Page 79 - Aug Sept 2016

A Case for Specialized and Specific Intervention and Treatment Strategies with Abused Children
and allow the child’s emotions to get This author’s anecdotal experiences in
out of control due to history material. the field treating abused children with

He also comments on “spontaneous PTSD for some ten years is that there
play”, but is not clear if this is in are many front line clinicians that while

opposition to structured play therapy having adequate training and experience
(p. 199) Gaensbaur goes on to note in psychotherapy and other multi modal
that: “probably the most important techniques, have but a rudimentary

contribution we can make as therapists understanding of PTSD. In addition, they
to the child’s recovery is to help parents generally and largely rely on behavioral

to deal with the child’s symptoms in approaches and techniques to address an
the home environment.” (p.199) This abused child’s behavioral expressions of
certainly would apply equally to foster the disorder. Admittedly anecdotal study of

parents when a child has been removed the efficacy of such singularly behavioral
from an abusive parent(s). Gaensbaur techniques has demonstrated that the

addresses the behavioral acting out application appears to reliably escalate the
related to PTSD by suggesting a two child’s symptoms and move them towards
pronged approach that includes firm ultimate life and developmental altering

limit setting and demonstration of decompensation. The problem appears
empathy for the child’s expressed to be that children with PTSD often

emotions as attached to the critical present strong oppositional symptoms
incidents. (p. 200) that are likely attached to their allosatatic
reactivity. This may be in addition to co
This author’s anecdotal experiences morbid diagnoses. Many adults, even

in the field treating abused children trained clinicians, reflexively react to a
with PTSD for some ten years is that child’s opposition with an increase of
there are many front line clinicians pressure by way of behavioral techniques.

that while having adequate training Such a shift to a behavioral pressure stance
and experience in psychotherapy and can be quite subtle, and even unconscious

other multi modal techniques, have but on the part of the adult, but no less real in
a rudimentary understanding of PTSD. effect on the child. Adults, who serve as
In addition, they generally and largely child protection workers, police officers,

rely on behavioral approaches and attorneys, therapists, and judges, to a child,
techniques to address an abused child’s may begin the cuing and triggering of the

behavioral expressions of the disorder. child’s stress just by their titles.
Admittedly anecdotal study of the
efficacy of such singularly behavioral Conclusions and Directions

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