Your questions answered: What is trauma and how can a behavior analyst help?

There is a lot of talk about trauma these days and for good reason: trauma can happen to anyone at any time, with or without warning.  You will find a number of trauma resources on my resources page.  In order to tackle this question, let’s break it into two pieces.

(1) What actually is “trauma”?

According to the American Psychological Association:

Trauma is an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, rape, or natural disaster. Immediately after the event, shock and denial are typical. Longer term reactions include unpredictable emotions, flashbacks, strained relationships, and even physical symptoms like headaches or nausea.

You’ll notice that the response is the key here.  Trauma isn’t the event but how it effects someone.

The example I often use is that of a race car driver and an every day person.  Imagine the race car driver is in the drivers seat and is going at a speed they find comfortable, which happens to be 100mph around a corner, while an everyday person is in the passenger seat.  The driver may find this to be a fun and exciting experience while the passenger may find it terrifying and perhaps even traumatic.

The moral of the story?  One event that is traumatic to one person will not be to another and visa versa.  The effect on each is valid either way.  A person isn’t insensitive for brushing it off nor overly sensitive for being effected by it.

Now that we have an idea of what trauma is, how can a behavior analyst help as a part of the trauma treatment team?

(2) How can a behavior analyst help with trauma? What do they do as a part of the trauma treatment team?

There are many supports that can help with trauma treatment.  The best place to start is with a qualified mental health professional who specializes in trauma care and treatment.  You can find a mental health professional on websites like Psychology Today using their “Find a Therapist” function.

In kids, trauma often comes with challenging behaviors.  For example, kids may lose their potty training, stop speaking, have nightmares, engage in intense meltdowns, and/or be sensitive to seemingly insignificant triggers.  While a mental health professional helps work through the minutia of the trauma itself, a behavior analyst can assist in making day-to-day life more livable.

If you think that a behavior analyst would be a good addition to your child’s treatment team, schedule a Free Discovery Call today.

Request Appointment