Listening to Families Videos

Dame Sue Bagshaw (Youth worker with a Medical degree) talks about the types of trauma and how these can impact the brain. She talks about how early trauma can have a negative impact at puberty. She explains where the term Post Traumatic Mental Injury came from and notes that the term injury implies that recovery is possible.

Dame Sue Bagshaw (Youth worker with a Medical degree) explains that disorder means disease. She talks about changing environments and journeying with people to help them achieve change. She and Shelley discuss the impact of perceptions on mental injury.

Dame Sue Bagshaw (Youth worker with a Medical degree) explains brain changes from birth. She uses a diagram to explain what’s happening in the brain. She talks about the amygdala and the impact on this when there is heightened awareness (stress) and how this manifests at puberty. Sue notes the importance of a safe environment and the role of talking in healing.

Dame Sue Bagshaw (Youth worker with a Medical degree) talks about the role of a safe environment in developing new connections in the brain. She comments on the “this is the parents fault” criticism. She talks about the importance of giving emotions a label – describing these. She and Shelley talk about distinguishing between disability and different abilities.

Dame Sue Bagshaw (Youth worker with a Medical degree) notes that siblings are often left out. She promotes the idea of a “flat meeting” for families as a way of getting them to work together, feeling that siblings belong in the family.

Dame Sue Bagshaw (Youth worker with a Medical degree) responds to a question about an enlarged amygdala and executive functioning. She talks about the importance of growing up in a safe space and the role that this plays in brain growth.

Dame Sue Bagshaw (Youth worker with a Medical degree) and Shelley talk about communicating with children. They discuss the importance of families eating together and the significant benefits that arise from this.

Dame Sue Bagshaw (Youth worker with a Medical degree) confirms that communication is behaviour, behaviour is communication. She notes that belonging creates safety.

Sam MacGibbon Child and Family Psychologist explains that the term trauma relates to an experience where a person is completely overwhelmed. Catherine Gallagher Clinical Practice Manager Start talks about the internal and external experience of an event

Sam MacGibbon Child and Family Psychologist notes that parents are the expert – they will notice changes in their child’s behaviour. Catherine Gallagher Clinical Practice Manager Start explains that there may be factors that impact on the natural drive towards healing – if healing isn’t occurring that’s the time to reach out for support.

Sam MacGibbon Child and Family Psychologist addresses parents’ concerns that they will make matters worse if they talk about this with their child. Catherine Gallagher Clinical Practice Manager Start talks about how children remember an event and the importance of talking with them about the event.

Catherine Gallagher Clinical Practice Manager Start confirms that a traumatic event does not change a child for life. Trauma is an injury, a wound - wounds heal. Sam MacGibbon Child and Family Psychologist notes that trauma is not the event, and talks about the need to move on and grow. They talk about resilience.

Sam MacGibbon Child and Family Psychologist notes that there are multiple variables that impact on the time it takes to recover from trauma. Catherine Gallagher Clinical Practice Manager talks about how children respond. They confirm that a child having parental support is critical. They also talk about the importance of parents being supported.

Sam MacGibbon Child and Family Psychologist notes the importance of parents being well and that parents should seek support when required. Catherine Gallagher Clinical Practice Manager confirms that if a parent is not coping the traumatised child will sense this – this will influence the healing process.

Catherine Gallagher Clinical Practice Manager suggests involving those that the young person comes into contact with. Distinguish between those that need to know and those who want to know. Sam MacGibbon Child and Family Psychologist talks about who to involve at school.

Sam MacGibbon Child and Family Psychologist talks about parents being there to support their child. She notes the importance of normal routines. Catherine Gallagher Clinical Practice Manager suggests that allowing life to flow is really helpful.

Catherine Gallagher Clinical Practice Manager notes that trauma being part of dialogue is positive. She notes the difference between trauma and events that people describe as traumatising. Sam MacGibbon Child and Family Psychologist talks about the pressures on adolescents. They talk about the importance of retaining boundaries.

Sam MacGibbon Child and Family Psychologist notes that in most cases children will be ok. She reinforces the message that parents are the experts. Catherine Gallagher Clinical Practice Manager stresses the importance of parents taking care of themselves. She notes that bad things happen to good people – it’s not your fault.