The National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Chil­dren's (TLC) 24-year history of working with children and families has provided the experience necessary to make recommendations about how to best respond and intervene with survivors of violent as well as non-violent incidents. Professionals working with youth must appreciate that there is…

Millions of the world's children are exposed to traumatic events and relationships every day. Whatever the cause, this overwhelming stress produces a host of unsettling symptoms and reactions. The author highlights six practical principles that undergird healing interventions.

Childhood trauma is marked by an overwhelming sense of terror and powerlessness. Loss of loving relationships is yet another type of trauma that produces the pain of sadness and grief. The resulting symptoms only reflect the neurological, biological, and emotional coping systems mobilized in the struggle to survive. These young people need new…

Trauma can impact learning, behavior, and social, emotional, and psychological functioning. Traumatized children are more likely to have poorer school performance, decreased I.Q. and reading ability, lower grade point average, and more days of school absence (Stein & Kendall, 2004). Trauma also can alter the way children and adults view themselves…

Children experience grief when they suffer the loss of a close relationship. When that loss also traumatizes children, they experience additional emotional reactions. It is important that adults educate themselves and others who deal with children about typical, healthy grief reactions. Following a non-violent loss, the initial reactions of…