What Parents Need to Know About Trauma

Are you facing a baffling, frustrating and emotionally intense struggle with your child? 

Do you question everything you’re doing as a parent because your best efforts don’t seem to be working to change your child’s misbehavior?

In this episode of our "Surviving and Thriving After Trauma" series, we tackle an increasingly important question: What do parents need to know about trauma? 

Austin is joined by Kari Nietzel, a behavior analyst with over 14 years of experience working with families and children who have experienced trauma. Together, they explore how trauma impacts children, how it manifests in behavior, and how parents and caregivers can better understand and support their kids.

Austin and Kari discuss:

• The difference between cultural perceptions and clinical definitions of trauma
• Trauma behavior vs. normal behavior
• The importance of understanding the "why" behind a child's behavior
• Examples of trauma responses
• Behavior as communication
• Teaching kids (and adults!) appropriate ways to express needs and emotions
• How to encourage parents and caregivers facing the challenge of parenting a child from trauma 

Key Takeaways:

1. Trauma is complex and manifests differently in each child.
2. Behaviors are a form of communication that should be approached with curiosity.
3. Parents can learn to focus on their child’s needs and seek appropriate strategies to help them thrive.

We know you’ll be encouraged, comforted and equipped with parenting strategies through this conversation as you learn from Kari’s personal and clinical experiences. 

Resources:

Raising Kids with Big Baffling Behaviors by Robyn Gobell

The Connected Parent by Karyn Purvis and Lisa Qualls

TBRI podcast

Calm Parenting Podcast

If you enjoy listening to With You in the Weeds we’d love to hear from you! You can email us at withyouintheweeds@thecrossingchurch.com or leave us a review. For more great content from the team you can subscribe to our newsletter at withyouintheweeds.com and follow us on Instagram @withyouintheweeds.