Trauma can leave deep marks on a child's emotional and physical well-being. Recognizing the signs early is crucial for providing the right support and helping children heal. Trauma might come from various experiences such as accidents, loss, abuse, or witnessing violence. Children often cannot express their feelings in words, so adults need to watch for clues in behavior and mood. How Trauma Affects Children Children process trauma differently than adults. Their brains and em

Childhood experiences shape much of who we become, but some experiences leave deep scars that affect mental health in profound ways. The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study reveals a sharp increase in suicide risk when individuals have four or more ACEs. Even more striking, those with seven ACEs face a 6000% higher risk of suicide compared to those with none. Understanding this connection is crucial for prevention and support. What Are Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE

Childhood trauma shapes more than just memories. Research from the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study reveals a strong connection between early trauma and serious health problems in adulthood. The risks increase with the number of traumatic experiences, especially when the ACE score reaches 4 out of 10 or higher. This link affects a wide range of conditions, from cancer and heart disease to chronic inflammation and unexplained pain. At very high ACE scores, the impact

I have decided to start doing pure marriage therapy again, on a limited basis . I normally do not work Fridays, but am adding a half-day (mornings) for marriage therapy. I often use brief marriage therapy as a preparation for working with childhood trauma. However, this time will be for pure marriage therapy. I use Gottman Method, which I am formally trained in by the Gottman Institute . Insurance doesn't pay for marriage work (any therapist who says otherwise is cheating

The ACE study, first conducted in the 1990s, revealed a strong connection between childhood trauma and long-term health risks. Understanding these connections helps professionals and individuals recognize the importance of early intervention and support. What Are Adverse Childhood Experiences? The ACE study was a groundbreaking research project that surveyed over 17,000 adults about their childhood experiences and current health. It found that traumatic events in childhood,

If you are reading this post, and you've read other entries on this blog, there is likely no reason to explain EMDR, or why you would want to learn how to be an EMDR clinician! But how would you go about learning? How can you afford it? One issue is that there are so many trainings out there, and so much confusion about what EMDR is. Here are some facts about learning EMDR, before I recommend where to do so: - You need to be a therapist, or working toward being one. That i

Child sexual abuse remains one of the most difficult and painful issues society faces. Efforts to expose and prevent it often focus on identifying abusers as distant, monstrous others. This approach, while understandable, limits our ability to truly confront the problem. To unmask child sexual abuse effectively, individuals must certainly take personal responsibility for understanding and awareness. But to be effective at all, this requires a willingness to engage in deep sel

Psychology today recently published a highly inaccurate and inflammatory description of EMDR, which they call a description, and it can be found here (please note the tone, and how it cites no evidence): https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapy-types/emdr The response of the EMDR International Association (which actually contains references to scientific research) can be found here: https://www.emdria.org/a-letter-to-psychology-today/ The article is filled with misinformati

Video games have become a central part of many children’s lives. Parents often see them as harmless entertainment or a way for kids to connect with friends. What many do not realize is that video games offer a platform for children to communicate with others just as easily as social media does. This opens the door to risks such as contact with child predators and negative peer influences. Understanding these risks is essential for parents who want to keep their children safe

Neglect is often seen as a private issue, confined to troubled homes or isolated individuals. Surely, the privacy of the home and the dependency and manipulability of small children enables sexual abuse. Yet, neglect extends far beyond personal spaces and seeps into the fabric of society itself. This widespread neglect, whether through inaction or willful ignorance, creates a fertile ground for harmful behaviors to emerge and persist. What I call "The Darkness Catalyst" descr