Description

Trauma affects everyone around us, including children. Join hosts Montez Dove and Cedricia Thomas as they share how to assist children who are impacted by traumatic events. In this episode, Montez and Cedricia discuss: Causes of childhood trauma, Signs of trauma in children, How to assist a child who has experienced trauma, The importance of communication, How to not fall victim to a victim mentality, and How not blaming others can lead to healing.

Reference: Verywell Mind Article: What Is a Victim Mentality by Arlin Cuncic, Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Reference: Psych Central Article: How Do You Know If a Child Is Traumatized? Medically reviewed by Cydney Ortiz, PsyD — By Mellisa Gooden, LMFT, LMHC, CCTP, CCATP for DRK Beauty Healing — Updated on Dec 6, 2021

Reference: Trauma books for parents and children

If you’re a parent or caregiver looking to understand more about trauma, these books could be a good place to start:

• “What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing” by Bruce D. Perry, MD, PhD, and Oprah Winfrey
• “The Body Keeps the Score” by Bessel van der Kolk, MD
• “Trauma Through a Child’s Eyes: Awakening the Ordinary Miracle of Healing” by Peter A. Levine, PhD, and Maggie Kline, LMFT
• “The Power of Showing Up: How Parental Presence Shapes Who Our Kids Become and How Their Brains Get Wired” by Daniel J. Siegel, MD, and Tina P. Bryson, PhD

Reference: Children’s books that explore topics of trauma can help children by validating their feelings. If you think that exploring trauma through reading could help your child, here are some recommendations:

• “A Terrible Thing Happened” by Margaret M. Holmes
• “The Invisible String” by Patrice Karst
• “The Day My Daddy Lost His Temper” by Carol S. McCleary, PsyD
• “You Weren’t With Me” by Chandra G. Ippen, PhD
• “Once I Was Very Very Scared” by Chandra G. Ippen, PhD
• “Kaddish for Grandpa in Jesus’ Name Amen” by James Howe
• “Please Tell: A Child’s Story About Sexual Abuse” by Jessie

Quote Correction: The American Academy of Pediatrics estimates that around one-half of American children ages 18 years or younger — roughly 34 million kids — have faced at least one potentially traumatic early childhood experience.

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For more on Montez Dove, follow her on Instagram @thepoeticinsp and Facebook @MontezDove or visit thepoeticinspirations.com