Victim Services: Helping Children and Teens Cope with Trauma

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Helping Children and Teens Cope With Trauma

• Be direct, simple, honest and appropriate. Explain truthfully what happened.

• Listen to what the child or teen is feeling or asking you. Then respond according to the child or teen's needs and your own ability.

• Encourage the child or teen to express feelings openly. Crying is normal and helpful. So are feelings of anger.

• Accept the emotions and reactions the child or teen expresses. Don't tell the child or teen how she or he should or should not feel.

• Share your feelings with the child or teen. Allow the child or teen to comfort you.

• Offer warmth and your physical presence and affections.

• Be patient. Know that children or teens need to hear and/or tell "the story" and to ask the same questions again and again.

• Reassure the child or teen that the loss is not contagious; that the death of one person does not mean that another loved one will also die or be injured.

• Maintain order, stability and security in the child or teen's life.

• Take your own advice. Take care of yourself. If you're not okay, the child or teen cannot be okay.

• Many counselors can assist in working through feelings. For a referral for assistance, please contact the Department of Juvenile Justice's Victim Advocate by sending an email or by calling the DJJ Victim Advocate toll free at 1-866-922-6360.