Steve Brown, Psy.D. — Coordinator, RC Training Program;,Director, Traumatic Stress Institute of Klingberg; RC Faculty

Anyone who has worked closely with trauma survivor clients knows that trauma re-enactments are an inevitable part of the work. We can’t avoid being drawn into replaying some of the abuse dynamics so central to our client’s lives. We can be more consciously aware of these dynamics and respond from an intentional place rather than being unconsciously swept up in the drama. 

This event will discuss methods for teaching about re-enactment, examine common patterns of trauma re-enactment that arise in treatment, and explore therapeutic interventions that can be used both in-the-moment of the re-enactment and longer term.

Consultation Groups Info and Registration Form 2012]

Robert Davis, Psy.D; Director, Brain Analysis and Neurodevelopment Center; Director, Perkins Neurotherapy Center; RC Faculty Member

Neurofeedback is an individually-tailored assessment and treatment method to systematically change an individual’s brain patterns to those associated with more positive physical, emotional, and cognitive states.  Similar to traditional biofeedback treatment, neurofeedback uses monitoring devices to provide moment-to-moment information to an individual about the state of their brain’s functioning. 

There is a large and rapidly evolving literature on the effectivenes of neurotherapy approaches in the treatment of many psychological, behavioral and medical disorders such as, including symptoms associated with ADHD, Asperger’s/autism, anxiety, depression, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury (TBI), sleep difficulties, and substance abuse. Evidence-based neurotherapy approaches are rooted in current neuroscientific research, are non-invasive, do not involve medication and are not associated with any significant negative side effects. 

The presentation will briefly review the history of neurotherapeutic approaches and describe several treatment modalities, with an emphasis on the current evidence base for using neurotherapy to treat a variety of psychological and behavioral conditions.

Consultation Groups Info and Registration Form 2012]

 Consultation Groups Info and Registration Form 2012]

To Expand Home And Family Services for Children

Reduced Reliance On Congregate Care Enables Shift In Focus

 HARTFORD — The Connecticut State Department of Children and Families (DCF) and Klingberg Family Centers are launching a joint effort to move from traditional congregate services for children to an array of family and community based alternatives.

 DCF Commissioner Joette Katz said this step is one of many toward achieving the goals outlined in the Department’s August 2011 report Congregate Care Rightsizing and Redesign. In that report, DCF outlined a plan to reduce utilization of highly structured and more costly residential treatment placements in favor of increased supports for families and expanded use of foster and adoptive family resources, especially with relatives.

For full press release, click  DCF Klingberg Joint Announcement Jan 3 2011

Being Active Bystander: Scenarios for Staff Training

 In November, a Pennsylvania Grand Jury indicted former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky for sexually abusing eight boys over the course of a 15-year period. The indictment has kicked off a firestorm of media attention both in the sports world and the US at large. On November 9^th, the Penn State Board of Trustees fired legendary football coach Joe Paterno and Penn State President Graham Spanier. Mike McQueary, a graduate assistant at the time allegedly told Paterno that he observed Sandusky raping a boy in the shower. Paterno reported to his superior although did not follow up or alert legal authorities. More alleged victims of Mr. Sandusky have come forward.

 In any particular abuse situation there is an abuser, a victim, and (almost always) bystanders. This is true in bullying, street violence, as well as child sexual abuse. One of the most important questions that the Penn State situation raise is — what is it about the nature of intimate sexual violence that stops so many bystanders from taking action when they either have direct information that abuse has occurred or, more commonly, just an inkling that something might not be right. 

 It is true that men like Mr. Sandusky can often be well-regarded, upstanding citizens, involved in the community, even loved as a role-model by many.  However, it is ALSO true, as has come out in the press, that numerous people had direct knowledge of, and even directly witnessed, Mr. Sandusky sexually abusing boys. Despite this knowledge, they were passive bystanders, not active ones. If any one of these adults took appropriate action to report this to the proper legal authorizes, maybe the abuse would have ended with one or two boys rather than eight. Maybe the victims would have been give help and protection.  

 While some adults in this situation had direct knowledge of the abuse, I’m guessing there are likely many others who had troubling gut feelings about Mr. Sandusky –family, neighbors, players, coaches, etc.  Many such people are now wracking their brains about what signs they might have missed, why didn’t they trust their gut, and, most importantly, what prevented them from coming forward. These are good and important questions. Even Joe Paterno, whose Penn State football team proudly extolled a reputation for being “squeaky clean” and whose motto was “success with honor,” could not see clear to act on his moral responsibility to protect current and future victims.  It is especially disturbing that those with direct knowledge could not muster the resolve to actively speak out.

 However, for all of us, there is this critical question — WHAT prevents us from speaking out, not ignoring what we see, paying attention to these gut feelings, checking them out, talking with a friend or colleague about them, and ultimately taking action to alert the proper authorities.

I think there are complicated answers to these questions. 

 Much of it relates to our societal denial about the reality of child sexual abuse.  We SO want sex abuse to be about the creepy pervert, the stranger who abducts and molests our kids. Let’s just put them all on sex offender registries, attach GPS devices to their ankles and we’ll be okay. We DON’T want to admit that 90 percent of sex abuse is committed by people known to the victim and the family – our brothers, uncles, fathers, stepdads, and…yes…coaches.

 If we do speak up, we are intruding on the privacy of the hallowed family –whether it be a family unit or the Penn State family.  Sometimes, we don’t know what signs to pay attention to in these men. Even if we do, we don’t want to get involved – “I told my supervisor. If they don’t act, it must not be that big a deal. Anyway, if anything happens, it’s on them, not me.” We especially don’t want to get involved when there are powerful people and institutions involved. When those institutions have “squeaky clean” images to uphold, we don’t want to be responsible for tarnishing that image. If we do raise our concerns, we risk social rejection. We also need to have some comfort with our feelings related to the shrouded area of sexuality and the language of sex to get involved and speak up. If we speak up (as an adult bystander or a victim), it is HIGHLY likely that things will get worse in the short term although hopefully better in the long term. 

 Many people, playing Monday morning quarterback, are outraged and self-righteous about the fact that bystanders didn’t speak up (and we should be outraged by this case), but this does NOT recognize the reality of the barriers listed above. Until we grapple as a society with these many barriers, we will make limited progress on prevention.

 Child sexual abuse prevention, led by organizations such as Stop It Now!, seek to answer exactly these questions  – how do we help adult bystanders recognize the signs of sexual abuse, talk with others about what they are seeing, and find the courage and words to speak up. Unlike Penn State, most often it is wife speaking up about (or to) her husband who she sees repeatedly coming out of their daughters’ bedroom in the middle of the night; a neighbor speaking up about (or to) a beloved neighbor who frequently has boys coming in and out of his house; an adult niece speaking up about (or to) a great uncle who always wants to play video games in the basement alone with a 10 year-old relative.

 This is not an easy subject to raise when the abuser is the primary earner for the family; when he is well-loved, even by the son or daughter he is abusing; when he is the founder of an organization for needy kids which do a lot of good; when speaking up means a crisis will ensue.

 To prevent sexual abuse, we must ALL struggle with these questions. Perhaps the Penn State situation will move us a little closer to speaking up as ACTIVE  bystanders, not passive ones, looking out for the well-being of our children and those who cannot speak for themselves.

Steve Brown, Psy.D. is a psychologist and Director of the Traumatic Stress Institute of Klingberg Family Centers and Coordinator of the Risking Connection Training Program. He is former Board chair of Stop It Now!, a leading national child sexual abuse prevention organization.

Go to www.stopitnow.org for many resources on what to do as an adult if you have suspicions about sexual abuse happening to a child.

Freestanding 3-Day Basic Training Brochure GENERIC 2.3.11

The National Association of Children’s Behavioral Health (NACBH) will be ably represented by Beth Chadwick, President and Pat Wilcox, Klingberg Family Centers Traumatic Stress Institute who will be joining an illustrious gathering of national leaders, advocates, policy makers, practitioners and researchers as they meet to bring this most pressing issue into greater focus and resolution.

 27^th annual Rosalynn Carter Symposium on Mental Health Policy to cover Trauma’s long-term impact on children exposed to juvenile justice, welfare, and domestic violence

 Estimates suggest that millions of American children and adolescents experience trauma each year, through exposure to physical or sexual abuse, a life-threatening illness, natural disaster, or the loss of a loved one. Although effective treatments are available to prevent the long-term impacts of trauma on a child’s intellectual development and physical well-being, most traumatized children do not have access to these services.

 On Oct. 26-27, the invitation-only, 27th annual Rosalynn Carter Symposium on Mental Health Policy will bring together more than 200 health advocates, policy-makers, practitioners, educators and researchers from across the country to discuss ways to remove barriers to providing mental health services for children at greatest risk for trauma—especially those exposed to domestic violence, child welfare, and the juvenile justice system. 

The event is open to the media and will be webcast live on www.cartercenter.org on Oct. 26 starting at 1:00 p.m. (EDT) and on Oct. 27 starting at 8:30 a.m.

 Oct. 26 Agenda Highlights:

For a full schedule:  http://cartercenter.org/resources/pdfs/health/mental_health/2011-mental-health-symposium-agenda.pdf 

• 1:00 – 1:05 p.m., Welcome: Thomas Bornemann, Ed.D., director, Carter Center Mental Health Program 
• 1:05 – 1:15 p.m., Opening remarks: former U.S. First Lady Rosalynn Carter 
• 1:15 – 2:15 p.m., Keynote: “Childhood Trauma in America: Findings from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network” 

• John Fairbank, Ph.D., co-director, National Center for Child Traumatic Stress, Duke University Medical Center; and
• Ernestine Briggs-King, Ph.D., director, Data and Evaluation Program, National Center for Child Traumatic Stress, Duke University Medical Center

Background on the Rosalynn Carter Symposium on Mental Health Policy:  

The Rosalynn Carter Symposium on Mental Health Policy is part of the Carter Center’s Mental Health Program, which works to decrease stigma and discrimination against people with mental illnesses as well as promote positive policy change on mental health issues. 

 Visit www.cartercenter.org to learn more about the Carter Center’s Mental Health Program, access resource material such as reports, the Center’s mental health journalism archive, and expert Q&As.

“Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope.” 

A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in more than 70 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; improving mental health care; and teaching farmers in developing nations to increase crop production. The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide. Please visit www.cartercenter.org to learn more about The Carter Center.

Freestanding 3-Day Basic Training Brochure GENERIC 2.3.11