Today Julie and Ginger partner with Michele Nigliazzo, ATN’s Court Advocacy Director.  They discuss the impact of discovering that your child needs Special Education services. They reveal that grief is a natural response. Listen to Julie, Ginger and Michele share how to best navigate IEP meetings. Michelle recommends two books on the subject: From Emotions to Advocacy and Special Education and the Law.  Visit the Wright’s Law website, https://www.wrightslaw.com/,  to  learn even more.

Don’t forget about our upcoming virtual Standing Strong conference on September 13-15, 2021.  This is an incredible opportunity to learn more about special education advocacy for children impacted by trauma (and others as well).  Not to mention a great opportunity to experience the support and resources of ATN.  For more information or to purchase tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/atns-2021-standing-strong-conference-tickets-162816002045.

Today Julie and Ginger talk with Stephanie Garde, ATN’s Operation Manager to discuss peer support. Parent-to-parent  support is the root of the foundation of the Attachment & Trauma Network. Stephanie explains that peer-to-peer support is so critical.  She says “Peer support becomes so life-changing that once you’ve received it and you’re no longer in crisis mode, there’s a pull to ‘pay it forward’.” Listen as Julie, Ginger, and Stephanie talk about the core competencies of good support and discuss the pitfalls that some support groups fall into.

Are you a parent looking for tips on navigating the school system?  Join us for our virtual Standing Strong conference on September 13-15, 2021.  For more information or to purchase tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/atns-2021-standing-strong-conference-tickets-162816002045.

What does it feel like as we start to get back to “normal”?  Ginger and Julie are exploring the emotional impact of the pandemic...the collective grief.  What is grief?  How do we handle change?  How do we help ourselves and others walk through these tremendous changes?

We’d love to hear your thoughts on today’s episode.  Please email us at [email protected]

Today Julie & Ginger dig into how the impacts of trauma show up as behaviors in the classroom. While it’s not always easy to tell, we’re going to explore the ways that Fight, Flight, Freeze…and Fawn show up as behaviors and how we often misinterpret these as other things if we don’t look at the “why” under their behaviors. We’ll also explore some common learning challenges that children who have experienced significant abuse, neglect and maltreatment or have developmental delays.

Is your school considering implementing trauma-informed strategies this year? ATN’s new Professional Development Collaborative is here to help. These trauma-informed experts are available to provide PD training and consultation to help your district, school or organization create a trauma-informed system. Learn more at  https://www.attachmenttraumanetwork.org/professional-development/

Learn more about ATN’s Creating Trauma-Sensitive Schools Program – our annual conference and more at https://www.attachmenttraumanetwork.org/creating-trauma-sensitive-schools/

In Episode 4, Ginger & Julie dig into Regulation and why being Regulated is part of the title of our podcast.  So what do we mean when we say regulated, or self-regulated?  And how is this important skill taught?  What happens if a child (you, or your children) missed this early step?  How can we teach self-regulation?

Listen in as our hosts talk about the steps of helping a child to regulate and discuss many tools that can be used to help us all find a regulated state for ourselves…and help our children through co-regulation.

We’d love to hear what you think of the R&R Podcast.  Please help us out with feedback.  Send your questions or comments to [email protected]

In Episode 3, Ginger & Julie dig into Attachment – what it is and how it’s developed. We’ll take a look at Attachment Theory and the 5 attachment styles, as well as what attachment theorists mean when they say “good enough” parenting.

Definition to add to your vocabulary: Attunement is being able to tune in to your child’s emotional state. Allowing them to feel seen, known and understood at an emotional level. Providing nurture rather than making the child earn it. (Karen Buckwalter)

The following are additional resources about Attachment Theory:

· Harvard’s Serve & Return – building relationships with infants. https://developingchild.harvard.edu/science/key-concepts/serve-and-return/

· Attachment Theory in Action podcast https://attachmenttheoryinaction.podbean.com/

· The Place We Find Ourselves podcast: https://adamyoungcounseling.com/podcast/

· ATN’s Resource Directory – for locating trauma-informed/attachment-focused therapists https://www.attachmenttraumanetwork.org/directory/

The single most common factor for children who develop resilience is at least one stable and committed relationship with a supportive parent, caregiver or other adult. These relationships are the active ingredients in building resilience.  A committed, stable adult buffers children from the full impact of a traumatic event...and can keep the stress from becoming toxic. -  Dr. Jack Shonkoff, Harvard's Center on the Developing Child.

What is Resilience?  How is it developed?  Aren't some children just born resilient?  How can stress be both good and toxic?  What are protective factors...and how can we become a protective factor for the people in our lives?

Ginger Healy & Julie Beem explore the topics of resilience, toxic stress, and where the hope for healing from early childhood trauma lies.

Center on the Developing Brain - Harvard University

Trauma Research Foundation

In our first episode, we start at the beginning by defining "What is Trauma?"  And discussing why creating a podcast at this point in time is a good idea.  Our goal is always to inform, give insight and hopefully inspire you on your journey to becoming trauma-informed.  As Julie says in this episode, "because trauma-informed isn't something you do...it's something you become."

Today's definitions of Trauma come from Dr. Bruce Perry (www.bdperry.com and www.childtrauma.org) 

1. A psychologically distressing event that is outside the range of normal human experience. Trauma often involves intense fear, terror, helplessness. - 2009

2. an experience, or pattern of experiences, that impairs the proper functioning of the person’s stress-response system, making it more reactive or sensitive. - current definition informed by SAMSHA's Concept of Trauma

SAMSHA's Concept of Trauma:  Individual trauma results from an event, series of events or set of circumstances that is experienced by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or life threatening and that has lasting adverse effects on the individual's functioning and mental, physical, social, emotional, or spiritual well-being.

To learn more about the Attachment & Trauma Network, Inc.'s programs, membership and mission, visit www.attachmenttraumanetwork.org

Welcome to Regulated & Relational, the new bi-monthly podcast from the Attachment & Trauma Network.