Managing Transitions for Hypervigilant Children

Managing Transitions for Hypervigilant Children & Young People

New Training: Transitions and Hypervigilance

This course gives carers both the understanding and theoretical tools to support their young people during times of transition.

We look at how children and young people in the care system have had to adapt to their previous trauma through Dissociation and Hypervigilance. Then, we explore the concept of ‘the window of tolerance‘. We will learn strategies to aid young people to widen this “window of tolerance”, so they may continue on their therapeutic journey.

The session includes very practical methods. We cover the details of managing and therapeutically assisting through methods such as mindfulness, bodywork and building resilience.

Hypervigilance & Transitions – Course Aims and Objectives:

• Understanding the impact of childhood trauma on both the body and the brain
• Understanding how the brain and body adapt to cope (Dissociation and hyper-vigilance)
• What does each state look like, and why does it occur?
• Understanding the window of tolerance model and how to support children to widen their window so that they can engage in the therapeutic process
• Understand the importance of the “window” and that if it remains limited, the child is prevented from taking part in the therapeutic process.
• Explore methods to co-regulation with the young person leading to self-regulation.
• Explore bodywork (drawing from the book “The body keeps the score”), including activities that can lift children out of Dissociation or bring them down from hyper-vigilance. Explore calming methods in sensory integration (Sucking, pushing, pulling and swinging) to aim regulation. Being present
• Explore resilience – using narration, social stories and role play.
• Finally, exploring mindfulness models, books and tools to empower children and support them in finding methods to move forward out of trauma effectively. This will include skills to help us be present with the young person to aid mindfulness.
• Finally, exploring transition and supporting children with leaving safe places such as lockdown and integrating what they have gained in the everyday world. This will include methods that they can use in stressful situations.

You can find all of our home-based training including Open Courses, Commissioned Courses and e-learning options HERE.