Three Things to Keep in Mind This Season

1. Relationship builds resilience

Your focused presence is one of the most valuable interventions for a child or youth with a trauma history. But don’t think that always has to mean that you are the one building connections—you might be fostering connection between or among others. Maybe it means encouraging kids to build something together. Or it might mean playing a game, going for a walk, or sitting next to each other and drawing. It could even mean saying, “Whew, I’m feeling a little overwhelmed (or whatever you’re actually feeling),” to whoever is in the room, and seeing what kinds of conversation you build from that. Notice what types of connection you might build or encourage today. Here are some tools and resources to strengthen your relationships from the Voices Center for Resilience.

2. Use your trauma lens

Changes in routines, bright lights, interactions with a variety of people…all these and more might lead to challenging behaviors for the children and youth in your care over the next few weeks. Rather than thinking, “Something’s wrong here,” try asking yourself, “What’s actually happening right now, and how can I best intervene?” You likely already know that using a trauma lens applies to the children and youth in your care or in your work—but when we’re overwhelmed, it can be easy to forget. Using a trauma lens might also apply to other people and situations you face this week. If you want to learn more, here’s a three minute video that shows what putting on your trauma lens might look like.

3. Take care of yourself

While the holidays can be joyful, they might sometimes make you feel like you’re putting yourself last. Even just a moment of sitting down and closing your eyes, or getting yourself something nourishing to eat or drink, can help you shift your perspective and feel greater ease. Here’s a one-minute video where Kristin Neff encourages us to practice self-compassion by embracing the messiness of life.