There is a group of children who pose a very particular challenge to professionals. These are children who have lacked the kind of early empathic and attuned interactions that most children have, the experiences that give rise to empathy and genuine interest in other people and in life itself. These might be children who come from backgrounds of extreme neglect, but we see something similar in avoidant attachment, in learned helplessness, and also in some responses to trauma, such as dissociation. Neglected children have expectations of relationships which are very dulled down, even desolate, and they barely show interest in relating emotionally. The talk suggests that there is a spectrum of neglect, from the most severe experiences of terrible institutional homes to children who had very emotionally absent parents, maybe due to severe parental depression, or very avoidant cut-off attachment styles. It will tease out the different challenges of working with such states.
Learning Objectives:
1. Explain how neglect is very different from overt trauma.
2. Describe how being with people who are numbed can be challenging to professionals as we too can feel dulled down.
3. Explain how we can work to 'respark' and enliven people when they are in such states.
To Continue, Please Select Your Country of Residence
Whoops! Please select your Country before clicking "Submit"
The GOLD Learning Lecture Library is a unique & convenient resource for Healthcare Professionals, Researchers, Students and other Educators looking to stay up to date on the latest evidence-based skills and practices. Country Category pricing has been determined by World Bank Economic Indicators. Proof of residency may be requested. Learn more about our Category Pricing Here.
