Chapters 13 & 14

 As I read Chapter 13, I couldn't help think of my new family. A mother raising three children who all have significant behaviors in the school setting. Two of the children's father is also involved. Yesterday, the one child went to the ER after the school had told mom to do that. However, the school called intake before even asking the mother to take the child to the ER because he was having behaviors at school. I continue to have issues in this school setting that they need to change their approach with children who are labeled as difficult. Chapter 13 confirms for me that the school continues to exacerbates the children's behaviors. I wish that staff would take the time to form good relationships with these three children. The school is hypersensitive thinking that all of this is contributed to what mom is or isn't doing. I have a suspicion that the school wants the children removed. On page 207, "since emotional regulation is the critical issue in managing the effects of trauma and neglect, it would make an enormous difference if teachers, were thoroughly schooled in emotional-regulation techniques. I'm confused as to why the school doesn't change their approach with the children. Their approach clearly isn't working. But again, as I stated above, I believe the school thinks this is a home issue. When I worked with this family last year, I sent an e-mail to the principal outlining that we have other issues in the home that may be contributing to the behaviors and that they need to be empathetic. Well, they weren't. Since the school has such poor relationships with the children, I have suspicions that their IEPs are not being followed. I have reached out to Disability Rights Iowa to assist in the matter. Sometimes, all it takes is small little changes to make a big difference. 

Chapter 14 was a bit more complex for me to read. I believe that it didn't explain specifically if telling your trauma is necessary or not. I believe that it is important. Even if the details are vague or maybe not the way the really are. I believe that every person needs to find their voice and be able to express what memories or experiences that are contributing to their inability to function. I think we all forget how we need to be intune to our bodies. Our bodies and how they feel are essentially the words our mind cannot form or say about what is going on. The chapter briefly talks about ensuring that as the clinician you have an outlet so that you can understand your two selves. The one that presents every day and the other that presents when you are talking about oneself. My question is that do we need to go through sessions of therapy before we practice in the field?