Vliegen, Nicole;
Tang, Eileen;
Midgley, Nick;
Luyten, Patrick;
Fonagy, Peter;
(2023)
A contemporary psychodynamic perspective on and approach to complex trauma.
In:
Therapeutic Work for Children with Complex Trauma.
(pp. 11-30).
Routledge: London, UK.
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Abstract
Complex traumatic experiences, as distinct from other types of trauma, are inherently defined by a lack of a safe haven for the young child, as their first caregivers are (emotionally) unavailable and/or a source of (perceived) stress, anxiety, threat and danger. The impact of complex traumatic experiences on the child’s further social, emotional and behavioural development is multiple, complex and pervasive. Being placed in a new foster or adoptive family is – however important – often not sufficient to offset the mental health consequences. Traumatised children bring their backpack of traumatic experiences and trauma-related dynamics along. Consequently, the child’s new parents (foster carers or adoptive parents) and other adult carers (e.g., teachers) face substantial challenges in raising a traumatised child. This first chapter aims to set the scene of this treatment guide by discussing what the diverse and complex mental health needs of traumatised children and the carers surrounding them are. Based on this understanding, it then outlines the basic assumptions of a contemporary psychodynamic approach to the effective treatment of this group of families.
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