Building Empowerment in Traumatized Children

Building Empowerment in Traumatized Children

Dynamics of Powerlessness:

пЃЊ POWERLESSNESS is defined as “the process in which the child’s will,

desire, and sense of efficacy are continually contravened.”

пЃЊ Feelings of HELPLESSNESS developed out of the reality that no one and

nothing was able to protect the child from the trauma.

пЃЊ Fearfulness demonstrated by repeated expression of TERROR and

ANXIETY.

пЃЊ ISOLATIVE behaviors, which are perpetuated by lack of assistance and

support from solid recovery system.

 VULNERABILITY that stems from the child’s personal boundaries being

invaded, often repeatedly.

пЃЊ Experienced disbelief by others, creating a sense that their story is

UNHEARD.

Psychological Impact of Abuse and other Trauma:

пЃЊ Anxiety

пЃЊ Fear

пЃЊ Depression

пЃЊ Lowered sense of efficacy

пЃЊ Perception of self as victim

пЃЊ Need to control

пЃЊ Identification with aggressor

пЃЊ Experience part of self as being split-off/ dissociation

Behavioral Manifestations of Powerlessness:

пЃЊ Nightmares

пЃЊ Phobias

пЃЊ Elimination Disorders

пЃЊ Pseudomaturation/ Parentification

пЃЊ Eating/ Sleeping disorders

пЃЊ Agitation/ Aggression

пЃЊ Withdrawal/ Retreat to Fantasy World

пЃЊ Academic Problems/ Bullying/ Delinquency

пЃЊ Vulnerability to subsequent victimization

Empowering Process:

пЃЉ Creating feelings of empowerment requires constant activity and attention

throughout the treatment.

пЃЉ It is important to remain consistently alert to opportunities both within

treatment and in the child’s life in which choices are present.

пЃЉ Provide occasions for the child to behave effectively and praise them when

they perform well.

 Teach others in the child’s immediate life the importance of their support

in the enhancement of the child’s sense of power.

пЃЉ Facilitate the learning process of self-sufficient behaviors and increase

decision-making powers in certain daily activities.

Changing Mentality from Victim to Survivor:

 Observing child’s play can be very effective in learning if the child continues

to assume the victim role in their imaginations. Repetitive play themes can

reflect their entrenched feelings of helplessness.

пЃЉ These children need to be taught that there is life beyond victimization.

пЃЉ They need to be told/ shown clearly what it will be like to transcend the experience, while discussing specific strategies for achieving the insight, as well as how you going to guide them.

пЃЉ Make sure to directly discuss the treatment objectives with the child, and include them when possible in creating goals together.

пЃЉ Introduce them to stories of other child survivors to infuse hope into their own stories, and assist them in re-constructing their own narrative.

 If possible, work closely with their caregivers, as this is a central part in the treatment process, instructing them on when to respect the child’s limitations and when to encourage the child to try harder.

 Care givers may consciously or unconsciously reinforce the feelings of powerlessness in their children by being overprotective; they need to be properly trained in how to contribute to the child’s process.

пЃЉ Allow for the child to regress to younger age levels, while inquiring what

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