1. TRAUMA-REDUCTION INTERVENTIONS FOR ADOLESCENTS
REV. TORIN T. SANDERS, Ph.D., LCSW-BACS

2. OBJECTIVES:
To increase participants’ repertoire of intervention strategies in working with traumatized adolescents.
To increase participants’ awareness of how to transform their school climates into trauma- informed places of learning.

3. MY EXPERIENCES:
STARTED AT KINGSLEY HOUSE AS A FAMILY PRESERVATION THERAPIST
BEGAN PROJECT LAST (LOSS & SURVIVAL TEAM) AT CHILDREN’S BUREAU OF NEW ORLEANS
PASTOR, THE SIXTH BAPTIST CHURCH

4. A BRIEF LOOK AT THE DATA
ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES STUDY (1998) 87% HAD MORE THAN 1 ACE

5. A BRIEF LOOK AT THE DATA INSTITUTE OF WOMEN & ETHNIC STUDIES
(2015) New Orleans Youth
Symptoms of PTSD at 3x National average (14.6%)
37% witnessed DV
54% experienced murder of someone close
39% witnessed shooting, stabbing, beating

6. TRAUMATIC STRESS TOXIC STRESS POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
ACUTE STRESS DISORDER (less than 30 days)

7. CATEGORIES OF SYMPTOMS
Intrusive symptoms (memories, dreams, flashbacks)
Avoidance of stimuli
Negative alterations in cognition or mood
Marked alterations in arousal or reactivity (sleep, startle response)
DSM-5

8. FACTORS AFFECTING TREATMENT/INTERVENTION SUCCESS
AGE (DEVELOPMENTAL STATUS)
EXPOSURE HISTORY
FREQUENCY (1X OR ONGOING)
STATUS (SURVIVOR, VICTIM, WITNESS, PERP)
TIME BEFORE TREATMENT

9. GOAL(S) OF INTERVENTION
TRAUMA REDUCTION (SYMPTOM REMOVAL)
PROMOTING RESILIENCY & POST TRAUMATIC GROWTH (the development of positive outcomes related to the struggle to cope with difficult life events) Tedeschi & Calhoun,1996

10. THEORIES………..TECHNIQUES
COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THEORY (Aaron Beck)
Thought restructuring
CRISIS THEORY (Gerald Caplan)
Partializing, Venting, Safety, Immediate plan

11. THEORIES………..TECHNIQUES
EYE MOVEMENT DESENSITIZATION & REPROCESSING (Francine Shapiro)
Emdr.com, 8 phases, alleviate distress associated with traumatic memories

12. THEORIES………..TECHNIQUES
POLYVAGAL THEORY (Stephen Porges)
Vagus nerve (associated with calming aspect of our nervous system)
Associated with Mindfulness-Based Theory
-Massage vagus nerve (side of neck to behind earlobes)
-Breathing (inhale 4, hold 4, exhale 4, wait 4)
Play/exercise (running in place, punching pillows)

13. INTERVENTION APPROACHES/STRATEGIES
Provide trauma education
Separate Grief from Trauma (if applicable)
Respond to physical symptoms
Prevent secondary victimization
Tolerate regressive symptoms
Find concrete things to do promote expression of feelings and a sense of self-efficacy (i.e.Parkland)

14. INTERVENTION APPROACHES/STRATEGIES
QUESTIONS TO ASK:
How has (the trauma) changed your priorities?
What has (the trauma) made you think about the value of your life?
How has (the trauma) affected your views about God?

15. INTERVENTION APPROACHES/STRATEGIES
Has (the trauma) made you closer with anyone?
What has (the trauma) taught you about handling hard times?
What makes you feel safe(r)?

16. TRAUMA-INFORMED SCHOOL CLIMATE
REALIZE (the widespread impact of trauma)
RECOGNIZE (signs and symptoms in clients, staff, and others)
RESPOND (integrate knowledge about trauma into policy and practice)
RESIST RE-TRAUMATIZATION (“what did you do wrong vs tell me what happened”)
(SAMHSA, 2014)

17. TRAUMA-INFORMED SCHOOL CLIMATE
EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY OF UNIVERSAL SCREENING FOR TRAUMA WITHIN THE SCHOOL SETTING (IMMUNIZATION CARD)
ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES (ACES)
RESILIENCE SCORE

18. TRAUMA-INFORMED SCHOOL CLIMATE
TRAINING OF TEACHERS & PRINCIPALS ON TRAUMA
TRAINING OF PARENTS/FAMILY MEMBERS
HOW IS OUR SCHOOL RETRAUMATIZING CHILDREN?

19. Questions & Answers THANK YOU WWW.TORINSANDERS.COM