Triple Threat - Teenagers, Trauma, and TalkingBy Stacey Goodson

Introduction

Stacey Goodson - I attended Grand Valley State University and have worked in child welfare (foster care, adoption, licensing, and administration) as well as education administration. I am currently pursuing my Master’s Degree in Human Services from Capella University. My husband and I have also adopted four teenagers from foster care. We have provided a temporary home for 12 other teenagers, ranging from 3 days to 2 years. I work with teenagers as a high school coach of multiple sports and love having teenagers around, most of the time . I passionately believe that all teenagers are able to be successful when they are given the opportunity to be the best versions of themselves.

Who is in the room?

Secondary Social Work Staff?

Elementary Social Work Staff?

Therapists?

Teachers?

ObjectivesBy the end of this workshop, you will be able to:

Identify trauma based behaviors vs “normal” behaviors in teenage students,

Identify behavior management methods that are effective for trauma based behaviors, in an education setting,

Identify ways to connect with and build relationships with teenage clients; therefore, providing increased effectiveness of social work services.

Ice Breaker

If you were a vegetable, what vegetable would you be? Why?

Trauma vs Normal

What is “NORMAL?”

A setting on the dryer.

What is “Trauma?”

An event or experience that was deeply distressing or disturbing.

How does “normal” affect us?

Synonyms: usual, standard, ordinary, customary, conventional, expected

Such subjective terms!

Trauma does not affect each person the same.

Trauma could be a subjective term as well.

“Normal” teenage behaviors

Novelty seeking

Social engagement

Increased emotional intensity

Creative exploration

“Brainstorm, The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain,” by Daniel J. Siegel, M.D.

Increased drive for rewards and creates inner motivation to try something new.

Downside: sensation seeking and risk taking may overemphasize the thrill and downplay the risk result.

Impulsivity can quickly turn an idea into an action without taking a pause to consider the consequences.

Upside: Being open to change and live passionately emerges. Increased sense of adventure.

Novelty seeking

“Brainstorm, The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain,” by Daniel J. Siegel, M.D. Pg 8-9.

Social engagement

Enhances peer connectedness and creates new friendships

Downside: Teens isolated from adults that spend a lot of time with teens may have increased risky behaviors

Upside: The drive for relationships leads to the creation of social support relationships

“Brainstorm, The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain,” by Daniel J. Siegel, M.D. Pg 8-9.

Increased emotional intensity

An enhanced vitality of life

Downside:

Intense emotions may rule the day leading to moodiness and/or impulsivity

Upside: Emotional intensity can lead to energy and exuberance

“Brainstorm, The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain,” by Daniel J. Siegel, M.D. Pg 8-9.

Creative exploration

An expanded sense of consciousness

Downside: Can lead to identity crisis, vulnerability to peer pressure, lack of direction and purpose

Upside: The sense of being in a rut can be minimized and exuberance for life can be cultivated

“Brainstorm, The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain,” by Daniel J. Siegel, M.D. Pg 8-9.

“Trauma” teenage behaviors

Increased impulsivity and/or inability to control impulsivity following consequences

Food hoarding, sometimes viewed as stealing. “Appropriating without permission.”

Defiance and lying

Substance Use

Increased impulsivity

Teenagers that have experienced trauma often are diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Half of kids in foster care are diagnosed with ADHD vs one third of kids not in foster care, according to an article in Time Magazine; “Kids in Foster Care Three Times More Likely to be Diagnosed with ADHD,” by Stephanie Brown.

Oftentimes trauma behaviors “look like” ADHD.

Symptoms such as hypervigilance, anxiety, and/or lack of ability to pay attention that may be caused by trauma mirror and mimic symptoms of ADHD.

Food hoarding

Children that have experienced neglect often have issues with hoarding food. This behavior becomes very difficult for many (foster) parents as the child hides pieces of pizza and ice cream containers under their bed. For a child that has gone without food, food hoarding is a “life or death” fear based trauma behavior.

All teenagers eat a lot of food. the “trauma” based behaviors around food begin when food begins to be an obsession and they are hiding and/or “stealing” it to save for later.

Defiance and lying

Defiance can sometimes be an inability or impairment.

“Johnny, do your homework.”

Johnny isn’t able to do his homework, because he can’t read, and it makes him anxious.

When Johnny is asked to do his homework, he becomes extremely defiant and resistant to doing his homework.

Lying is a fear based behavior.

Substance UseLack of coping skills and increased depression and anxiety; as well as lack of stable environments often lead to substance use/abuse by kids that have experienced trauma.

Self medication, social connection, addiction, and/or experimentation.

Self medication

- depression, use alcohol to “go numb” or amphetamines to “rev up.”

- schizophrenia might use alcohol to “quiet the hallucinations.”

- anxiety, alcohol may decrease their concerns

- ADHD, stimulants may help increase their attention

Addiction - dopamine is the chemical in our brain’s “reward” center. Addictive behaviors like gambling, alcohol, and other drug use can activate the reward center. Add genetic predispositions to addiction and it can quickly get “out of hand.”

“Brainstorm, The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain,” by Daniel J. Siegel, M.D. Pg 263-266.

Substance Use StatisticsSubstance use disorders in child welfare settings - 19.2% of youth in the child welfare system met abuse/dependence criteria.

Marijuana was the most frequently used substance, with 46% of foster youth having tried it at some point in their lives with a mean age of 13.1 years for first use.

Analysis indicated that residing in an independent living situation and having a diagnosis of CD were associated with a greater likelihood of lifetime substance use and variety of substances used.

Almost half of foster care youth in this sample had used illicit substances sometime during their lifetime.

Youth in certain living situations were more likely to be using illicit substances, independent living living situations were most likely to use substances.

Substance Use and Abuse among Older Youth in Foster Care. Michael G. Vaughn, Ph.D.,* Marcia T. Ollie, M.S.W., J. Curtis McMillen, Ph.D., Lionel Scott, Jr., Ph.D., and Michelle Munson, Ph.D.This study was funded by a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health

Behavior management methods for teens with trauma, in the educational settingConnection before correction is imperative to behavior management and discipline being effective for teens with history of trauma.

Reward positives, ignore negatives.

Fill their emotional bank accounts.

Do not use an elephant gun to shoot a mouse.

What does NOT work?

Removal of privileges.

Shaming a child.

In most cases, isolation / timeout.

Staff getting escalated/dysregulated while the child is escalating.

Taking away sports.

Additional reminders for Educators

Try to see the misbehavior as an opportunity.

Do not take it personally. “QTIP.”

Be concise and respond quickly; stay cool.

Be mindful of your tone; it’s not what you say; but, how you say it.

“The Connected Child,” by Karyn B. Purvis, PhD.. and David R. Cross, PhD. and Wendy Lyons Sunshine. Pg. 96-98

Scenarios Activity

Connecting with teens, building relationships

Speak “teenager,” understand “teenager.” They have their own language!

But, don’t speak too much. Listen more than you speak.

Seek to understand their perspective.

Seek to understand their behaviors.

Do what you say you are going to do, WHEN you say you are going to do it. Do not cancel on them.

Resilience

The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties or adversities. Toughness. The student’s tendency to cope with stress.

Factors leading to increased resilience are :A positive attitudeOptimismThe ability to regulate emotionsThe ability to see failure and criticism as a form of helpful feedback

Don’t underestimate your impact on a teen’s resiliency.

Resiliency is greatly increased when teens have just ONE competent, caring adult in their life that they are able to lean on and depend on for support.

Building a deeper relationship with your teenage clients1. Take the “punch.”2. Listen to understand.3. Be positive.4. Be yourself.5. Reach out just to “check in.” 6. Have realistic expectations.7. Be patient.8. Don’t judge.9. Make eye contact.

10. LAUGH!

Texting and Social Media

Reading text messages from teens!

The average American teenager sends no less than 75 text messages per day!

Resources “Brainstorm, The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain,” by Daniel J. Siegel, M.D.

“Thoughts of a Foster Dad,” by Julian Goodson

“The Connected Child,” by Karyn B. Purvis, PhD.. and David R. Cross, PhD. and Wendy Lyons Sunshine.

“Beyond Consequences, Logic and Control,” by Heather Forbes.

http://time.com/4084109/kids-in-foster-care-three-times-more-likely-to-be-diagnosed-with-adhdKids in Foster Care Three Times More Likely to Be Diagnosed with ADHD By STEFANIE BROWN October 23, 2015

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2633867/ Substance Use and Abuse among Older Youth in Foster Care. Michael G. Vaughn, Ph.D.,* Marcia T. Ollie, M.S.W., J. Curtis McMillen, Ph.D., Lionel Scott, Jr., Ph.D., and Michelle Munson, Ph.D.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Children's Bureau, www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb Preliminary Estimates for FY 2015 as of June 2016 (23), Page 3

https://www.acf.hhs.gov/archive/media/press/2016/national-youth-in-transition-dataData show youth aging out of foster care face greater barriers to adult success

Contact Information

Stacey Goodson

goodson_stacey@yahoo.com