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At the Family Trauma Institute, we define “interactional trauma” as the constant conflict between parent and child (drama = trauma) that leads to resentment, bitterness, and lost attachment. Often, the quickest way to heal this type of deep trauma is through the child or adolescent’s love language. Each child has a special one. For some it's “words of affirmation” and for others “quality time”. But our parents often have no clue what it is or why it’s so important. Therefore, both counselors...

Did you know that when you choose to use your health insurance benefits for your psychotherapy sessions you waive the right to any privacy about your mental health with your insurance provider? Did you know that session notes can be audited and reviewed by your insurance company? Did you know that using your health insurance benefits for psychotherapy automatically implies a mental health disorder diagnosis...that follows you even if you change plans, change jobs, change insurances? How...

Pregnancy loss is a devastating experience that happens to many parents every year and most go on to conceive again. This experience can turn gestation into a time that feels tenuous and full of worries, making it hard for parents to feel safe to bond with their growing baby. Our own histories and our ancestral imprints around death and loss have an impact on how we move through the loss of a baby, making this phase possibly even more challenging. Considering that the prenatal period is one...

In July 2021, Governor Phil Murphy signed into law P.L.2021, c.187 to create a statewide, universal home visiting (UHV) program for newborns in the State of New Jersey.1 The program has been branded in New Jersey as Family Connects NJ. New Jersey is the second state in the country to legislate a statewide program through which families with a newborn can have a specially trained nurse visit their home in the first few weeks after the child’s birth. The services are free, voluntary, and meant...

There are way too many parents who haven’t a clue how to raise a child. They are not engaging in parenting behaviors and practices generally recognized as supporting the healthy development of children. It’s high time for an entirely new kind of parenting education that reaches everyone, everywhere. One that reaches grandparents raising grandchildren, mature parents, young parents, soon-to-be parents, teens, even school age children. A kind of parenting education that should be a permanent...

SEL and mental health are deeply interconnected, and families play an essential role to nurture both in students of all ages. Discover best practices for engaging caregivers in such initiatives. ParentPowered can help, too, with programs serving families from birth through high school. Read the article here.

A difficult past need not define you, nor determine your future. We explore three paths to building a satisfying life after hardship in childhood.

Identifying and addressing complex trauma suffered on the job can be challenging. Human resources might provide mediation or disciplinary action, but ultimately that assistance originates from within the same structure that fostered the situation in the first place. Thankfully, a growing number of trauma-informed consultants, coaches, and trainers are applying their skills to the world of work, transforming corporations and institutions into safe, respectful, and inclusive cultures for all.

We are excited to announce another episode of History. Culture. Trauma. ! Our next conversation is with author of the upcoming book, The Trauma Informed Pediatric Practice: A Resilience-Based Roadmap to Foster Early Relational Health, Dr. Amy King . In this week's episode, we are excited to have Dr. Amy King. Amy King, PhD, is a licensed psychologist who provides training, consultation and education to professionals and organizations. She specializes in trauma-informed work and resilience...

Victor Frankl describes in Man's Search for Meaning the intake process he went through at a concentration camp. Among the things he describes, one thing particularly caught my attention - the moment when each person is directed to hand over all of their possessions. The men and women are stripped of their clothing and all personal effects. In this desperate moment, there were various attempts to hold on to material things - a wedding ring, a good luck charm, a photo, or, for Frankl, his...

To read more of OLIVIA OLANDER , MACKENZIE WILKES , KATY O'DONNELL , DANIEL PAYNE and RUTH READER article, please click here. Artificial intelligence isn’t just a niche tool for cheating on homework or generating bizarre and deceptive images. It’s already humming along in unseen and unregulated ways that are touching millions of Americans who may never have heard of ChatGPT, Bard or other buzzwords. A growing share of businesses, schools, and medical professionals have quietly embraced...

Around the world, there is an urgent need for effective treatment of complex trauma. While there is a growing number of trauma-informed mental health professionals focusing on supporting individuals, relationships, communities, and systems, addressing trauma everyday can be taxing, overwhelming and lead to burn-out. Who is there to support those therapists and helping professionals on their professional journey? On this bonus episode of Transforming Trauma , host Emily Ruth welcomes Brad...