Navigating ACEs Ashlea McMartin MS, LPCC & Katrina Gregor MSW, LGSW
Objectives: Discuss the key findings of the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study. Recognize how ACEs impact our biological, psychological, social, and emotional development. Learn how to interact with and support people who have experienced ACEs in ways that build upon and strengthen their resiliency.
BRAIN SCIENCE
Minnesota Specific ACE INformation
INTERVENTIONS: Whole person, whole system
POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS The single most common factor for children who develop resilience is at least one stable and committed relationship with a supportive parent, caregiver, or other adult.
Establishing Safety and Security With Clinician Physiological, Safety & Security, Belonging Attachment With Home & School Routine, consistency, expectations
Understanding the Whole Person Identifying strengths and abilities Identifying adaptive mechanisms they want to change Looking at coping skills/defense mechanisms Obtain a baseline for trauma Helping people understand themselves Dispelling crazy
BRAIN HAND MODEL Amygdala Guard Dog Prefrontal Cortex Wise Owl whole brain child Flip your lid! Adapted from Dr. Dan Siegel s Work
HELPING TO CO-REGULATE Awareness, definition, and understanding to the development of: Triggers What are they How do we respond Body, Cognitive, Emotions Defense mechanisms Interpersonally/ behaviorally Process experiences as they occur Consider opportunities to try something different We must believe our clients are doing the best they can.
Integration of Whole Person Self-Soothing - Five senses Mindfulness Grounding, utilizing body scans such as offered by Mare Chapman; Thich Nhat Hanh You are here (Bringing us into the present moment; basic breathing and meditation) & Thich Nhat Hanh Miracle of mindfulness (Introduction to meditation) Distraction - Hobbies, support system, drugs/alcohol Emotional Awareness/ Processing - therapy, journaling, art, music Interpersonal effectiveness - I language Don t let emotions run your life for teens, DBT Skills Training Handouts and Worksheets
The Body Keeps the Score 1. Dealing with Hyperarousal 2. No Mind without Mindfulness 3. Relationships 4. Continual Rhythms and Synchrony 5. Getting in Touch 6. Taking Action
The whole brain child, the whole brain parent, Two Brains Are Better Than One: Integrating the Left and the Right 1. Connect and Redirect: Surfing Emotional Waves 2. Name It To Tame It: Telling Stories to Calm Big Emotions Building the Staircase of the Mind: Integrating the Upstairs 3. 4. 5. Engage, Don t Enrage: Appealing the the Upstairs Brain Use It or Lose It: Exercising the Upstairs Brain Move it or Lose it: Moving the Body to Avoid Losing the Mind Kill the Butterflies! Integrating Memory for Growth and Healing 6. 7. Use the Remote of the Mind: Replaying Memories Remember to Remember: Making Recollection a Part of Your Families Daily Life the whole brain clinician, the whole brain teacher, the whole brain..
The whole brain child, the whole brain parent, The United States of Me: Integrating the Many Parts of the Self 8. 9. 10. Let the Clouds of Emotion Roll By: Teaching That Feelings Come and Feelings Go Sift: Paying Attention to What s Going on Inside Exercise Mindsight: Getting Back to the Hub The Me-We Connection: Integrating Self and Other 11. 12. Increase the Family Fun Factor: Making a Point to Enjoy Each Other Connect Through Conflict: Teach Kids to Argue with a We in Mind No Drama Discipline, No Drama Discipline Workbook the whole brain clinician, the whole brain teacher, the whole brain..
Other resources Trauma-Informed Interventions (Clinical in nature) Attachment Focused Family Therapy (Clinical in nature) Attachment Focused Family Therapy Self-Esteem Workbook (Participant in nature) The Whole Brain Child GoNoodle; www.gonoodle.com No Drama Discipline (ACES) Paper Tigers; https://vimeo.com/110821029 No Drama Discipline Workbook (ACES) Resilience; http://kpjrfilms.co/resilience/ The Sexual Healing Journey; Wendy Maltz (ACES) ACE Interface; http://www.aceinterface.com/ The Body Keeps the Score; Bessel van der Kolk Building Compassion; Don t let emotions run your life for teens DBT Skills Training Handouts and Worksheets You are Here; Thich Nhat Hanh Loving-Kindness Practice (meditation used during The Dhamapada; The Mother The Miracle of Mindfulness; Thich Nhat Hanh Trauma Stewardship; Laura van Dernoot with Connie Burk Mare Chapman; Mindfulness CD s and other resources https://www.marechapman.com/ presentation) based on a teaching by Steven Smith;
BUILDING COMMUNITY - Compassionate Accountability ACEs are not an excuse. We need to hold kids accountable, but with guidance. Dr. Mark Sander, Psy.D., LP
Practice SELF-CARE Reclaim Your Day Through Trauma Stewardship Leave it at Work Moving Energy
Recap and Discussion What am I currently doing that is Trauma Informed? What practices would I like to strengthen or add? What practices do I need to re-evaluate?
Contact Us Upper Mississippi Mental Health Center - Sanford 722 15th Street NW, Bemidji (218) 751-3280 Ashlea McMartin, MS, LPCC ashlea_mcmartin@ummhcmn.org Katrina Gregor, MSW, LGSW katrina_gregor@ummhcmn.org