Regulated & Relational

In this episode Julie and Ginger discuss the New York Times bestselling book Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle. What is burnout?  How do you know when you are approaching burnout? Burnout is highly prevalent, and it needs to be talked about. They point out strategies to avoid burnout and relieve burnout. The authors, Emily and Amelia Nagoski, dedicated their book to all the givers, so if you are a giver, this podcast is for you! 

In this episode, Julie and Ginger talk about the Window of Tolerance, specifically what level of stress can we tolerate and grow from and what we can do when we are outside those windows of tolerance? What are hyper-arousal and hypo-arousal states? Why is this important? Julie says, “Our healthy relationships play a major role in how wide our window can get.  To be seen and to be told that we matter are very powerful factors in helping us maintain our window of tolerance.” Be sure to watch these videos from Tracy Farrell to further understand the Window of Tolerance concept: The Window of Tolerance Reimagined: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVEDueyZ2C4 and The Panda’s Island of Regulation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXE8DIMiv8Y

Julie and Ginger discuss why rewards and punishments don’t work for traumatized children.  What are rewards? What are punishments? What are consequences? Why don’t they work and what should we do? Alternative methods, where relationships are primary, are presented.  They explore how to look underneath the behavior instead of simply punishing the behavior.  Ginger says, “We want our children to get back up when knocked down.  We want them to believe in themselves.” It’s important that children not see failure as an endpoint, but actually, a starting point to grow

Registration is open for our 5th annual Creating Trauma-Sensitive Schools Conference - Feb 20-25, 2022.  There are both in-person & virtual options.  For more information about this conference go to: www.attachmenttraumanetwork.org/conference  This conference is for educators and all who work in schools and child-caring organizations. Here you can learn more about the conference and register. It's a fantastic gathering of those leading and growing the trauma-informed education movement.  We hope to see you there!

Today, Julie and Ginger explore a timely topic - how to support students and staff returning to school during this pandemic.   They are joined by Jen Alexander, a teacher, school counselor, trauma informed expert and author of Supporting Students and Staff after Covid 19.  Jen says, “It's our job to notice the need and meet the need.”  She explains how to do this in the classroom, school, family, and community.

Visit Jen’s website www.MsJenAlexander.com for more of her resources and to order her books. Her books can also be found in ATN’s bookstore at https://bookshop.org/shop/AttachmentTraumaNetwork.

Don’t forget about our upcoming virtual Standing Strong conference on September 13-15, 2021.  It’s an event for those parenting/caregiving children impacted by trauma.  Our focus will be on how to advocate for our children - at school and in other systems.  For more information or to purchase tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/atns-2021-standing-strong-conference-tickets-162816002045.

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/