CONVERSATION SERIES:�TRANSRACIAL ADOPTION TRAUMA

AGENDA

• Starting the Conversation
• Boundaries and Connection
• Trauma-Informed Parenting
• Traumatic Stress
• Grief
• Difference between Trauma/PTST and complex trauma/C-PTSD

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ABOUT YOUR PRESENTER:

• Masters in Social work, Bachelors in Psychology
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker
• Certificate in Sport Social Work
• Has worked as a therapist for Bellin for over 8 years.
• The first four years spent in inpatient mental health, specializing in trauma, chronic and acute psychiatric issues and families. Focused on adolescents and children.
• As an outpatient therapist focus has been on trauma, education, anxiety/depression/stress management, family dynamics and parenting support. Seeing all ages.
• Recent focus: BIPOC, Grief, and Sport and Performance mental health
• Provide supervision for clinical students and graduates seeking hours for licensure.

STARTING THE CONVERSATION

CONSIDERATIONS

Overall goals:

• Discussions should be open, simple, and relaxed
• If possible, allow the child to lead
• Better to start sooner, rather than later
• The more frequently these conversations are encouraged, the more comfortable they become
• Using positive language
• Recognize age and developmentally appropriate approaches
• Consider their whole story, and the fact that you are a part of, not the entire, story
• Prioritize honesty

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HEALTHY AND SAFE

Creating a safe space for feelings and thoughts:

• Children need to receive the message that its okay to talk about
• Manage our own emotions
• Validation
• Encouragement
• Compassion and comfort

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BOUNDARIES AND CONNECTION

BOUNDARIES

Physical

These are important to consider for various reasons

• Different people have different physical needs
• Some boundaries need to be re-established
• Confusion is normal
• Consider how physical connection was used or misused

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Communication

Only helpful when communicated

• Creating times for check ins
• Allowing for privacy
• How we talk to and about each other is important

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HOW TO ALLOW FOR CONNECTION

Deliberate and intentional

1. Make a point to seek our kids and ask their thoughts
2. Create space for difficult emotions
3. Offer reassurance
4. Co-regulation
5. Realistic expectations

Consistency

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Important to look for connection first.

Be what you want to see.

Be patient.

Connect before you correct

Respond vs react

REASON, RELATE, REGULATE

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TRAUMA-INFORMED PARENTING

Parenting in a way that acknowledges and addresses the impact of, not only the potential previous trauma but also the trauma that can dome with transracial adoption.

• Conversations with strangers
• Growing up in a family that doesn’t look like others
• Grief
• Misunderstood behaviors
• Understanding the importance of our words

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PTSD AND COMPLEX TRAUMA

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Includes: prolonged periods of hyperarousal, re-experiencing events, possible withdrawal or avoidance

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These symptoms and behaviors will get in the way of “normal” functioning

Complex Trauma

Complex trauma adds an additional layer of the following:

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Interpersonal difficulties, feeling bad about who you are, poor emotional regulation

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PTSD AND COMPLEX TRAUMA

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Includes 4 clusters of symptoms:

• Intrusive thoughts and memories
• Avoidance of reminders, withdrawal
• Negative beliefs and emotions
• Increased arousal and reactivity

The core of PTSD includes:

• Re-experiencing
• Avoidance and withdrawal
• Persistent sense of threat

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Core of Complex Trauma includes the above and:

• Disturbances in self-organization
• Affect dysregulation
• Negative self concept
• Disturbed relationships

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TRAUMATIC STRESS

What to understand

• Trauma is almost always going to be complicated
• Children may not have capacity to articulate what they have experienced or what they need
• Can generate secondary change or reactions
• Distressing reminders or triggers to hyper-vigilance
• Safety and Danger are primary needs and focus points

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• The trauma also impacts relationships and the family
• Culture is also interwoven with the traumatic experiences
• Kids and adolescents can show a wide variety of behavioral responses to trauma and loss
• Some responses can seem contrary to what is expected

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HOW TRAUMA DISRUPTS

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• RECOGNIZE
• Seeing and acknowledging impact of trauma
• SAFETY
• Help to feel safe
• HELP
• Help to identify, understand, and manage big feelings
• UNDERSTAND
• Help to problem solve
• RESPECT AND SUPPORT
• Support and encourage healthy and enduring relationships
• HELP
• Explore, process, and understand their story
• ADVOCATE
• Speak up
• PROMOTE
• Promote trauma-focused supports
• TAKE CARE
• Self care and wellness

• Recognize
• Trauma will never go away, but can be managed
• Create
• Safety that can be felt and counted on
• Show
• Teach how to love, disagree, feel angry, ect.
• Understand
• Issues can resurface as child enters different developmental stages
• Respect
• Appreciate people, places, cultures of birth families
• Remain
• Stay, Show up

Trauma informed Parenting

Parenting Complex Trauma

CARING ADULT SELF CARE

• Self reflection and regulation
• Reflect on childhood, relationships growing up, attachment styles
• Set realistic expectations of yourself
• Mistakes will be made, no perfect caregiver
• Be patient
• Can only control ourselves
• Need to be regulated before co-regulation
• Be honest and recognize when you need a break
• Don’t take behaviors or words personally, as much as possible
• Remember, boundaries are for us

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THANK YOU

Hannah Bauer, MSW, LCSW

Outpatient Therapist

Bellin Health

Bellin Psychiatric Center - Wrightstown

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