Barb Smith Varclova

Your Steps Counselling, United Kingdom

Title: Parenting in the trauma recovery - Break a cycle

---

Biography

Abstract

Trauma responses are exaggerated when adults become parents. If in the way of refusing responsibility, become overly protective and controlling, outbursts of anger or disassociation and depression. Symptoms vary, but more people find themselves triggered by their children or emotionally immature partners.

The realisation of the effects of one's behaviours leading to the traumatisation of children is often a challenging part of trauma recovery, especially during the phase of trauma grieving. I found during work with parents suffering from CPTSD that they don't have realistic expectations and, in principle, don't know how to build healthy relationships because of the lack of their own experience of respectful, supportive and balanced relationships. Understanding the four phases of trauma recovery, their manifestation in behaviours, and ways of accelerating it are essential for change in the parent-child relationship.

I collected proven techniques and strategies for parents on how to handle their recovery and feel equipped as parents to work on the restoration of relationships with their children and help them recover from trauma in the book "How to Raise a Healthy Mind".