Trauma

There are many forms of trauma that impact children in care ( and their families!) including the significant events of foster care and adoption, let alone the circumstances that come before. Each person's response to trauma varies drastically. Making space to hear and remember what has happened to someone paves the way for compassion, understanding, and a more hopeful, healing trajectory. Please reference our ACEs, Attachment, Bullying, Grief & Loss, Mindfulness, Regulation & Resilience, Neurofeedback, Play, Sensory Supports, and Talking About Adoption, Foster Care & Other Hard Things pages for more resources.

Dance your way through the differences between feeling safe vs being safe in this lively ORPARC Short Supports video below! View the entire Short Supports collection here.

“All trauma has grief…” ~Dr. David Kessler, international grief expert - author in ORPARC's library

Websites

American Psychological Association - many articles & resources!
Beacon House - many articles & resources!
Child Mind Institute: Trauma and en español
Child Welfare Information Gateway
The Child Trauma Academy with Dr. Bruce Perry - author in ORPARC's library
Complex Trauma
Heather T. Forbes, Beyond Consequences Institute - author in ORPARC's library
Meg Foundation - pain management for kids of all ages
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network - includes resources for wildfire trauma
Polyvagal Institute and Dr. Stephen Porges - author in ORPARC's library
Richard Rose, Therapeutic Life Story Work International (TLSWi) - author in ORPARC's library
Robyn Gobbel, Gobbel Counseling - author in ORPARC's library
Jessica Sinarski - Brave Brains and Riley the Brave - author in ORPARC's library
Trauma Informed Oregon
Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI®)
- visit ORPARC's TBRI® Resource page and TBRI® library materials

For Youth

Understanding Trauma: A Guide for Youth by Youth M.O.V.E. National
What is Complex Trauma: A Resource Guide for Youth and Those Who Care About Them by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)

Recommended Books & Articles

Trauma-related Materials in ORPARC's library and DIGITAL library

9 Tips for Talking with Kids About Trauma by Kira Newman
ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) - An ORPARC Resource page
Articles and Webinars on Childhood Trauma by Families Rising
Bonding and Attachment in Maltreated Children: Consequences of Emotional Neglect in Childhood by Dr. Bruce Perry - author in ORPARC's library
Child Trauma Toolkit for Educators by NCTSN
Child Welfare Information Gateway
- Parenting a Child Who Has Experienced Abuse or Neglect
- Parenting a Child Who Has Experienced Trauma
- Understanding the Effects of Maltreatment on Brain Development
Helping Foster and Adoptive Families Cope with Trauma by American Academy of Pediatrics
How Trauma Impacts a Child's Brain by ISP
The Importance of Using Trauma-Sensitive Language by The Information Access Group (with additional articles & links)
The Invisible Suitcase by NCTSN
The Lasting Impact of Neglect by Kirsten Weir, American Psychological Association (APA)
NICABM Infographics - so neat!
- How the Nervous System Responds to Trauma
- How to Differentiate Between the Freeze & Shutdown Responses
- How Trauma Can Impact Four Types of Memory
- How Trauma Lives in the Body
- Mapping Your Nervous System's Response to Trauma
Maladaptive Daydreaming by Hopeful Panda (Estee, a relative adoptive parent!)
Meeting Children Where They Are: The Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics featuring Dr. Bruce Perry by NCFA
Parenting after Trauma: Understanding your Child’s Needs by American Academy of Pediatrics
Relinquishment Trauma by Marie Dolfi
Signs of Trauma in Children by Child Mind Institute
Slumberkins books in ORPARC's library, Resources & Printables
- Emotional Courage, Emotional Wellbeing, Growth Mindset & Resilience
Tips for Parenting Trauma-Reactive Kids by Dr. Chaitra Wirta-Liker - author in ORPARC's library
Trauma-Focused Blog Series with so many relevant posts! by Beth Tyson - author in ORPARC's library
Trauma-Informed Mindfulness: A Guide by PsychCentral
Trauma, Memory and Behaviors by Robyn Gobbel, author in ORPARC's library
Understanding the Conversation behind the Behavior by Heather T. Forbes - author in ORPARC's library
Understanding Trauma-Responsive Parenting by AdoptUSKids
When Love is Not Enough - Foster Care and Adoption by Stacey Gagnon
Why Are These Children Different? by Helen Oakwater
You Must Jump Out of the Trauma Tornado by Robyn Gobbel - author in ORPARC's library

Culturally Specific

The Complexity of Racial Trauma by Foundation Trust
A cultural framework for generational trauma by Sharma et al, 2023
Helping Children of Color Heal from Collective Trauma by Pepperdine University
How Intergenerational Trauma Impacts Families by Psych Central
Maria Yellow Horse Brave Heart (Lakota): Historical Trauma in Native American Populations at Smith College School for Social Work (video)
The Opportunity Gap Podcast by Understood
Trauma & Transracial Adoption by Creating a Family Podcast
Tribal Youth Resource Center - Trauma - assorted Resource Articles
Understanding Racial Grief & Trauma by The Grief & Trauma Healing Centre

Videos & Podcasts

A Child's Perspective of a Traumatic Experience by Sesame Street & en español (video)
The ABC's of Trauma with Dr. Chandra Ghosh Ippen by Dr. Barbara Stroud - Dr. Ippen is an author in ORPARC's library
Bridging Brains & Hearts: Trauma and Neurodiversity with Jessica Sinarski - author in ORPARC's library by The Neurodiversity Podcast
Building Resilience: Helping Our Kids Overcome a Traumatic Background with Drs. Julian Ford & Amanda Zelechoski - free course courtesy of Jockey!
Building Resilience in Our Kids by Creating a Family Podcast
A Child's Perspective of a Traumatic Experience and Traumatic Experiences by Sesame Street
A Conversation with Dr. Bruce Perry About Trauma by Creating a Family (podcast)
Childhood Trauma & the Brain by the UK Trauma Council (animated video)
Childhood Trauma by Psych Hub (animated video)
Healing from Trauma: A Connection Academy Animated Video series by Beth Tyson, LLC - author in ORPARC's library (video)
Helping Children Make Meaning After Trauma by Dr. Chandra Ghosh Ippen - author in ORPARC's library (video)
Helping Kids Who Live in La-la Land with Robyn Gobbel by The Adoption Wise Podcast - author in ORPARC's library
How Trauma Impacts a Child's Development with Dr. Dawn O'Malley - free course courtesy of Jockey!
How To Respond to Survival Behaviors by The Resilient Caregiver Podcast - authors in ORPARC's library
Implicit Memories, Trauma & the "6 F's" by Dr. Chaitra Wirta-Leiker - author in ORPARC's library (fee-based course)
Post Traumatic Growth with Dr. Thelma Bryant by NICABM (video)
Punishment Vs. Discipline (and trauma) by Australian Childhood Trauma Group (video)
The Repair of Early Trauma: A Bottom Up Approach by Beacon House (video)
Rethinking Resilience: Resilient Rebecca & Nelly Not-so-Much by Tracey Farrell (video)
Stress, Distress & Trauma by Dr. Bruce Perry and the Neurosequential Network (videos)
Trauma & Play Therapy: Holding Hard Stories by Paris Goodyear-Brown, TedTalk (video)
Trauma and the Incredible Hulk by Jacob Ham (video)
Trauma-sensitive mindfulness by David Treleaven (collection of podcasts) - author in ORPARC's library
Understanding Trauma; How To Help Kids Recover with Beth Tyson, LLC - author in ORPARC's library by Operation Parent (video)

Featured Favorites

What Happened to You? by Dr. Bruce Perry & Oprah Winfrey + workbook

Trauma Doesn't Tell Time by Robyn Gobbel

Healing the Heart by Christine Fonseca

Beyond PTSD: Helping & Healing Teens Exposed to Trauma by Ruth Gerson

Healing Days (A Guide For Kids Who Have Experienced Trauma) by Susan Farber Straus

The Heart of Trauma by Bonnie Badenoch

Securely Attached: How Understanding Childhood Trauma Will Transform Your Parenting by Mike Berry

When I Was Little...A Child's Journey in Overcoming Abuse & Trauma by Keri Vellis

The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel A. van der Kolk, M.D.

The Rhino Who Swallowed a Storm by LeVar Burton

Gabby the Gecko by Paris Goodyear-Brown

Unlocking Resilience & Healing by David Treleaven