F12

A LIFE-SPAN TRAUMA NARRATIVE APPROACH FOR CHILDREN GROWING UP IN A CLIMATE OF FAMILY VIOLENCE AND MALTREATMENT

Presenters: Arnon Bentovim, Marianne Bentovim

Abstract Category: Diversity

Instruction Level: Intermediate

Presentation: Click Here

Description:  

Approaches to promoting recovery for children and young people who have been exposed to a life-time of cumulative adversity and traumatic experiences.  The use of the 'In My Shoes' approach to developing life-story narratives will be demonstrated, and the use of trauma-focused and systemic interventions, to encourage growth and resilience.

Abstract:

Recent research on patterns of response to living in a climate of violence and abuse indicate that no one single form of maltreatment harms children’s development. It is the cumulative effect of what David Finkelhor has described as ‘Poly-victimization’. A significant number of children are subject to multiple abusive experiences which have negative effects on physical and mental health. Research on ‘Resilience’ notes that children living in contexts of adversity are affected by the number of stressful and traumatic events they experience. There can be recovery, but there are risks of longer term harm – the development of abusive behavior, serious mental health effects, and impacts on parenting and partnering.

We have excellent approaches to help children and young people recover from single forms of maltreatment – ‘Abuse Focused Therapies’ but the realities of practice present us with children and young people who have had a ‘Life Span of Traumatic experiences’ This work-shop will address an approach to meet the considerable needs of these children and young people. The approach is multi-modal and in the development of a ‘transformative narrative we need to integrate a number of approaches used with creativity and skill. We also need to bring together a number of theoretical perspectives including a ‘Biological’ level, understanding of the way ‘traumatic experiences’ organize relationships, attachments and emotional regulation, and thinking- the capacity to ‘mentalise’. Approaches need to adjust to the children or young people’s patterns, and enlist the help of careers, family members and network

There are a number of stages, which include

                1. Constructing a professional narrative –bringing together what is known about the child’s and families experiences, tracking the harm which needs to be tackled

                2. Beginning the process of work with the child or young person, establishing a language for the child’s ‘life through the ages’

                3. Establishing the language of emotions, stressful and harmful events. The use of the ‘In my shoes’ computer facilitated interview will play a key part in this process of ‘talking about the untellable’ The principle to be followed is that ‘coping  skills ‘ come first

                4. Constructing the ‘Life narrative ‘ using creative skills to both witness and share, draw , write the story of events, the ‘Life-Line’ emphasizing feelings associated and beginning the process of building the ‘Alternative Story’ of recovery and growth

                5. The future script, solutions, the ‘New Me’ –‘Systemic’ approaches to a ‘Healing narrative’ of recovery

The workshop will be illustrated by the Narratives developed by children and young people we have worked with who have suffered a Life-Span’ of Violence and Maltreatment