Videos
We have students in our schools who have great difficulty behaving. Sometimes they have meltdowns that come “out of the blue”. These students are unpredictable and as a result also have difficulty with social interactions. It seems to take very little to provoke them into acting in ways that hurt other students. Some of these students also have academic difficulties. We have long sought reasons for such behaviour and learning difficulties. In Part I of this two part series, I will review what the neuroscience of complex trauma tells us about these students. We will delve into how the brain is directly affected by adverse childhood experiences. We will then look at the source of most adverse childhood experiences: experiencing too much separation, and how this too affects their behaviour.
Trauma and Brain Part II: Trauma informed and trauma responsive intervention
Eva de Gosztonyi and Martine Demers- March 16th, 2021
Once we understand how profoundly complex trauma and adverse childhood experiences, especially facing separation too much to bear, affect certain students then we will consider how best to intervene. We will look at why some interventions, while successful with other students, are rarely successful with these students. We will examine why some interventions should be avoided, especially as these students, once traumatised, are more likely to be re-traumatised. Then we will look at interventions that are more likely to be effective. While not a quick fix, these suggested ways of intervening are being used successfully in both Elementary and Secondary schools.
Alarm and anxiety, how to help your children
Eva de Gosztonyi - April 27, 2020
When the world is full of alarm and our children show signs of anxiety, what are we to do? After briefly looking at how the alarm system is meant to work, we will then explore what happens when it gets overworked. Finally, we will look at interventions and practices that can help our children who come to us and need help managing in a restless world.
Making it through the Christmas Season
Christmas is always of time of love and joy for many children particularly for those with special needs. Here are a few tips for parents of young children to help make December go more smoothly