Brain Networks
The human brain operates through interconnected neural networks, each serving distinct yet complementary functions. These networks will be developing over the early years and maintained over life. The 7 main ones are:
Default Mode Network (DMN)
Activates during rest and self-reflection, crucial for autobiographical memory and social understanding
Salience Network
Detects and filters important information, helping direct attention to relevant stimuli and switching between CEN & DMN
Central Executive Network
Manages complex cognitive tasks, decision-making, and goal-directed behavior
Sensorimotor Network
Processes sensory input and coordinates motor responses and movement
Visual Network
Handles sight and visual processing.
Dorsal Attention Network
Hold attention for external directed focused tasks and ignored environmental distractions
Limbic Network
Processes emotions and manages emotional responses to experiences
These networks form over the first 5-7 years of life and then continue to be refined and re-enforced until adulthood and beyond.
Michael Posner (1998, 2012), distinguishes three attention networks. Each of these networks is responsible for different attention processes:
- Alerting network (when): this network is responsible for achieving and maintaining high sensitivity to incoming information Modulator: Norepinephrine
- Orienting network (what): this network is responsible for selecting task-relevant information Modulator: Acetylcholine
- Executive attention network (how): this network regulates the appropriate processing for a given task and monitors its execution. Modulator: Dopamine
PubMed Central (PMC)
Attention networks and the intrinsic network structure of the human brain
Attention network theory distinguishes three independent systems, each supported by its own distributed network: an alerting network to deploy attentional resources in anticipation, an orienting network to direct attention to a cued location, and a ...
Different types of play activate different parts of the brain and develop these networks, play that get you into the flow state together develop concentration and attention. Parents can pass on their concentration challenges through their own play styles.
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The Default Mode Network
The default mode network is one of seven brain networks, it is active during rest and sleep, and most active when the mind engages in internal thought or contemplation. When you remember an event from your childhood, imagine a future vacation, or contemplate a family member’s thoughts or feelings, your internal mind drives these perceptions. The default mode network also stores your 'internal working model' attachment patterns.
Abnormal function in the default mode network is often associated with neuropsychiatric disorders. If the network becomes overactive, it can lead to intensified, self-referential thought as a symptom of schizophrenia or negative and disruptive thoughts associated with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Altered functional or structural organization of the DMN has also been implicated in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Individuals with autism are often characterized by difficulty processing the emotions and feelings of others, in relationship to one’s self. Underlying DMN dysfunction may contribute to an individual’s difficulty processing social situations and information.
It has also been posited that higher functional connectivity between the DMN and other brain networks may be an underlying symptom of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This abnormal connectivity may be linked to mind wandering and wavering attention. With regard to neurological disease, the earliest stages of Alzheimer’s disease often exhibit degradation of the posterior cingulate cortex. This key node in the default mode network is responsible for memory formation and retrieval, making it a common target of the disease. In some cases, individuals even experience disruption in the DMN prior to showing signs of Alzheimer’s disease. With the DMN being a relatively recent discovery for neuroscience, modern research is still uncovering its full implication on mental illness and physical disorders.
The figure below details PTSD impact to the switching of brain networks and how it impacts the salient network switching between the default mode network and central exec network:
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Harvard Centre on the Developing Child
The PDF details early brain development and the impact of stress to the brain.
Items impacted in developmental delays and emotional overload are related to brain development in the first 5 years. Networks then get pruned until adulthood. Autistic children have less pruning happening.
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The Vagus Nerve: One of the Key Regulator of Body Functions
Note: Its more than the vagus nerve and polyvagal theory is missing lots. Its the central channel of nerves that go from the brain to genitalia that cause a shiver. Its a similar shiver to a sexual climax that releases positive chemicals, its like a prolonged pee shiver if you go into a full trauma release shiver, the vibration to a good belly laugh. Some people might have to get their body to go into that full trauma release shiver to release their unresolved traumas via similar triggers.
Autonomic Regulation
Controls heart rate, breathing patterns, and blood pressure through parasympathetic activation, promoting the "rest and digest" state. It also plays a part with temperature regulation.
Emotional & Trauma Response
Plays a crucial role in stress response, anxiety regulation, and emotional well-being through the gut-brain axis. Depending now it vibrates, determines if calming or stress related brain chemicals are released.
Digestive Function
Regulates digestion, gut motility, and secretion of digestive enzymes throughout the gastrointestinal system
Anti-inflammatory Response
Mediates the body's inflammatory response through the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway, helping to reduce inflammation
When this system gets stuck in a traumatized/overloaded state other functions like inflammation, autoimmune or healing start to go off.
When we suppress this release, we tense deep muscles. Over time if you are always resisting this release all those muscles will be tensing over the nerves. The Watson headache technique helps with headaches from C1/C2 tensing around the brainstem. This tension through the central channel of nerves makes the nerves more sensitive. Tensing the muscles muting the feelings is likely be the cause of things like Alexithymia and its impact to the introspective sense developing. The input and integration/processing within the insular cortex must also get impacted. Muscles tensing can also play a role in chronic pain conditions and skeletal muscle relaxers can help.
Kelly Mahler has lots of courses on interception and Occupational Therapy integration concepts.
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The Divers Reflex and Central Channel
The divers reflex is a physiological response to cold water submersion, involving the vagus nerve slowing the heart rate and redirecting blood flow. This reflex helps conserve oxygen and maintain blood pressure, a survival mechanism observed in many mammals.
The vagus nerve also plays a role in the fight/flight/freeze response, and its activation via cold therapy can bring someone out of a traumatized state. The resulting release of chemicals like dopamine and endorphins release acts as a natural antidepressant. A short healing window occurs as it appears to put ones brain waves into the healing part.
Ice is not needed: Adults only need 21C and babies have a more sensitive reflex. Whilst the divers reflex is activated by the face, shivering is more important for stress release, its more about putting your body into temperature regulation mode vs stress/trauma mode. The face does not have to go in water, running in and out of the sea, playing in an outdoor paddeling pool are all adequate for children. Keep it fun and playful sensory exploration, connecting the body to the environment.
That creates a window of healing to allow healing of this natural release, before emotional overload returns. Over time as a child's starts to trust the parents and start to release more emotion, it will start to take longer and longer before overload returns.
This article covers the different chemical from the stress of cold from full body immersion vs the face and triggering the divers reflex response.
Lifestyle Medicine
Jumping into the Ice Bath Trend! Mental Health Benefits of Cold Water Immersion
By Maya Shetty, BS Key Takeaways Research shows that cold water immersion (CWI) may improve mental health by increasing endorphin and norepinephrine levels. CWI may also improve resilience to stress by decreasing cortisol levels. CWI can be adapted to meet different wellness goals, whether for immediate relief or long-term mental health benefits. For individuals seeking […]
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1
Attachment Theory
-Anxious vs Disorganized
-Everyone strives for secure
early interactions with caregivers shape an individual’s attachment style (secure, anxious, avoidant, or disorganized). These styles influence emotional regulation, relationship patterns, and overall mental health in adulthood
Disorganised is not just caused by trauma. A too silly and inconsistent caregiver can cause confusion, too hyper play can be over stimulating and become frightening to a child
2
Internal Working Model
Internal working model is an internal map of the world that a child creates based on it's attachment figures and environment. Why a tribe is more effective than 1-2 parents alone.
-first 18months watching and building the rules of the world
-toddler years testing rules of the world out
-default mode network forming until 5 and stores the internal working model
-Healing doesn't move to secure straight away when healing
3
Circle Of Security
-Circle that plays out; explore/watch over, return/nurture
SOC teaches that the circle plays out until 5 years old. However this circle can be observed with peers and teachers as children test out their internal model with the wider world and relational figures.
-Shark Music that passes generationally
5
Factors that lead to a secure attachment
John Bowlby, Mary Ainsworth work. attachment disturbances and adults treatment for comprehensive repair, Daniel P Brown. Consolidates all the latest research on Attachment Theory as of 2016.
Picture from Attachmentrepair.com
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Adult Attachment Healing
Research out of Harvard found that complex PTSD is an attachment disturbance (usually disorganized) with later trauma on top. Via healing the attachment there was 100% success in resolving complex trauma. With little need or just minimal exposure work needed for trauma healing.
Dr Daniel P Brown found that secure people do not hold trauma. This is supported by Aletha's work that we all have this natural stress release function.
Attachment Disturbances in Adults: Treatment for Comprehensive Repair Hardcover – 2016 by Daniel P. Brown, David S. Elliott
Integrative Attachment Therapy (Ideal Parent Figure Protocol) was created out of that research. The approach focuses on 3 key areas;
- Exploration & Collaboration - enhancing collaborative ability and skill
- Meta Cognitive Awareness - Increase awareness of your internal state
- Ideal Parent Figure Mentalizations - Create imaginary ideal parents figures and visualize them meeting your attachment needs during past and current life events.
Applying the concepts to a developing child:
- Exploration & Collaboration - Working within a classroom and playing the 9 play types on a playground and with parents, enjoying hobbies & sports.
- Meta Cognitive Awareness - Developing concentration and awareness of self, thought and introception.
- Ideal Parent Figure Mentalizations - Use Aware Parenting and Attachment Play, parents get to be the Ideal Parent Figure.
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Parts and Inner Family Systems
Jung and Dr. Richard Schwartz's Inner family systems all speak of parts. When one goes though something traumatic, parts of their psych might freeze, protecting emotions hide more complex emotions.
Archetypes:
Archetypes are universal, primordial symbols and patterns in the collective unconscious. These can manifest in dreams, myths, and stories. Some common archetypes include:
- The Self: Represents the unity of the conscious and unconscious aspects of the personality.
- The Shadow: The unconscious, repressed, or denied aspects of the self.
- The Anima/Animus: The inner feminine side of a man (Anima) and the inner masculine side of a woman (Animus).
- The Persona: The mask or identity we present to the outside world, often shaped by societal expectations.
- The Hero: Represents the aspect of the psyche that undergoes transformation and growth through challenges.
Parts
In IFS, the psyche is composed of various "parts," which are like subpersonalities or different aspects of the self. These parts can have distinct characteristics, motivations, and roles. They are typically categorized into three main types:
- Exiles: These parts are often associated with painful, vulnerable emotions, such as fear, shame, or sadness. They are usually pushed into the unconscious or "exiled" because the feelings they carry are too overwhelming or traumatic to face.
- Managers: These parts are protective and proactive. They try to prevent painful emotions from surfacing by controlling the individual's behavior, environment, or relationships. Managers often use coping strategies like perfectionism, avoidance, or caretaking to keep things in control and avoid triggering the exiles.
- Firefighters: These parts also act protectively but are typically reactive. When the exiles' pain surfaces (or when the managers are unable to maintain control), the firefighters intervene in an attempt to distract or numb the person from the emotional pain. They may use extreme behaviors like binge eating, substance abuse, or impulsive actions to dampen the intensity of the emotions.
Use cards to help children visually identify their own parts and personality. Note which cards children strongly reject. They can be good shadow work.
Create attachment play games to welcome and engage the different parts a child might have. Symbolic and Nonsense play where the parent acts being a bad part whilst celebrating the bad behavior in a funny way.
For angry protectors, hold and delight in their anger and give them a place to express it, see their powerlessness in the moment and assure them they are safe. Their vulnerable emotions underneath will start to show once they feel safe to express them. Lots of non-sense play to re-enact past ruptures or moments of powerlessness.
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The Elephant Path
A Child and Adolescent Concentration Training Program that teaches meta-cognitive awareness
The first 1/2 of the book teaches how concentration develops in children. e.g. children can not visualize feelings.
The 2nd 1/2 teaches the following concepts at an age appropriate levels; concentration, mindfulness, self-discovery, and awareness of the inter-connectedness of life via the re-connection of your Mind, Body and Heart.
The concepts have been de-buddistified and adapted for a school environment.
Key Themes
- Mindfulness and Presence: The importance of being present in the moment and cultivating awareness of one's thoughts and feelings.
- Compassion and Connection: The value of compassion, both towards oneself and others, and encouraging deeper connections with the world around us.
- Personal Growth: Overcoming obstacles and embracing change as essential for personal development.
- Nature and Internal Wisdom: Intertwining nature with internal insights, encouraging children to find wisdom in the natural world and within themselves.
- Reflection and Introspection: Engaging in self-reflection, helping children understand their motivations and purpose in life, becoming realized leaders.
This can be used for repairing and improving the concentration networks once the emotional release has been healed.
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Theories on Stages of Consciousness
There are a number of theories that envelop Piaget's that focus on the Stages of Consciousness and development beyond adolescence.
Richard Barrett - Barrett Model
The Barrett Model, is a framework for understanding human motivation and the evolution of values in individuals, organizations, and societies. It is based on the idea that human development occurs in stages, and at each stage, people and groups prioritize different values based on their level of consciousness. The Barrett Model is used in leadership development, organizational culture transformation, and personal growth to align values with higher levels of consciousness, fostering well-being, innovation, and societal progress
They have developed material to show how a number of psychological concepts align with this model
BVC
Theoretical Support for the Barrett Model® — BVC
The Barrett Model® has proven to be a powerful framework for realizing human potential for leaders and organizations across the globe. The Barrett Model and BVC Analytics have assisted thousands of organizations across 94 countries to increase the health of their organizational culture, and thus, im
Key Elements of the Barrett Model:
- Seven Levels of Consciousness: These levels correspond to different stages of personal and collective development, from basic survival needs to self-actualization and service to others.
- Values-Driven: The model is based on the belief that values are at the core of human motivation. As individuals and organizations evolve, they shift their focus from lower-order needs (such as security and relationships) to higher-order needs (such as purpose and contribution).
The Seven Levels of Consciousness:
- Survival (Basic Needs): Focus on personal survival, financial stability, and health.
- Relationship: Concerned with forming emotional connections, seeking love, and belonging. (Attachment)
- Self-Esteem: Motivated by recognition, achievement, and respect from others.
- Transformation: Seeking personal growth, self-awareness, and learning.
- Internal Cohesion: Focus on finding meaning, purpose, and inner harmony.
- Making a Difference: Driven by service, social responsibility, and contribution to society.
- Service to Humanity and Future Generations: Focus on leaving a legacy, global consciousness, and making a long-term impact.
Key Points:
- Lower Levels (1-3): These are focused on personal and ego-driven needs such as safety, relationships, and self-esteem.
- Higher Levels (4-7): These emphasize growth, purpose, and contributing to the greater good.
Jean Gebser
a Swiss philosopher and cultural historian known for his work The Ever-Present Origin, where he explores the evolution of human consciousness and its relationship to culture, art, and society. His theories are particularly influential in understanding different "structures" or "altitudes" of consciousness.
Ken Wilber
Integral Psychology incorporates similar themes, developmental models from both Western psychology (such as Piaget’s cognitive stages, Erikson’s psychosocial stages) and Eastern traditions (such as the stages of consciousness found in Buddhism or Hinduism).
Wilber suggests that humans evolve along multiple lines of development, such as cognitive, moral, emotional, interpersonal, and spiritual. Each line may develop at different rates, meaning someone might be advanced in one area but less developed in another.
A visual of all developmental lines, states from integral theory
Stages of Consciousness in these theory's often mirror both societies and a single human's evolution.
- Archaic/Infrared is in the brain-stem, survival
- Tribal/Magenta is Limbic, attachment
- Warrior to Post Modern/Red to Green are Cortical and Self
- Integral/Teal to Turquoise are Soul
- Post Integral/Violet is Spirit
Society is currently functioning mainly under Green/Post Modern phase, where individualization is celebrated when really we need to become one again and help each other as the living society we are. Through healing attachments generationally and teaching children meta cognitive awareness and self realization would societies shift as the way we all engage heals each other.
Similar to childhood stress, accumulated stress can impede development in adulthood. A healthy emotional & stress release function allows for continued conscious growth and potential.
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Drama Triangle
Learn when you have fallen into a Drama triangle.
Turn the roles into Creator, Coach & Challenger.
Use symbolic play with props to act out this dynamic and teach the child how to be the Creator in the moment. You might notice the child is playing out a similar theme to life stressors or relational dynamics. You can play several characters in the game with teddies/puppets to act out the roles on the triangle.
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Utilize a feeling wheel to identify emotions
There are a number of different feeling wheels available online that can be used to trace secondary emotions back to primary emotions to help with awareness of ones emotional state.
When children are upset they might only be aware of a surface emotion, if you label their emotions whilst trying to provide balance of attention you risk misattunement. Wait until the evening to explore what they felt via a feelings wheel.
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Brain Wave Synchrony & Collaboration
Collaborating is one of the most basic human way to build connection, "do we agree to do something together?". Play goes from "will you play with me?", to "wanna you hang out?" to "Do you want to work and collaborate with me?" Collaboration engages the frontal cortex and the executive function network. Co-operative play is a form of collaboration and the best way to engage a child when they are disconnected and shutdown working from more emotional and reactionary levels of the brain. Activities around collaboration that bring two people into the flow state together creating joy, awe and wonder are very beneficial whilst children's brains are developing and being re-enforced during early childhood experiences. Repeat positive collaborative people experiences repairs brain networks. Every IEP at school should have a collaborative passion project with the teacher as so much progress would be made.
PubMed Central (PMC)
Is there collaboration specific neurophysiological activation during collaborative task activity? An analysis of brain responses using electroencephalography and hyperscanning
Collaboration between two individuals is thought to be associated with the synchrony of two different brain activities. Indeed, prefrontal cortical activation and alpha frequency band modulation has been widely reported, but little is known about ...
Having awareness and skills how to bring other people from a reactionary state into a collaborative state is an overlooked leadership skill.
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Important Lessons for the Gifted
Key lessons from the above article:
- Learning to focus their efforts for prolonged periods of time. Since so much comes easily to them, they may never acquire the self-discipline necessary to use their gifts to the fullest
- Often face adjustment problems due to their uncommon versatility, being capable of many different kinds of success that they may have difficulty in confining themselves to a reasonable number of enterprises.
- Learning to suffer fools gladly, human beings in general are inherently very different from themselves in thought, in action, in general intention, and in interests. Many a reformer has died at the hands of a mob which he was trying to improve in the belief that other human beings can and should enjoy what he enjoys. This is one of the most painful and difficult lessons that each gifted child must learn, if personal development is to proceed successfully. It is more necessary that this be learned than that any school subject be mastered. Failure to learn how to tolerate in a reasonable fashion the foolishness of humans leads to bitterness, disillusionment, and misanthropy
- The greatest adjustment problem faced by the gifted, is their tendency to become isolated from the rest of humanity. This tendency to become isolated is one of the most important factors to be considered in guiding the development of personality.
It is thought that a leadership pattern will not form–or it will break up–when a discrepancy of more than about 30 points of IQ comes to exist between leader and led.
This will impact play dynamics and building of collaboration skills in children. Which will led to later isolation from failing to build social skills and a faulty stress release system.
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Unique Developmental Profile
You would then have an individual profile, your consciousness would be at the center, developing vertically as per the altitudes of development.
Lines of development are like spider legs developing outwards. Some might go off track, purely due to genetics, others could be due to environment not fostering development of them.
If development freezes from emotional overload, the below lines of development start freezing or advancing based on genetics, environment and age.
Each line could have sub lines like Kinesthetic would have Psychomotor & Sensory. Sensory having further sub lines of each sense like taste, smell, touch that can also under and over develop. Some might feed into others e.g. Spiritual, Moral and Ethics. Cognitive would have different brain networks developing over the first 5 years and adapting over the years via continuous neuro-plasticity.
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Neurodiversity & Mental Health challenges.
A Mum of a level 2 child has put together a lot of work that hypothesizes autism is the impact of cells under stress due to genetics and then epigenetics happening.
Kimberly's Educational Resources
Statement of Summary & Conceptual Framework — Kimberly's Educational Resources
In May 2023, I first introduced the foundation of this hypothesis in a TikTok video, proposing that autism traits and associated medical comorbidities stem from a unified biochemical disruption: the dysregulation of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4). Over the following months, I expanded this concept by integrating linked comorbidities and stress-response mechanisms, gradually constructing a systems-level framework that accounts for both neurodevelopmental outcomes and the chronic health conditions comm
My hypothesis would be that it's genetics which cause children to be more prone to invisible stress needing this natural stress release of crying and play to be 100% perfect, or genetic things that put this release's development at risk. If this release isn't optimal children go into overload and develop the spectrum. The age this happens is the level 1,2,3 of the spectrum the child is. Even things like early inflammation could be the source and impact to this stress release system as its the same parts of the nervous system like the vagus nerve. It's about meeting where the child is at with play and up-skilling from there. e.g. Attachment play starts at 2, before that peak a boo would be used instead of hide and seek. Contingent games with cause and effect around verbal sound and laughter could help non-verbal children.
Fragile-x has reduced cognitive function, that means developmental milestones are harder and you have more frustration and stress to release, e.g. you would cry more as you struggle to figure out why you can't put the circle into the square hole. Understanding your caregiver to build the internal working model is harder. Learning the back and forth of play is harder. All these things cause this release to malfunction and invisible stress to build up
The Highly Sensitive - Studies show that stressed Dad's sperm active epigenetics that increase sensitivity in their children. Either Parental stress and trauma gets passed on that increases nervous system sensitivity https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7837765/. These children need to cry and release their bigger emotions meaning they have higher attachment needs and risk of this release malfunctioning and going into overload. Acquired autism is often this profile going into overload at 4 months old when sensory leaps causing more distress along with medical procedures like vaccines (not the vaccine content, just the need to cry more and the trauma of the procedure) or 2-3 years old when testing the rules of the world causes too much stress as they go through the slightly delayed "terrible two's".
Giftedness - Is the same as the highly sensitive. The higher intensity that goes with the gifted profile means there is more emotions to release and a need to cry for longer. Learning play can be hard from being at different developmental levels to peers all putting this stress release function at risk. People say IQ isn't from trauma but stress is what makes muscles grow, if you have the genetics for high IQ, it's the mapping of logic when building the internal working model of a disorganized caregiver that works the brain increasing your logical and mapping of concepts abilities. The nervous system intensity is stress to the brain. Stress is what develops muscles and the brain. It impacts the development of networks as areas get over or under worked, this stress is what increases empathy and logical thinking as you overwork mapping out your caregiver if there is an attachment disturbance.
Incubator Babies - When left in an incubator or orphanage studies showed children's cry shuts down when left to cry it out with no one coming. This is why skin on skin is also seen as very important. This cry shutting down, separation trauma and other possible early medical traumas that fail to get resolved and what puts the baby into overload impacting the parental attachment forming when they are finally out of an incubator. The more sensitive the babies nervous system the more at risk they are. This is why not all incubator babies end up autistic.
There are probably a million other sources and causes due to genetics.
At its core Autism is ones attachment and development of ones 'self' impacted by the effect of built up invisible stress on the mind and body during key developmental years. The Spectrum is how the stress manifested and stuck as a form of trauma response. e.g. elope is a flight response. Food challenges are partly taste buds gone when in stress mode and a body needing carbs for fuel.
ADHD is a child with probably an even higher nervous system energy with a broken release that uses special interests to sooth their senses but never went into overload (Often seen in gifted people who are known for higher intensity), impacting how they learn as brain networks develop. If they have gone into overload that can also be the AuADHD profile.
Depression & Anxiety are this release not being healthy and signs of build up.
Adult mental health challenges like CPTSD and Borderline PD and other personality disorders are mostly attachment based. Disorganized or significant attachment disturbances with trauma on top, BDP being a highly sensitive profile meaning there is more invisible attachment trauma vs shock trauma with CPTSD. Autism, BDP and CPTSD are all attachment based challenges with autism having additional self develop impact.
Then there are power and control conditions like OCD being a controlling form of disorganization from things like erratic play. Anorexia is power and control patterns forming around food.
Bi-Polar and Schizoaffective ones are crying completely malfunctioned and play broken in some way that trauma can't come out and goes inwards. Think Syd Barret and Pink Floyd being his 'creative' & passion non-directive child led play release. That release overpowered by Roger Walters being further attachment trauma, scarring his release. The Star Wars Anakin actor would be another example of the bullying by Star Wars fan and his creative release of acting/adult play scarred.
Psychosis is when you are triggered but have no release that everything goes inwards as you go into overload. Psychosis can also manifest as a dissociative version, where sense shutdown vs hearing/seeing things. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7505175/
Autism and Schizophrenia are similar in that they are both people in overload and disoganisation of the mind. When children are in overload they still have parents with some times of connection and a play based release. Play might loop that stress isn't released. For adults play has become more abstract and if the release is broken with no attachment figures available psychosis develops as things go inwards.
Most conditions tend to have two presentations, like what gets called the male and female presentation of autism, one is more external and "Loud" impacting people vs an internal dis-regulation, "quite" masking and dissociative. This is the fight/flight vs freeze/fawn nature of peoples nervous systems. Boys might lean fight/flight but some boys will also be the freeze/fawn presentation.
Copyright Steven Simmons ©
In the event of a single trauma
This should always be child/individually led.
1
Reset & Connect
Use the water and sensory stimulation to reset the nervous system and get the brain waves into the healing part.
Have a peer, parent or sibling that is trusted and is the connection.
2
Play
Use the connecting play types to connect then the 5 transformative play to play out/transform the memory.
For older children being bullied this could be a day out with the parent having power reversal play at somewhere like this:
3
Cry
A similar trigger or broken cookie will trigger a release of tears. If there is repeated trauma/re-traumatisation, playing out again and again might not work. Sometimes a child would just need to cry and cry and cry until all the emotions comes out.
4
Integrate
Talk about the experience and integrate it into who you are. Using 'How to talk to kids' book and having time in the routine for nightly play or chats.
Copyright Steven Simmons ©
Supporting Material
Adult version of the elephant path.
Good for facilitating nightly talks.
Boy version is available to.
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