Trauma and the Role of Pediatric Occupational Therapy
/Childhood trauma can affect a child's emotional, behavioral, and developmental well-being. From adverse experiences to sudden life changes, trauma can leave lasting imprints on a child's mind and body, influencing their ability to navigate the world around them.
Unresolved trauma can manifest in various ways, impacting a child's ability to form healthy relationships, concentrate in school, and regulate their emotions. Many people don’t realize that in addition to emotional distress, trauma also affects the sensory system. A trauma-informed pediatric occupational therapist is uniquely positioned to address these sensory challenges.
Understanding Trauma in Children
Trauma in children encompasses a range of experiences that can significantly impact their mental and emotional well-being. It can stem from various sources, such as abuse, neglect, accidents, or the loss of a loved one.
Types of Pediatric Trauma
Physical Trauma: This involves injuries or harm to a child's body, often resulting from accidents, falls, or intentional acts of violence.
Emotional or Psychological Trauma: Emotional trauma can result from events that deeply affect a child's emotional well-being, such as witnessing domestic violence, experiencing intense fear, or enduring ongoing emotional abuse.
Sexual Trauma: Sexual abuse or assault can have profound and lasting effects on a child's mental and emotional health.
Neglect: Chronic neglect, where a child's basic needs for care, supervision, and emotional support are consistently unmet, can lead to emotional trauma and developmental challenges.
Community Violence: Exposure to violence in the community, such as crime, gang activity, or witnessing violent events, can traumatize children.
Natural Disasters: Events like earthquakes, floods, or wildfires can cause trauma due to the sudden disruption of a child's environment and the potential loss of safety and security.
Loss or Bereavement: The death of a loved one, including parents, siblings, or close friends, can be a traumatic experience for a child, affecting their emotional well-being and sense of security.
Medical Trauma: Serious illnesses, medical procedures, or hospitalizations can be traumatic for children, especially if they involve pain, fear, or a sense of loss of control.
Children often express the effects of trauma through behavioral and emotional cues. These manifestations can include changes in sleep patterns, heightened anxiety, withdrawal from social interactions, aggression, or regression in previously acquired skills. By being attuned to these signs, caregivers can better navigate the challenges their child may be facing and provide the necessary support.
Trauma-Informed Pediatric Occupational Therapy
Pediatric occupational therapy (OT) is a specialized field dedicated to helping children develop the skills needed for daily activities and promoting their overall well-being. From fine motor skills to emotional regulation, pediatric OT addresses a broad range of developmental needs.
Not all occupational therapists are trained or qualified in trauma-informed care. It is crucial to find a pediatric occupational therapist who provides trauma-informed care because they have an understanding of how trauma has affected the child’s sensory system. Standard medical OT, like what you may find in a hospital setting, is not always trauma-informed and can often make the situation worse.
How Pediatric OT Addresses Trauma
1. Sensory Integration Techniques
Pediatric OT uses sensory integration techniques to help children process and respond to sensory information. This is particularly beneficial for children who have experienced trauma, as it can assist in desensitizing them to triggers and creating a more positive relationship with their surroundings.
2. Play-Based Therapy
Play is a powerful medium for healing, and pediatric OT often utilizes play-based therapy to engage children in activities that foster emotional expression, social interaction, and cognitive development. Through guided play, children can explore and process their emotions in a safe and supportive environment.
3. Emotional regulation strategies
Trauma can disrupt a child's ability to regulate emotions. Pediatric OT equips children with practical strategies to manage stress, anxiety, and overwhelming emotions. These strategies empower them to navigate daily challenges more effectively and build emotional resilience.
Trauma-Informed OT at Come Play
Sensory experiences are unavoidable. Children who have experienced trauma often display over-responsiveness, triggering their fight-or-flight response. We aim to view your child through a lens of understanding, moving away from labels like "sensory seeker" or "defiant." Instead, we analyze how the sensory environment may be affecting their tiny bodies and why.
Our approach involves immediate accommodations and modifications to their environment. We aim to safely expose them to various sensory experiences while being mindful of their unique needs.
We may employ the Safe & Sound Protocol throughout therapy, which is a carefully designed auditory intervention that works to regulate the autonomic nervous system. This evidence-based approach uses music to help recalibrate the neural pathways, promoting improved social engagement, emotional regulation, and an overall sense of well-being for your child.
We commonly recommend OT immediately followed by Play Therapy. This allows your child’s body to get regulated so that they can access the part of their brain needed to process and heal from the trauma. The combination of OT and Play Therapy addresses both the sensory and the emotional aspects of the trauma, fostering a safe and nurturing environment.
Our commitment is to create a supportive and understanding space for your child's sensory journey, making thoughtful adjustments to foster a sense of security and comfort. Please contact our office today to learn more about our services!