Trauma

Understanding Trauma

Now that we have defined trauma, we can look a little more in depth at how trauma effects the brain. Differing from person to person, trauma effects people in a variety of ways, some -- but not all -- developing post-traumatic stress disorder. For a glance at modern research in trauma, check out Psychology Today's "How Trauma in Childhood Affects the Brain."

What Can We Do?

A major difficulty with the symptoms of trauma is that they appear on the surface to be other problems, namely, frustration, acting out, or difficulty following directions. However, once trauma has been properly identified, educators can change their approach to accommodate individuals and help them cope in the school environment. Check out the child trauma toolkit from The National Child Traumatic Stress Network, a phenomenal tool to assist educators and parents with children suffering from trauma.