Building Empowerment in Traumatized Children
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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.
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ISOLATIVE behaviors, which are perpetuated by lack of assistance and
support from solid recovery system.
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VULNERABILITY that stems from the child’s personal boundaries being
invaded, often repeatedly.
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Experienced disbelief by others, creating a sense that their story is
UNHEARD.
Psychological Impact of Abuse and other Trauma:
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Anxiety
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Fear
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Depression
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Lowered sense of efficacy
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Perception of self as victim
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Need to control
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Identification with aggressor
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Experience part of self as being split-off/ dissociation
Behavioral Manifestations of Powerlessness:
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Nightmares
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Phobias
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Elimination Disorders
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Pseudomaturation/ Parentification
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Eating/ Sleeping disorders
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Agitation/ Aggression
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Withdrawal/ Retreat to Fantasy World
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Academic Problems/ Bullying/ Delinquency
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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.
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These children need to be taught that there is life beyond victimization.
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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.
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Make sure to directly discuss the treatment objectives with the child, and include them when possible in creating goals together.
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Introduce them to stories of other child survivors to infuse hope into their own stories, and assist them in re-constructing their own narrative.
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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.
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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.
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Allow for the child to regress to younger age levels, while inquiring what