title: Community-based counselors' interventions for elementary school-age children coping with trauma.
abstract: Child trauma is a mental health concern and more information is needed about treatment in community mental health settings. This article presents results of a focus group and member checking sessions held with counselors who provided therapy for children experiencing posttraumatic stress disorder in a community-based setting. Results indicated that play and art techniques were commonly used during individual child therapy sessions. Sessions were child-directed and allowed children to review trauma experiences in a "safe" setting with an "expert" guide. Several themes were commonly addressed in sessions including opportunities to re-experience, release, and reorganize the trauma, building resilience or self-esteem for the child, promoting safety, and helping the child to regulate emotional reactions and behavior problems. Counselors focused on discussing ways to interact with the child to promote healing and there was a belief that children would return to a positive developmental trajectory after coping with traumatic experiences. Future research needs to address what works for whom, in terms of what interventions are useful in child-directed counseling sessions for children who have experienced specific types of trauma, such as sexual and physical abuse or witnessing domestic violence. Integration of knowledge from evidence-based treatments will also further inform clinical practice with children who have experienced traumatic events.
authors.affiliation: a Health Promotion and Education Program, School of Human Services, College of Education, Criminal Justice and Human Services , University of Cincinnati , Cincinnati , Ohio , USA.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nabors
authors.affiliation: b St. Aloysius Mental Health Services and the Counseling Program, School of Human Services , University of Cincinnati , Cincinnati , Ohio , USA.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baker-Phibbs
authors.affiliation: a Health Promotion and Education Program, School of Human Services, College of Education, Criminal Justice and Human Services , University of Cincinnati , Cincinnati , Ohio , USA.
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Woodson
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D000072117:Counselors; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012649:Self Concept; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: Children; interventions; mental health; trauma