Professionals treating or working with traumatized children often find it challenging to keep up with the explosion of trauma-related research and clinical literature—especially in neuroscience—that has emerged in recent years. This webinar explains common types of psychological trauma, the effects of trauma, and how a variety of risk and protective factors can influence its impact. Learn how trauma and related problems are diagnosed in the DSM-5 and gain an understanding of the neurobiology underlying the effects of trauma. This foundational information, presented in clear and understandable terms, describes traumatized children's behaviors and why a combination of treatment approaches—both traditional and nontraditional—is often needed to effectively treat them.

Course Content

A. Types of Significant Trauma in U.S. Children Receiving Treatment
B. Factors that Impact the Severity of the Trauma Response
C. Predisposing Factors in the Child
  1. Family/environmental factors
  2. Age/developmental level
  3. Nature of the trauma
  4. “Aftershocks” of the trauma
D. Shorter-Term Effects of Trauma
  1. Younger children
  2. Teenagers
  3. Disaster-affected children
E. Longer-Term Effects of Trauma: The Adverse Childhood Experiences Study
F. Trauma Impact: Summary of the Research
G. Diagnosis of Psychological Trauma Using the DSM-5, and Relate d Issues
  1. Why are there so many trauma-related diagnoses?
  2. Developmental trauma disorder
  3. Reactive attachment disorder
  4. Disinhibited social engagement disorder
  5. Posttraumatic stress disorder (ages 7+ and under 7)
  6. Acute stress disorder
  7. Other trauma and stressor-related disorders
  8. Issues in diagnosing trauma
H. Neurobiological Factors in Psychological Trauma
  1. Brain development and the “3-part brain”
  2. The two hemispheres of the brain
  3. Five major areas of impact of trauma on neurobiology
  4. Other areas of impact of trauma on physiology
  5. The arousal continuum (hyperarousal to dissociation)
    a. The fight/flight response pattern and its implications
    b. The fright/freeze response pattern and its implications