Abstract

· What is trauma?
· How does it affect children?
· How can adults help?

Providing straightforward answers to these complex questions, The Simple Guide to Child Trauma is the perfect starting point for any adult caring for or working with a child who has experienced trauma. It will help them to understand more about a child's emotional and behavioural responses following trauma and provides welcome strategies to aid recovery. Reassuring advice will also rejuvenate adults' abilities to face the challenges of supporting children.

In this accessible, enlightening little book, Betsy de Thierry recognises both the need to advocate for young people who have experienced trauma and to resource the adults in homes and schools who care for them. Emphasising the need for compassionate, relational responses to these often misunderstood young people, Betsy offers an array of practical strategies and insights to enable those responses, whilst conveying her core subject with confidence and clarity. An important, generous and timely publication.
Louise Michelle Bombèr, Strategic Attachment Lead Teacher & Therapist
As a parent myself I have found this book to be such a useful tool. To have a basic understanding of how the brain works has given me greater confidence as a parent in handling my children calmly and remaining empathetic even when I don't always understand the reasons behind their behaviour. I value the comprehensible and practical tips that are listed in this book of how you can develop the connection and healing relationship with the child in your care. It's beautifully written with such profound insight that is essential for any caring person working with children.
Dannii Gray, Parent
This book is easy to read using plain, clear language - free of jargon. It has really helpful suggestions that could be used in both professional and home settings.
Liz Hall, Parent and Police Child Protection Investigator and Trainer
What this 'simple guide' does elegantly and quickly is bring a large amount of research - from psychology, social work, neuroscience, biochemistry and genetics - directly to the busy but interested professionals, parents and carers working in this field. It translates complex ideas into 'practice-rich' language for adults who need to understand the inner worlds of children, rather than simply explore their 'wishes and feelings'.
From the foreword by Professor David Shemmings OBE
Simplifying and condensing the complex world of childhood trauma into tangible, easy to grasp terms, de Thierry shows her mastery of the field in this handy guide. Her conversational style translates the neuroscience of trauma into supportive, concrete steps that any helping adult can apply to the children in his or her life. Empathy for the reader and patience for these vulnerable youth are ever-present as de Thierry herself models the restorative power of relationships. Such a hopeful and comforting read!
Kendra Morris-Jacobson, Oregon Post Adoption Resource Center (ORPARC)
Betsy de Thierry is a mum of four brilliant boys, a practising psychotherapist and a qualified primary school teacher who has founded several charities that work directly with troubled families. She is CEO of BdT Ltd (www.betsytraininguk.co.uk) trauma training, consultancy and leadership, which supports professionals who work with traumatised children across the UK. Betsy is the Founding Director of the Trauma Recovery Centre (www.trc-uk.org) and Director of the Institute of Recovery of Childhood Trauma (www.irct.org.uk). Emma Reeves is an Art Psychotherapist based at the Trauma Recovery Centre in Bath. She currently works with clients aged 5-25 years who have experienced trauma. She has an MA in Fine Art and an MSc in Art Psychotherapy.