A recent New York Times blogpost described the powerful impact of short term therapy for children who have experienced trauma and abuse.
“When children are alone with and don’t have words to describe their traumatic reactions, symptoms and symptomatic behaviors are their only means of expression…And caregivers are often unable to understand the connection between the traumatic event and their children’s symptoms and behaviors. To heal, children need recognition and understanding from their caregivers…This intervention inspires hope and confidence. It can make an immediate and palpable difference in the daily lives of children who have suffered even the worst forms of abuse.”
It seems abundantly clear that adults would also benefit from this kind of compassionate acknowledgment — the compassionate ear of a supportive resource person, someone who can listen to us without shame or judgment.
Good thing we have mirror neurons to help us with this.
