“Working with Families in Times of Crisis” Ari Hoffman MA, LPC Psychotherapist ;

 - How to appropriately answer questions about difficult topics  - How and when to make children feel better when they are upset

 Tell children what they need to know and nothing more  Why do you want to know? ◦ Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll  Have you heard?  The walls are thin and Charlie is listening  Blood and Fire ◦ Acts of People ◦ Acts of G-d

 Safety  Consistency ◦ Trust, Trust, and more Trust  Physical Touch  Cuddling vs. Coddling  You take up space in my hard drive  Kiss the tears

 Ignorance is only bliss until someone asks you a question  Prepare, prepare, prepare ◦ Make like a boy scout

Global and Personal

 Interrupt reactionary brain processes  Promote proactive brain processes

On stress Off Stress

 Survival oriented  Decisions without thought  More likely to include: anger, upset, stress  Will save your life in a tiger attack  Critical Thinking  Thoughtful  Future oriented  Patient  Calm  Effective  Will save your life in situations that involve chronic stress

 Anything that makes you happy, calm(er), and/or relaxed: ◦ Friends ◦ Music ◦ Beautiful things ◦ Hobbies ◦ Deep Breathing

 Stress/Anxiety/Anger Proactive thinking/ Calm

You can be a firefighter too!!

You can leave the lecture now because you won’t do this anyway

 The calling is noble but not any nobler than you are ◦ Discretion and valor  Scene Safe??? ◦ Am I protected  3 am parties not by choice Hey! Let me help you

 Parents and Caregivers alike must take care of themselves.  If you want to do this work well, you don’t have a choice.

 98% vs. 2%  Eat well ◦ Less: sugar, poison (caffeine), processed foods, soda (G-d save us) ◦ More: fruits and vegetables, nuts, water (what’s water?), eggs, poultry, meat (it should also look like meat)  Exercise ◦ You will be smarter, nicer, and better looking

 Go out with friends  Laugh ◦ Jim Gaffigan “hot pockets” ◦ Jeff Dunham “Walter”  Hobbies ◦ Things you enjoy doing for the sake of doing them.  Get counseling (we don’t normally bite and when we do its not that hard)  Sleep Ahem!!!!

 Only answer what your child needs to know  Make sure the child knows he or she is cared for  Look at beautiful things and try to engage the proactive part of the brain  Take care of yourself!

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