Books
Trauma
The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk explores how trauma affects the mind, brain, and body. It emphasizes the physiological changes caused by trauma and the impact on the nervous system. Van der Kolk also highlights various recovery methods, such as EMDR, yoga, and breathing exercises, to help reconnect the mind and body. This book is essential for understanding and addressing trauma in individuals of all neurotypes.
Author: Bessel van der Kolk
Focus: Impact of trauma on mind, brain, and body
Key Points:
Trauma causes physiological changes, affecting the brain's alarm system and stress hormone activity
Developmental trauma impacts children's growth and learning
Symptoms of trauma include hyperarousal, intrusion, constriction, and changes in self-perception
Recovery methods: EMDR, yoga, and breathing exercises to reconnect mind and body
Relevance: Valuable for understanding and addressing trauma in individuals of all neurotypes
For more information on The Body Keeps Score, click the book image above.
Autonomic Nervous System
Co-regulation
Polyvagal Theory by Dr. Stephen Porges explains how the vagus nerve
and autonomic nervous system play crucial roles in regulating our
emotions, health, and behavior. The theory introduces the concept of
neuroception, the body's ability to detect safety and danger without
conscious awareness, and highlights the importance of co-regulation
through safe social connections. By understanding the hierarchy of
responses (safety, danger, life threat), Porges emphasizes how therapeutic
interventions, such as mindfulness and social engagement, can help
individuals recover from trauma and improve overall well-being.
Author: Dr. Stephen Porges
Focus: Role of the autonomic nervous system, especially the vagus nerve, in regulating health and behavior
Key Points:
The vagus nerve is central to emotion regulation, social connection, and fear response
The autonomic nervous system has two branches: sympathetic (fight or flight) and parasympathetic (rest and digest)
Polyvagal Theory introduces the concept of a "social engagement system," which is a hybrid state of activation and calming
The theory emphasizes the importance of safety, co-regulation, and connection for a healthy human experience
Neuroception: The body's ability to detect safety and danger without conscious awareness
Co-regulation: The need for safe and supportive relationships to maintain well-being
For more information on The Polyvagal Theory, click the book image above.
Declarative Language
The Declarative Language Handbook by Linda K. Murphy emphasizes the
benefits of using declarative language—expressing facts or opinions
directly—over directive communication styles. This approach fosters self-expression,
organic learning, and resilience, particularly for individuals with
social learning challenges. Murphy highlights how declarative language
nurtures skills like visual referencing, memory recall, and perspective-taking
while promoting a supportive and respectful communication
environment. The book provides strategies for incorporating declarative
techniques in daily interactions to support social growth and collaboration.
Author: Linda K. Murphy
Focus: Benefits of declarative language for individuals with social learning challenges
Key Points:
Declarative Language: Expressing facts or opinions directly, rather than using commands or probing questions
Benefits: Promotes self-expression, organic learning, and resilience
Skills Nurtured: Visual referencing, memory recall, perspective-taking, and collaboration
Approach: Encourages a supportive and respectful communication environment
Strategies: Incorporating declarative techniques in daily interactions to support social growth
Challenges: Recognizes that declarative language may not be effective for all learning styles or communication preferences
For more information on the Declarative Language Handbook, click the book image above.
Articles
Preventing Parent Burnout
Meeting the emotional challenges of caring for children with mental health issues
Parenting is hard work, and parenting a child with mental health issues is exponentially harder. You’re almost certainly putting in more effort than any other mom or dad you know, yet your kid may still be at risk, struggling, or making less progress than her peers. This raises a crucial question: How can you keep going without becoming exhausted?
Avoiding parent burnout requires real effort. Experts note it includes consistent self-care, establishing a strong support network for yourself, and having a trustworthy therapeutic team for your child. Another piece of the puzzle is learning to tap into one of the most powerful motivators on earth: your love for your child. Here are 12 ideas for how to do that.
Make a list of your child’s core strengths
Write down her good qualities, even if they haven’t been visible lately. Find ways to talk about these to your partner, your friends and your child. “This morning I ran across that poem you wrote about ______, and it reminded me how creative you are. I’ve always admired that about you.” (If your child mutters she is no longer like that, you can counter with a smile and something like, “Oh, deep down it’s still there. Right now you’re depressed, and no one is their best self when they are sick.”)
Go to childmind.org/article/preventing-parent-burnout
to continue reading this article.
Family Behavioral Health
Family Behavioral Health is an integrated, intensive service area within CCS providing care using a “Wraparound” (Individualized and Tailored) approach. Services are designed for children/youth and families with multiple and complex needs, severe histories and who tend to be involved with multiple child-serving systems. Family Behavioral Health has been among industry innovators who continually “push the envelope” and challenge traditional thinking in social services.
In the ‘70s, through the creation of an original family preservation service called “Homebuilders,” CCS provided an intensive in-home service alternative helping families stay together successfully and at the same time reducing the number of children in out-of-home placements.
Throughout the ‘90s, CCS was involved in a state and national wraparound movement that advocated for parent and professional partnerships. Recognizing that the parents of children with complex needs are a valuable resource, CCS lobbied to effect legislation that recognized parents as paraprofessionals in DCFS state contracts.
In 2000, CCS in Pierce County embarked on another groundbreaking service area called FAST, Family Assessment and Stabilization Team. FAST provides intensive support services to families of children with complex needs who are at risk of psychiatric hospitalization, or out-of-home placement due to family crisis. In its first two years of working with the 500 children served, 87% were able either to remain safely at home or to live with extended family. In Clark County, Crisis Stabilization, a very similar service, has achieved comparable successful outcomes. Since CCS began these services in 2000, Clark County has been able to reduce the number of unnecessary children’s psychiatric hospitalizations (currently the lowest rates in the state) through the use of an array of professional services, extended family, community and natural resources.
