When trauma is experienced, the child’s brain can get stuck in a hyper-aroused state. A physiological process, fight, flight, freeze responses can be triggered in reaction to everyday events. In the context of a safe environment, the autonomic nervous system is hypervigilant, in the context of an unsafe environment, the autonomic response is inadequate for the situation.

Trauma looping can occur when past traumatic experiences are triggered in there here and now. Often there is a cycle of behaviours, thoughts, and feelings which compromise the child’s homeostasis.

This Refresher Session will consider how a trauma loop is formed, the main parts of the brain and nervous system involved and consider 4 strategies that can be safely and ethically offered to the client by the child therapist.