Socially and Academically Because of That Previous “Hard Place. ” Beth Powell, LCSW, 2015 6

What Can Cause the Symptoms We See? Anxiety Developmental Nutrition Age Insufficient Oxygen Boredom ADHD Vestibular Wrong Meds Perception Differentiation Fetal Alcohol and Drugs Beth Powell, LCSW, 2015 7

If We Are Going to Address the Problem, We Have to Identify the Sources of the Symptoms or Behaviors We See. Sources don’t have titles like: ADHD Reactive Attachment Disorder Intermittent Explosive Disorder Oppositional Defiance Disorder Beth Powell, LCSW, 2016 Conduct Disorder 8

Most of the Behavioral Symptoms We See in Our Population Are Fear-Based and/or Neuro-Behaviorally-Based. Sources Such as the Following Need to Be Addressed: Sticky Interhemispheric Switching Sensory Processing Issues Family Dynamics Immature Differentiation High Carb/Sugary Diets Beth Powell, LCSW, 2016 9

Trauma Can Begin In-Utero • What pregnant mom experiences impacts baby. • What pregnant mom thinks impacts baby. • What pregnant mom feels impacts baby. Reference: The Secret Life of the Unborn Child. Thomas Verny, M. D. and John Kelly. Dell Publishing (1981) Beth Powell, LCSW, 2015 10

Trauma Can Be Post-Utero Experiencing: Ø Ø Neglect Abuse Loss Disasters Witnessing: Ø Violence (even on TV and computer screens) Note: Pre-birth serious stress/trauma creates more complex brain problems which results in more extreme behavior/academic problems. Beth Powell, LCSW, 2015 11

How Trauma Impacts the Growing Brain • Experience can change the mature brain…But experience during the critical periods of early childhood organizes brain systems! • The brain develops in a use-dependent manner from bottom of the brain to top of the brain. • It is easier to change the mind than it is to change the brain. --From Dr. Bruce Perry, Trauma and Brain Development Beth Powell, LCSW, 2015 12

An Integrated, Systems-Based Trauma. Informed Care Approach • Traumatized children need to be better identified and receive a comprehensive evaluation and treatment plan that is updated every 4 -6 weeks: Neuro-behavioral, sensory, behavioral, psychological, nutritional, spiritual, social, physical, educational, etc. • The order of the child’s therapeutic interventions are determined by the systems that must change first so that the child demonstrates visible progress in the areas targeted. • Caregivers must be an integral part of the treatment session. • Foster/adoptive parents are the primary treatment providers; they need to be trained, supported and mentored. Beth Powell, LCSW, 2015 13

Which Systems Need to Change First? For Example: Parent’s Marriage? . Child’s Mind? Child’s Brain? Child’s Diet? Parent’s Parenting? Parent’s Perception? Beth Powell, LCSW, 2015 14

Professional Evaluation Should Determine, in Order of Importance, The Systems That Care Givers Need to Change First, So That Improvement Can Be Seen in the Child. Beth Powell, LCSW, 2015 15

If a Child Presents with “Bad Behavior, ” Are We Identifying the Systems That Are Causing the Behaviors We See? Beth Powell, LCSW, 2015 16

Brain Issues? Attitude Brain Or Attitude (Mind) Issues? Beth Powell, LCSW, 2015 17

It Takes Longer to Change a Brain Than It Does a Mind. Beth Powell, LCSW, 2015 Mr. “Attitude” 18

When Is It a “Can’t” And When Is It a “Won’t”? Beth Powell, LCSW, 2015 19

Can’t = Brain/Sensory Challenge Won’t = Attitude Challenge Beth Powell, LCSW, 2014 20

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Safety-Security Comes First with Traumatized Kids and Is Emphasized Again, and Again! Beth Powell, LCSW, 2015 22

Caregivers Have to Prove Over and Over Again That They Can Keep These Kids Safe Whether the Behavior Is A Can’t or a Won’t. Beth Powell, LCSW, 2015 23

Caregivers Must Also Be Trained to Recognize Brain States and Brain State Changes. They Must Also Learn How to Interpret What the Child’s Behavior Is Really Saying. And Then Intervene Appropriately at the Right Phase of Arousal or Dissociation. Not When It’s Too Late, and the Brain Is Continuing to Practice What the Body Already Knows How to Do. Beth Powell, LCSW, 2017 24

That is why each child needs to have on-going evaluation and updates to treatment plan. And caregivers must have on-going child-in-family training and mentoring to meet the neurobehavioral, psychological and spiritual needs of the child. Beth Powell, LCSW, 2017 25

Good compensatory interventions are important, but specifically designed neuro-sequential brain-changing activities that are frequently practiced are even better! Beth Powell, LCSW, 2017 26

The brain develops in a use-dependent manner. What is practiced becomes perfect. What problems occur if the above is practiced too much? Beth Powell, LCSW, 2017 27

The Fight Side of Fight-Flight-Freeze Arousal Spectrum Brain States: Rising Anxiety→ Anxious Vigilance→ Fearful Resistance→ Angry Opposition→ Defensive Aggression→ Angry Meltdown The Flight-Freeze Side of Fight-Flight-Freeze Dissociative Spectrum Brain States: Rising Anxiety→ Compliant Fearfulness→ Frightened Avoidance→ Freaking Out or Dissociation→ Loss of Consciousness (Information on this page inspired from Dr. Bruce Perry’s The Boy Who Was Raised As a Dog, P. 249. ) Beth Powell, LCSW, 2017 28

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Sometimes, the Behaviors of Traumatized Kids Challenge Our Own Sense of Safety-Security. Do You Get Triggered by the Little Angels in Your Care? Beth Powell, LCSW, 2016 30

Build Your Resilience! Strive to: -- Identify the Sources of the Annoying Behaviors --Remove the Judgment Regarding the Behaviors --Remove Your Defeating Thoughts, Beliefs and Feelings Triggered by the Behaviors Beth Powell, LCSW, 2016 31

Read a Traumatized Child’s State Changes ● ● ● Red ears? Change in breath? Rocking? Deer-in-the-headlight look? Pupil change? Scanning the horizon for danger? Nervous when people are too close or behind them? Prickly? Got hyper or ultra spacy? Going (or went) ODD/OCD? Pulse significantly increased, decreased or is erratic? Beth Powell, LCSW, 2015 32

The Care-Giving Adult Must Build Trust and Emphasize Protection with the Traumatized Child ● Watch Your Affect! Ø Voice Volume Ø Facial Expressions Ø Body Movements Should Not Indicate Threat. ● Firm, but Empathic Style of Interaction with Child Ø Ø Ø Don’t Touch Hyper-Vigilant Kids Unless You Are Ready for Resistance! Reward Them for Using their Words to Ask For What They Need. Give Them Two Choices for Behavior: Both You Can Live With Thank Them Ahead of Time for Doing What You Ask. Avoid Yes/No Questions with Compliance Issues. ● Safety-Security (The Feeling of Protection Develops before the Feeling of Love. ) Ø Ø Ø Ø Caregiver Is the Benevolent Authority Figure: Firm, But Loving. Caregiver’s Posture Is Important as Well as Height above Child: Must Exude Strength/Protection. Activity and Noise at Calm Level Traumatized Children Need to be Situated Where They Can See Others Moving. Organized, Clutter – Free Environment Important! Keep to Schedules: These Kids Don’t Transition Well. Watch for Kids’ State Changes and Be Proactive. Start off Strict and Loosen Up as Positive Trust Develops. Beth Powell, LCSW, 2015 33

Bibliography • • • Awakening the Child Heart. Carla Hannaford, Ph. D. Jamilla Nur Publishing. 2002 Behavior Solutions for the Inclusive Classroom. Beth Aune, OTR/L, Beth Burt and Peter Gennaro. Future Horizons. 2010. Easy to Love, Difficult to Discipline. Becky Bailey, Ph. D. Harper. Collins. 2000. More Behavior Solutions in and Beyond the Inclusive Classroom. Beth Aune, OTR/L, Beth Burt, and Peter Gennaro. Future Horizons. 2011. On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society. Lt. Col. Dave Grossman. Little, Brown and Company. 1996. The Body Keeps the Score. Bessel Van Der Kolk, M. D. Penquin Group. 2014 The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog. Bruce Perry, M. D. , Ph. D. and Maia Szalavitz. Basic Books. 2008. The Connected Child. Karyn Purvis, Ph. D. , and David Cross, Ph. D. , and Wendy Lyons Sunshine. Mc. Graw Hill. 2007 The Fabric of Autism. Judith Bluestone. The Handle Institute. 2004 The Secret Life of the Unborn Child. Thomas Verny, M. D. , with John Kelly. Dell Publishing. 1981. Beth Powell, LCSW, 2015 34