Tagged With "special needs"
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Why I believe Gregory Williams, and his book, Shattered By The Darkness, will help save lives and revolutionize healthcare.
When you first hear about it, it sounds unlikely, fact that something that happened to someone in utero, at the age of two months, or four years, or any time in childhood, is what is killing them as an adult, or making them want to die, or making them want to hurt themselves or others. Yet the connection between childhood trauma and adult disease, mental illness, addiction, suicide, violence – most all of society’s ills – is as irrefutable as the myriad truths revealed about it in the...
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Why I’m Writing a Book About the Most Important Problem Facing Men and Their Families To [GoodMenProject.com]
I’ve been writing books that help men and the families who love them since my first book, Inside Out: Becoming My Own Man, was published in 1983. Getting books published that focus on men is never easy. The perception in the publishing world continues to be that men don’t read books about men’s issues (unless it’s a sports book) and women aren’t that interested in books that help men (Men, as a group, are doing pretty well. It’s women who need help, many believe). I believe the world is...
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Why Parents Need a Little Self-Compassion (greatergood.berkeley.edu)
Some parents misunderstand self-compassion and dismiss it as being self-centered, indulgent, or lazy. They fear it might lead to self-pity or that, if they aren’t tough enough, their kids will slack off and won’t be motivated or disciplined. But a growing body of research by Kristin Neff and her colleagues suggests that self-compassion is an antidote to self-pity. It helps us cope with tough situations like divorce and trauma, keeps us motivated, and helps us be more supportive and caring in...
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Why We Shouldn’t Shield Children From Darkness (www.time.com) & Note
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Becoming Trauma Informed - edited by Nancy Poole and Lorraine Graves
Becoming Trauma Informed describes trauma-informed practice at the individual, organizational and systemic levels. The editors and authors bring unique perspectives from various settings and from the diverse groups with which they work, sharing...
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Collaborating with Kinship Caregivers
CWLA is delighted to announce the publication of its most recent kinship care resource, Collaborating with Kinship Caregivers: A Research-to-Practice, Competency-Based Training Program for Child Welfare Workers and Their Supervisors. More than 20...
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My Struggle by Karl Ove Knausgaard
I’ve just finished reading the third volume of My Struggle, by Karl Ove Knausgaard, a Norwegian whose six-volume memoir recounts in minute detail his traumatic experiences as a child and later as a husband and father of four. The fourth volume...
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My Tears in His Bottle: prayers from the heart of a special needs’ mom
Pat Hays has written a devotional book that gives wonderful insight into the joys and struggles that parenting a child with emotional special needs presents. Her book, My Tears in His Bottle: prayers from the heart of a special needs’ mom , contains excerpts from her personal prayer journal as she worked through the last fifteen years of balancing her calling to be an adoptive parent with the roadblocks she encountered in her neighborhood, friendships, school district, marriage, and church...
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New book explores storytelling and resilience.
“Run,” he would shout. On two legs, I couldn’t match the speed of a terrified calf or steer, but I was plenty fast, especially in a sprint, so I’d launch myself across the gravel in front of our trailer while my father stood about ten yards behind me twirling his rope.
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New book: Lifetrap: from Child Victim to Adult Victimizer
I wrote a book about developmental/ family violence and how ACES during early childhood can lead to the adult survivor perpetrating his own violence. It's the story of intergenerational transmission, the cycle of violence. I worked with domestically violent men as a prison psychologist for 28 years in the Wisconsin correctional system. While the population of offenders is not a sympathetic group, I believe that we need to address the development of an abusive personality if we want to stop...
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Parenting through the Storm Book Review
Parenting Through the Storm: Find Help, Hope, and Strength When Your Child Has Psychological Problems , is written by Ann Douglas. The author, a member of this group and network , has a warm, open and honest tone. She's a parent and gets that parents and kids are sometimes or even often scared, struggling and in crisis. She knows. She writes about the time she almost lost her daughter, thirteen at the time, to death by suicide. Her daughter was vomiting and sleeping, restlessly, all night...
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People Are Now Stocking Little Free Libraries With Toilet Paper and Food for Neighbors in Need (goodnewsnetwork.org)
There are more than 75,000 Little Free Libraries around the world - and now people are converting them into Little Free Pantries for their communities during the COVID-19 crisis. Pantries from Vancouver, Canada to Arlington, Massachusetts are now filled with toilet paper, canned goods, books, hand sanitizers, and toiletries. To read more of Mat Gaskins' article, please click here.
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Pip had high #ACEs
I just finished reading Great Expectations for the second time. I could relate to it much easier this reading as I used an ACEs lens to understand Pip's experiences and challenges. Dickens knew in 1860 the effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences. It seems strange to see humanity hasn't really evolved emotionally and socially that much in 160 years. Hopefully the ACEs movement will help propel our consciousness raising.
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Playing for Their Lives: The Global El Sistema Movement for Social Change Through Music (ssir.org)
In the world’s happiest country, we encountered one of the world’s most challenging Sistema environments. The United Nations World Happiness Report has ranked Denmark the happiest nation on earth, using internationally agreed-upon measures—of wealth, health, social welfare, generosity, and freedom—to rate happiness in 150 countries . Just outside of Aarhus, the Gellerup district is the largest housing project and the poorest neighborhood in Denmark. Fully 88 percent of its population is...
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QUEST Movie: A Benefit for the Coalition on Homelessness
Quest-The Truth Always Rises" is an important film about trauma, love, and resilience. I know the film maker of Quest, and I know how passionate he is to help people understand about Adverse Childhood Experiences and what can happen when one person believes in you. Santiago Rizzo tells a compelling story of his childhood that all should see. His passion is contagious, and his willingness to speak about trauma, the power of love, and the need for honesty is powerful. I suggest folks go and...
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Relationship, Responsibility, and Regulation: Trauma-Invested Practices for Fostering Resilient Learners (ascd.org)
In this stirring follow-up to the award-winning Fostering Resilient Learners, Kristin Van Marter Souers and Pete Hall take you to the next level of trauma-invested practice. To get there, they explain, educators need to build a "nest"—a positive learning environment shaped by three new Rs of education: relationship , responsibility , and regulation . Drawing from their extensive experience working with schools, students, and families throughout the country, the authors Explain how to create...
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Resilient by Rick Hanson, Ph.D.
On March 27th, Dr. Rick Hanson's new book, Resilient: How to Grow an Unshakable Core of Calm, Strength, and Happiness will be released. Written with Forrest Hanson, it promises to "show you how to develop twelve vital inner strengths hardwired into your own nervous system. Then no matter what life throws at you, you’ll be able to feel less stressed, pursue opportunities with confidence, and stay calm and centered in the face of adversity. This practical guide is full of concrete suggestions,...
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Rethinking Resilience: A Review of Change your World
Change Your World is the newest addition to the body of resources on Resilience. It has been written by Michael Ungar, PhD - one of the most informed voices in resilience research. Although the reviewer was skeptical leading up to reading the book, expecting more victim blaming, which is often the predominant theme of resilience promotion, she was pleasantly surprised. She now recommends this book to everyone interested in learning how to build a healthier humanity.
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Scilla Elworthy: A Business Plan for Peace (dailygood.org)
A distinguished activist for peace for over 30 years, Dr. Scilla Elworthy has met with scientists and nuclear weapons policy makers from all five nuclear powers. She founded the Oxford Research Group, Peace Direct, and co-founded 'Rising Women, Rising World' and FemmeQ, and was nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize. She is interviewed here about her latest book, "The Business Plan for Peace: Building a World without War." In it, she points out that while 1,686 billion dollars is...
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Self Help: More Than Just a Good Book
I have written before about how I was a self-help book addict. I read every book I could find, re-reading several of them and even going as far as getting them on audiobook so I could re-listen to them hundreds of times. I did this because I absolutely believed in their base principles, and, frankly, I needed a constant reminder. I would listen — and would feel good for 10 to 30 minutes afterwards. But, then life would happen; I would forget everything I learned and I would be right back to...
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Shattered By The Darkness: Powerful book by a humble man on a mission to prevent what happened to him from happening to other children.
Gregory Williams, PhD, will help change the world by taking this book into medical schools and teaching physicians and nurses about the root cause of most adult illness: childhood trauma. I just read this book in one sitting, save one hot tea refill. I could not stop reading it. Even though there were some passages that evoked anxiety, I couldn’t stop reading it, as I so wanted to learn more about this remarkable man and how he earned a PhD, had a normal family life, and earned the respect...
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The Beautiful Darkness: A Handbook for Orphans
I became a professional reader long before I was a writer when I was living in homeless shelters, subsidized housing, and welfare hotels with my mother in New York City. Most of the middle class and affluent black folks I would come to know in the future would wince and give me a look I couldn’t read when I would tell the story that I outline in my new memoir, The Beautiful Darkness: A Handbook for Orphans . All some intolerant, ignorant bigots need is to continue to hear about the...
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The Healing Place Podcast - Dr. Kristina Brinkerhoff: Educational Consultant
Dr. Kristina Brinkerhoff, a consultant, keynote speaker, presenter and trainer, leverages over 20 years of experience as a teacher, principal, superintendent and adoptive mom of five foster children, to help educators gain an understanding of the effects Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and the importance of trauma informed practice in schools.
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Re: Inflammation! Who knew???
Thank you for posting Bill. I too have knee pain and arthritis and have been looking to reduce inflammation. Before I tell you what I have done, I want you to know about an interview I recently did about Childhood Disrupted with Donna. You can check out my web site at http://www.nurserona.com/ . I will post the interview there after it airs on KPFA.org on Nov. 23rd. I have known about the ACEs work for many years now, and find it essential for healing. I recently was able to get Kaiser to...
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Re: Inflammation! Who knew???
I use TRE® to release the trauma of my past. I have found it the best tool I have ever used, far better than talk therapy (for neurologiacal reasons at least), visualizations, tapping, meditation, art, breathing, yoga, yawning, EMDR, and so on. One, I have this tool. I don't need an appointment to get release. Two, I get release, not relief. The other tools give relief. Three, I don't need talk or think about the past events to practice TRE. Four, it's natural. No devices no meds, it's...
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Re: Inflammation! Who knew???
I just realized that I did not give any info on what I'm doing to reduce inflammation. And thinking about it, I may need to write it up offline and post it when I've got it put together. I think I'll put it in timeline format, summarizing for space and reading efficiency. Follow up will have further details if anyone wants to read them. Fortunately the dietary interventions are tasty! The supplements are readily available at any local mega-mart. I don't sell any of them, so no profit to me.
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Re: Mad Matters: A Critical Reader in Canadian Mad Studies by LeFrançois, et al. (2013)
Yes, there are states/communities that claim to be trauma-informed but are not practicing it. They have documents up on their websites touting how trauma-informed they are and then when it comes down to a consumer’s experience they just retraumatize sufferers over and over again. There are no words for this great disappointment. And then people wonder why people with mental health challenges don’t seek treatment. The challenge with the trauma-informed movement is to change people’s hearts, a...
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Re: QUEST Movie: A Benefit for the Coalition on Homelessness
Please let me know when /how this film is available for online sharing. If there is a need for marketing assistance, I have a variety of resources available.
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Re: QUEST Movie: A Benefit for the Coalition on Homelessness
Jo Lyn, thank you. The producer does need help with marketing, but he is wanting to get the right person...someone who really gets what the film is about and understands the importance of it. Happy to connect with you. I'm a friend of his, and my daughter had the teacher in the film who saved his life. Rona
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Re: Why We Shouldn’t Shield Children From Darkness (www.time.com) & Note
Cis: What a powerfully compelling article! Please thank your friend Kathy for sharing with you. So grateful to hear author MATT DE LA PEÑA 's courage to be vulnerable, we need more authors with his passion and open heart. Yes! how healing to have our precious children learn about the complexities of life from the healing comfort of our love, sitting on our laps reading emotionally complex books, and holding them through the questions of "why". My hope is every library, school, bookstore, and...
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Re: NEW BOOK REVIEW: Lost Connections: The Real Causes of Depression and the Unexpeced Solutions, by Johann Hari
Oh my gosh! Yesterday I had to drive from SD to LA and back and ordered the audible version for the drive. I was riveted! I'm usually aggravated by the horrible Los Angeles traffic, but this time I was quite fine because I was able to get through 2/3 of the book in one day. I loved that Hari had an entire chapter on ACEs. I found his premise--that we need human connection and that anything that severs that (ACEs, the trappings of modern society, etc.) has dire consequences--airtight.
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Re: Supernormal: The Untold Story of Adversity and Resilience by Meg Jay
I finished reading 'Supernormal' and would highly recommend it! I really like how Ms. Jay likens us ACE survivors to 'Supernormals' and recons back to comic Superheroes. (And for an interesting aside, see this article that talks specifically about the need for superheroes to practice self care and how DC comics is addressing that for their superheroes !) Ms. Jay dedicates a chapter to each ACE, telling a story (as composites of the clients she has seen over the years) of the ACE and...
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Re: My Tears in His Bottle: prayers from the heart of a special needs’ mom
Chris: Thank you for sharing this. The title immediately got my attention. As an parent with high ACEs, I have been constantly raised up by adoptive parents who have learned and shared what they have learned about love, attachment, trauma and parenting. It has not only benefited my parenting but my own healing. Because, unlike many of us with high ACEs in childhood, who have a whole family and maybe generations and generations with high ACEs, that's not always the case with adoptive families...
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Review: Cracked Up illustrates the dynamics of post-traumatic stress disorder with pure artistry. It is a powerful voice for healing.
One of the most moving films I have seen in, well….years Cracked Up currently on Netflix, is a stunning and running commentary on what goes on in homes that we never find out about. Cracked Up tells the story of Darrell Hammond, one of Saturday Night Live’s favorite stars and the world within him that remained hidden under brilliance, talent and hurt. This courageous film illustrates, in a way that few films have so well achieved, the dynamics of post-traumatic stress disorder or how pain...
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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Sign Netflix Deal and Promise 'Inspirational Family Programming' (people.com)
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are official adding producers to their résumés. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have signed a multiyear deal with Netflix, The New York Times reported Wednesday. Their unnamed production company is set to make documentaries, docu-series, feature films, scripted shows and children’s programming exclusively for the streaming giant. "Our lives, both independent of each other, and as a couple have allowed us to understand the power of the human spirit: of courage,...
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"How to talk policy and influence people": a special series of Law and Justice with Cissy White
In this extended "How to talk policy and influence people" interview with Christine "Cissy" White, a writer (see healwritenow.com), mom, trauma survivor (including child sexual abuse) and staff member of Aces Connection, we discuss the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) science and the importance of attachment and a felt sense of safety for health and human flourishing. We explore some criticisms of the ACEs framework, the benefits and risks of ACEs screening and problems with the concept...
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Sarah Peyton discusses her book & leads a guided meditation / Tuesday, Nov. 10th, 2020
I am thrilled to announce that we have a special A Better Normal session which will be part conversation and part meditation practice for those who wish to participate. Our special guest is Sarah Peyton who is the author of Your Resonant Self: Guided Meditations and Exercise to Engage Your Brain’s Capacity for Healing. This event will be held on Tuesday, November 10th, at 12p.m. PST and 3p.m. EST. Registration link:...
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Grounded Learning: Education's Recovery PLan
If you would have asked me in 2008, when I realized we were misdiagnosing trauma as learning disabilities, if I would have been writing this book, I wouldn't have been able to conceive it. Grounded Learning captures the observation, research, and insights gained over the last 12 years on this justice journey. It's a book about stories, stories interrupted. " Trauma unaddressed impacts student learning, multiplied across millions effects a system, unattended into adulthood influences cities...
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The Adverse Childhood Experiences Recovery Workbook (Dr. Glenn Schiraldi)
A new guide for healing the hidden wounds from ACEs The Adverse Childhood Experiences Recovery Workbook Glenn R. Schiraldi, Ph.D. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, Inc., 2021, 232 pages Practical, powerful skills for healing the hidden wounds of childhood trauma “ Dr. Glenn Schiraldi is one of the world’s most trusted experts on stress and resilience. His Adverse Childhood Experiences Recovery Wor kbook is the most complete, accessible, and evidence-based healing resource available.
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Paperback Release of The Angel and the Assassin: The Tiny Brain Cell that Changed the Course of Medicine
When I sat down in my attic to write THE ANGEL AND THE ASSASSIN: The Tiny Brain Cell that Changed the Course of Medicine , I never imagined that it would be so needed in our world! 2020 has been chock-full of adversity, uncertainty and distress on so many levels: the worst pandemic in a hundred years, millions facing economic uncertainty, global climate change, and mounting political discord. The past decade has been a golden era in brain research, one in which scientists have offered...
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Re: List of Books, Therapies & Resources for Healing Chronic Illness and Other Effects of Trauma (Free PDF)
Hi Lisa, You're so welcome - glad it feels good to share. I think we need all the helpful resources we can find for our healing journeys. Veronique
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Protect your Child from Psychological Abuse in no Time
What is psychological abuse? Psychological violence is a form of influence of one person on another, in which the harm done is measured not in "physical units", but in psychological ones. The most common forms of psychological abuse include humiliation, insults, threats, intimidation, and they are not necessarily verbal. Violence is not always aggressive, even with a smile on your face you can humiliate a person. What can the psychological abuse of a child lead to? The consequences of...
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Early Reader Chapter Book To Teach Kids Resilience: Milo and the Wisdom of the Sea
Greetings everyone, I'm wondering if you might be able to help me. I'm the author and creator of an early chapter book series. The first book, "Milo and the Wisdom of the Sea" has been published and on the market, while the other four books are in varying stages of production. I'm curious if you would have ideas for greater distribution: radio shows, email distribution lists, publishers etc. I have a social media presence including Twitter , a blog , YouTube channel etc. But, the work and...
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Healing the Hidden Wounds from Childhood: The Promise of Healing, Part II (Glenn R. Schiraldi, Ph.D., Lt. Col., USAR, Ret.)
So many people are struggling with unhealed, hidden wounds from toxic childhood stress. For some the pain is obvious. Others might look outwardly strong, capable, and in control. However, unhealed inner wounds cause needless suffering and can lead to a dizzying array of psychological, medical, and functional problems. This three-part blog discusses the road to recovery. Part I explained “The Principles of Healing.” This part explains why traditional treatments are not usually the best...
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International Children's Book Day
International Children's Book Day occurs on April 2nd - this article highlights two books written by community partners in Plymouth County. Whether it’s a teacher, staff member, or character in a book, children need to feel connected to something to help them cope with the various stressors that they have going on in their lives. “Children can often feel alone and isolated and when they can relate to characters in a book, it helps them feel less alone,” Sarah Cloud, Director of Social Work...
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Tori Cronin
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