3/3/2020
                                       USING PLAY 
                            THERAPY TO TREAT 
                                        TRAUMA IN 
                                         CHILDREN
                                                                           Shannon Knight, LCSW, RPT-S, CAS
                                                                              Whitney Eaton, LCSW, RPT-S
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                              SHANNON KNIGHT, LCSW, RPT-S, CAS & 
                                      WHITNEY EATON, LCSW, RPT-S
                         • Owners of Playful Healing & Counseling
                         • 7949 Bell Oaks Dr. Newburgh, IN 47630
                                rd
                         • 671 3 Ave Suite G Jasper, In 47546
                         • (812)449-7367
                         • segg@playfulhealingandcounseling.com
                         • www.playfulhealingandcounseling.com
                         • https://www.facebook.com/playfulhealingandcounseling
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                                            LEARNING OBJECTIVES
                         •  Participants will be able to list the vast array of possible symptoms of trauma in 
                           children.
                         • Participants will learn how to connect with children as well as the importance of 
                           building relationships in the beginning of treatment.
                         • Participants will learn hands-on activities to utilize when treating childhood trauma.
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                                                                                                                                                                                                         3/3/2020
                                         DEFINITION OF TRAUMA
                        • When a child feels intensely threated by an event that he or she is involved in or 
                          witnessed-National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN).
                        • Anything event that overwhelms the system.
                        • Can initiate strong emotions and reactions that persist long after events
                        • Complex Trauma-pervasive impact, including developmental consequences, 
                          exposure to multiple or prolonged traumatic events.  Exposure to sequential or 
                          simultaneous occurrences of maltreatment, including psychological maltreatment, 
                          neglect, physical and sexual abuse, and domestic violence (NCTSN, 2013)
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                                              TYPES OF TRAUMA
                        • Neglect                               • Refugee trauma
                        • Physical Abuse                        • Medical Trauma
                        • Sexual Abuse                          • Early childhood trauma (0—6)
                        • Emotional abuse                       • Bullying
                        • Domestic Violence                     • Terrorism/ violence
                        • Natural disasters                     • Traumatic grief
                        • Community violence                    • Accidents
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                                        TRAUMA AND THE BRAIN
                        • Changes in the brain
                        • Increase in cortisol
                        • Hypervigilance
                        • Fight Flight Freeze
                        • Hyperactive/ Hypoactive Amygdala 
                        • Can be re-wired with treatment and support
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3/3/2020
                                                                  DEPRESSION AND CHILDHOOD TRAUMA: 
                                                                                                                           LEAH’S STORY
                                                                                                                                •   https://youtu.be/DtPRg_Ibn-c
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                                                                                   HOW WOULD 
                                                                   YOU HELP THIS 
                                                                                                                     LEAH?
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                                                                                   LOTS OF REASONS FOR FEELING 
                                                                                                TRIGGERED BY TRAUMA….
                                                            Invisible Wounds (Hardy 1998)
                                                            Devaluation, Oppression, Domination, Degradation, Abuse (Emotional, Sexual, 
                                                            Physical), Poverty, Neglect
                                                            Good-Enough Parenting (Crenshaw)
                                                            Dysfunctional family dynamics
                                                            Anxiety-response: fight, flight, freeze, shut down
                                                            Feeling overwhelmed (sensory, changes in routine, etc.)
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                                                     HOW DO WE HELP?
                                                      ADecision Grid for Play Therapy
                                     Child with Weak Ego Responses       Child with Strong Ego Responses
                                     Coping Approach                     Invitational Approach
                                     Psychoeducation Focusing on         Relationship Building Focusing on        
                                     Developing Coping Skills            Resources and Safety
                                     Building Defenses and               Gradually Confronting Trauma
                                     Teaching Pro-Social Skills
                                                      Orientation to a Positive Future
                                                                        David Crenshaw & John Mordock: A Handbook of Play 
                                                                        Therapy With Aggressive Children, 64
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                              COMMON DIAGNOSES OF CHILDREN WHO 
                                        HAVE EXPERIENCED TRAUMA
                            • Oppositional defiant disorder
                            • Conduct disorder
                            • Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder
                            • Bipolar disorders
                            • Reactive attachment disorder
                            • Anxiety disorders
                            • Depressive disorders
                            • PTSD
                            • Abuse & Neglect
                            • Sensory processing disorder
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                                                TYPICAL PLAY THEMES
                            • Control
                            • Dominance & Power
                            • Threat
                            • Abandonment & Rejection
                            • Separation & Loss
                            • Guilt & Shame: the need for punishment
                            • Deprivation
                            • Need for nurturance
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