Trauma Informed Parent is an educational page offering information, resources and perspective for parents and caregivers of children, teens and young adults who have experienced trauma or adverse childhood experiences. The page is solely informational and intended to offer a forum for education and connection.
What is a T.I.P?
At the age of 5, Lauren’s son survived a traumatizing car crash that left him both physically and emotionally scarred. Ten years later, Lauren finds her son continuing to grapple with the emotional residue. He is prone to severe anxiety, prolonged loss of concentration and depression. After a visit to the dentist for a minor toothache, Lauren’s son was sent home with a prescription for Vicodin, a powerful narcotic pain reliever with an extremely high risk for abuse. Lauren stepped in to inform the dentist of her son’s trauma history. Victims of trauma or adverse childhood experiences - particularly teenagers whose brains are not fully developed - are at high risk for substance abuse; a correlation too few medical professionals inquire about when prescribing painkillers. Lauren informed the dentist of her son’s history and asked that something less addictive or over the counter be offered instead. THIS IS BEING A TRAUMA INFORMED PARENT.
WHAT IS PTSD?
The Mayo Clinic defines Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as a mental health condition that's triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event.
HOW DOES CHILDHOOD TRAUMA AFFECT HEALTH?
“The single most important thing we need today is the courage to look this problem in the face and say, this is real, this is all of us.” – Dr. Nadine Burke Harris
WHAT IS BRAIN HEALTH?
A Healthy Brain is a product of both genetic and environmental influences. With a deeper appreciation of brain health, we can better understand trauma and how to prevent many of its causes.
HELPING CHILDREN HEAL
“The more healthy relationships a child has, the more likely he will be to recover from trauma and thrive. Relationships are the agents of change and the most powerful therapy is human love.” – Dr. Bruce Perry
Suzy DeYoung
The moderator of Trauma Informed Parent, Suzy Hayman DeYoung, holds a Masters of Education in Parent and Child Development from Bank Street College of Education in New York City. Suzy created Trauma Informed Parent in an effort to offer parents and caregivers of children who have endured trauma and/or adverse childhood experiences (ACES) access to resources that were largely unavailable when her son, Cary suffered a traumatic accident in 2004. Cary's story is shared here:Remembering Cary.
Suzy began her career in television production working for a variety of programs including Ryan's Hope, Good Morning America, The CBS Morning Program and Live! Regis and Kathie Lee. Following the birth of her three children, Suzy went on to work as an early childhood teacher and also as a parenting coach.
Following the 2012 shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT., Suzy became involved in Newtown’s recovery efforts. Suzy served as Community Outreach Director for The Sandy Hook Promise; Care Coordinator for The Newtown Recovery & Resiliency Team; Founder and Director of the annual Newtown Yoga Festival and Director and Co-Host of The Avielle Foundation’s Brainstorm Experience: a monthly speaker series focused on mental health issues.
The Brainstorm Experience Speaker Series was created to offer residents of Newtown and Sandy Hook, CT. a vehicle through which to engage and learn more about issues pertaining to mental/brain health. Guest speakers included, Dr. Bessel van der Kolk (“The Body Keeps the Score''), Brene Brown, Jane Pauley (Living with Bi-Polar), Dan Harris (Meditation), Andrew Solomon (''Far From the Tree''), Ta-Nehisi Coates (''Between the World and Me”) and California’s former surgeon general, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris.
Suzy is a regular contributor to the online parenting forum, Grown & Flown and her first book, “A Gift of Hindsight: Reflections on Successes, Failures, and Lessons Learned from Seasoned Parents and Parenting Experts,” was published in 2019.
Presently, Suzy works as a researcher for bestselling author Andrew Solomon.
Suzy also is the producer and co-host of Newtown CT's current speaker series: "Newtown Talks: Conversations on Culture, Society and Change."
Suzy is also a certified End-of-Life Doula. She received her certification from The University of Vermont's End of Life Doula Program.
Catherine Galda
Our newest team member, Catherine Galda, is a psychotherapist and trauma specialist, with a Masters in Clinical Social Work from Columbia University and over 25 years experience as a private practitioner and community recovery leader for traumatized communities and individuals. While Catherine continues to practice privately in her community providing psychotherapy for individuals, couples and families impacted by trauma, she also heads up trauma-informed care initiatives, community crisis response teams and programmatic development for mental health care. She has worked directly and consulted with communities impacted by trauma including Newtown, CT, Orlando, Fl. and Uvalde, TX. Catherine is also a renowned public speaker having lectured on; “Coping with Tragedy and Grief: Companioning in the Wake of Crisis (Sandy HookSchool Shootings);” “Journey with Teens Through Grief and Loss;” and “Pursuing Peace: Overcoming Fear and Anxiety in a Secular World.”
Podcasts Featuring Suzy and Catherine:
Surviving Sandy Hook with Catherine GaldaTrauma Informed Parenting: Help for Support and Healing: Suzy and Catherine as featured guests on: Schizophrenia: Three Moms in the Trenches podcast.
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Spirituality, Trauma and Our Collective Nervous System with Rabbi Dr. Arielle Hanien
"Life is Good" Chief Playmaker Steve Gross on Bringing the Power of Optimism to Traumatized Youth
The Trauma Informed Parent Podcast With Dr. Peter Levine
Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, author of, "The Body Keeps the Score"
The Trauma Informed Parent Podcast: Meet the Team
Click here to follow the podcast.
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Resources
Check out some other sources of information regarding trauma: