Healing Horizons: Weekly News & Research - September 26, 2024
Welcome to our weekly news show, Healing Horizons, hosted by experts Bri Twombly and Alison Cebulla. Dive into the most recent updates on trauma-informed care practices, positive and adverse childhood experiences, and the critical concept of psychological safety. Each episode is designed to keep you informed on the latest research, trends, and best practices in these essential areas. Whether you're a healthcare professional, educator, or simply passionate about mental health, our show provides valuable insights and practical advice. Stay tuned for in-depth discussions and expert interviews that will enhance your understanding and application of trauma-informed care and psychological safety.
Here are the news stories and research we featured:
SIU launches new program to better train counselors who treat complex trauma
Southern Illinois University
$1 million planned gift to establish the Coffman-Crothers Training Institute for Trauma and Psychological Health Endowment Fund and annual contributions to provide training to address complex trauma, including a symposium next month.
“But while complex trauma may be very common, there is a huge gap in training practitioners to treat adults who have suffered complex trauma.” Holly Cormier, licensed clinical psychologist and director of the SIU Clinical Center
the American Psychological Association doesn’t currently recognize complex trauma as a distinct treatment classification, so there is no specific training to address it
The Queensland Trauma Strategy (qmhc.qld.gov.au)
The strategy establishes a whole-of-government, whole-of-community approach for integrating trauma-informed practice across Queensland. It is a five-year strategy that seeks to ensure they create the best possible conditions for individuals, families and carers, and communities to receive the right support as early as possible.
To move towards a more-trauma informed Queensland, a collaborative, partnership-based approach is required across government and the community. All touchpoints a person has across the systems should include a focus on preventing trauma, providing accessible support early, enabling people and communities who have experienced trauma to explore what healing means to them, and enabling reform to strengthen the systemic enablers for change.
England
The program began in 2023 and this new award extends the program to support additional families with complex needs, including parental substance abuse and children either currently engaged with child protection or those who are at imminent risk of going into care. It focuses on working with the parents to develop emotional regulation skills, confidence and be emotionally supportive so they can support their children in developing their own self-regulation.
The expansion of the programme will target early intervention within families that have high risk factors for becoming involved in serious violence. This project is a part of the proactive public health approach to serious violence, aiming to not just tackle the problem but prevent its occurrence.
It will help protect children and young people from experiencing adverse childhood experiences while building resilience and other protective factors. Addressing these challenges reduces the potential for children to become involved in a life of crime, violence and drugs.
'Life-changing': Inside Island's Indigenous-specific trauma-informed daycare
The daycare is part of a growing number of "life-changing for Indigenous families" childcare spaces created since 2018 in 23 communities across British Columbia.
The early years centre has 48 spaces: 24 spaces for infants and toddlers, and 24 for children ages 3-5.
The centre puts emphasis on child mental health care, fostered by larger, bright spaces with windows accessing green space, higher staff-to-children ratio and a therapist on staff.
The rooms are also larger than required. "That was really important for trauma-informed care because it was important that kids had places where they could go and have quiet time if they needed or just be able to sit with someone and get a hug. Also, I think kids need space to play and grow and learn."
A therapist on staff helps children who are struggling or in need of extra support but also gives staff information on how best to support the child. "It's about us changing how we approach the child. What are their needs, as opposed to how do we manage that child's behaviour? It's helping everybody, because it's Indigenous worldview. A child does not function as an individual; they're part of a community."
BMC Public Health, September 2024
The purpose of this study was to examine the association between childhood maltreatment and school bullying in adolescents and to assess the mediating role of peer relationships.
2119 adolescents aged between 12 and 18 years in Guangdong Province, China
Self-report questionnaires were employed to collect data on childhood maltreatment, school bullying, and peer relationships
The results indicated that adolescents who had experienced maltreatment were more at risk of bullying victimization, bullying perpetration, and bully-victimization, compared to adolescents who had no history of maltreatment
Sexual abuse showed the most significant connection with all forms of bullying
Peer relationships were found to mediate the association between child maltreatment and bullying behaviour.
The results indicated that worse peer relationships may exacerbate the adverse effects of maltreatment experiences and increase the risk of adolescents becoming bullies, either perpetrators or victims of bullying.
The results underscore the crucial role of early intervention in cases of child maltreatment and the fostering of positive peer relationships in schools.
Addressing Generational Trauma For Organizational Success
Forbes
Generational trauma refers to the psychological effects passed down from one generation to another, often rooted in historical oppression, violence or severe stress. This trauma isn’t just a memory or a story—it’s encoded in our very biology.
Generational trauma, influences not only personal lives but also work behaviors, stress responses and relationships with colleagues, so it is a critical yet overlooked factor in workplace dynamics
Unaddressed generational trauma is more than a personal issue; it's also a systemic challenge that often goes unnoticed and unaddressed.
Here are a few examples of what generational trauma can look like in the office:
High vigilance: An overactive threat-detection system, leading to difficulty trusting colleagues and authority figures, inhibiting engaging fully in collaborative projects.
Imposter Syndrome: A deep-seated belief that one does not deserve success, rooted in generational experiences of systemic oppression and leading to underperformance, not taking risks or not seeking promotions or leadership roles.
Stress Sensitivity: An exaggerated stress response impacting decision-making and performance.
Unaddressed generational trauma's neurobiological changes can result in behaviors that are often misunderstood. An employee who appears overly defensive or uncooperative might be reacting not just to the current situation but to a lifetime of inherited stress responses.
Not providing adequate mental health support or dismissing the importance of psychological safety is inadvertently maintaining these inequities.
Generational trauma can hinder organizational growth in:
Talent Drain: Employees struggling with unresolved trauma may underperform or leave, resulting in the loss of valuable, diverse talent.
Innovation Stagnation: The high doubts associated with generational trauma can stifle creativity.
Cultural Disconnect: Trauma-induced behaviors can be misinterpreted as a lack of engagement or commitment, leading to cultural misalignment.
Leadership Pipeline Gaps: Imposter syndrome and self-doubt can prevent talented individuals from pursuing leadership roles.
Through neuroplasticity—the brain's ability to form new neural connections—we can create environments that support healing and growth through:
Self-Awareness: Leaders should educate themselves about generational trauma and its impacts, recognizing its signs and responding with empathy. This includes implementing inclusive and compassionate leadership. Create training sessions and workshops that foster understanding and empathy.
Foster Open Dialogue: Create a nonjudgmental, psychologically safe environment where employees feel safe and validated to discuss their experiences and challenges. This could be through one-on-one meetings, employee resource groups or anonymous feedback channels.
Culturally Responsive Mental Health Support: Offer accessible mental health resources that acknowledge diverse cultural experiences of trauma, whether through in-house counseling services, mental health professionals or employee assistance programs (EAPs). Normalize and encourage the use of these resources.
Narrative Reframing Workshops: Workshops that help employees reframe their narratives, emphasizing resilience and growth, sharing their family histories and celebrating the strength that brought them to where they are today.
Mindfulness Practices: Introduce body-based daily practices that help regulate the nervous system, teaching simple techniques to manage stress responses.
Intergenerational Mentoring Programs: Mentorship programs can bridge generational gaps by pairing younger employees with senior staff from different cultural backgrounds, creating mutual learning opportunities.
Promote Work-Life Balance: Trauma can be aggravated by stress. Encourage employees to take breaks, use their vacation time and disconnect after work hours. Flexible working arrangements can also allow employees to manage their well-being alongside their professional responsibilities.
Community Building Initiatives: Foster a sense of belonging through employee resource groups and community service projects. Create programs that encourage employees to connect with their heritage while building a supportive workplace community.
Organizations have a responsibility to address the hidden impact of generational trauma in workplaces; organizations have the power to break the cycle of trauma and inequity. By creating psychologically safe spaces, we can help our employees heal, grow and reach their full potential.
