Key Takeaways:

Safety: Create a safe physical and emotional space for your child to feel comfortable discussing trauma.

Trustworthiness: Build a trusting relationship with a gentle approach, clear communication, and respect for privacy.

Choice: Allow your child to have a say in when and how they discuss their trauma and the steps they take.

Collaboration: Work alongside your child, letting them be part of the process in seeking help and making decisions.

Empowerment: Encourage your child to feel empowered to take steps toward healing and rebuilding their self-esteem.

Notable Quotes:

"Be the rock, not the ocean." – Collett Smart quoting Nigel Latta

"Helping a child feel safe is the essence of a trauma-informed approach." – Collett Smart

"Wariness on the part of your child is their way of keeping safe now and protecting themselves because they have to learn to trust again." – Collett Smart

"The main thing as a parent is really just about support, about love and about kindness and being part of your child's journey towards healing." – Collett Smart

"Your child doesn't need a perfect parent, they just need a parent who is engaged, who they feel safe with, who they feel is there for them." – Collett Smart

Resources:

Blue Knot Foundation: Blue Knot Foundation Fact Sheet on Trauma-Informed Care

Grounding Exercises: From the Living Well website

Click here to contact Collett or ask her a question or Click here to contact the Raising Teens team.

Collett is a psychologist, qualified teacher, speaker, and internationally published author, with 25 years' experience working in private and public schools, as well as in private practice.

Visit Raising Teens for more resources, click here for Collett's books, or join the discussion on Facebook.

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