From Publishers Weekly
Brooks, a psychologist employed by an organization that sends mental health-care workers to counsel disaster victims (she has worked with survivors of Hurricane Andrew and the World Trade Center bombing), and Siegel, a contributing editor at Parenting magazine, present a four-step method to help kids negotiate their emotions following traumatic events. With colleagues, Brooks developed the "critical incident debriefing technique," a straightforward approach that involves parents' preparing themselves, having the child retell what happened, sharing reactions and developing recovery skills. After disaster strikes, parents understandably hope to shield their children from painful memories, but, the authors explain, denial doesn't facilitate the healing process. It is more helpful in the long run, they aver, to encourage children to talk about their experiences. Chapters cover how to "debrief" for such eventualities as death of someone close, abuse, natural disaster, divorce, illness and injury and trauma by proxy (when a child is traumatized by another person's crisis). In a clear, levelheaded manner, Brooks and Siegel outline age-appropriate strategies for preschoolers, older children and teens. Although the text is somewhat dry, drawing more on bland composites than real-life examples, it is also authoritative, concise and sure to prove useful.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Product Description
Is your child afraid?
There are many traumatic experiences that cause a child to become scared--from divorce to the death of a loved one, from natural disasters to abuse. Even a disturbing news event that a child only sees on television or hears about but does not experience, such as the Oklahoma City bombing or the classroom massacre in Scotland, can make a child fearful or sad. No matter what causes the situation, childhood trauma is common and should be dealt with quickly and effectively.
Dr. Barbara Brooks, a psychologist who has successfully helped kids through all types of traumatic situations, provides you with the knowledge you need to put the child you love back on the path to a full and happy life. Kids don't always know how to react to feelings of distress. If these scared feelings are not expressed in a positive way, they can surface later in life when dealing with them becomes more difficult.
Here are detailed instructions, based on professional techniques, to encourage kids of any age--from toddler to teenager--to reveal their feelings through words, drawings, and role playing with step-by-step advice for reassuring them and helping them let go of their fear.
