Suppression of feelings vs. moving on in healthy way

Peter A. Levine, PhD Author of Trauma Proofing Your Kids, shares advice for parents on how to tell if their child is suppressing their feelings or has moved on in a healthy way after a traumatic event
Child Trauma Advice | Suppressing Feelings Or Moving On
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Suppression of feelings vs. moving on in healthy way

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Peter Levine: A question that parents often ask is how do I know if my child has moved through a particular trauma or grief, or whether they’re denying it. And if the child still appears to be in shock. Appears not to be able to make contact, to be able to play spontaneously and freely. These are all indications that they haven’t processed the trauma. So I think the most important thing that parents can look for is if the child is returning back into their normal activities with the feeling of engagement and happiness. And if they seem to be going through things that are repetitive or mechanical way, that could be an indication that they haven’t fully processed the trauma.

Peter A. Levine, PhD Author of Trauma Proofing Your Kids, shares advice for parents on how to tell if their child is suppressing their feelings or has moved on in a healthy way after a traumatic event

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Peter A. Levine, PhD

Author of Trauma Proofing Your Kids & Developer of Somatic Experiencing

Peter A. Levine, PhD, holds doctorates in both medical biophysics and psychology. He is the developer of Somatic Experiencing, a body-awareness approach to healing trauma, and founder of the Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute, which conducts trainings in this work throughout the world. Dr. Levine was a stress consultant for NASA on the development of the space shuttle project. Levine’s international best-seller, Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma, has been translated into 24 languages. Levine’s contribution was honored in 2010 when he received the Lifetime Achievement award  Recognizing Outstanding Professionals in the Field of Child/Adolescent Mental Health from the Reiss-Davis Child Study Center.

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Transcription: 
Peter Levine: A question that parents often ask is how do I know if my child has moved through a particular trauma or grief, or whether they’re denying it. And if the child still appears to be in shock. Appears not to be able to make contact, to be able to play spontaneously and freely. These are all indications that they haven’t processed the trauma. So I think the most important thing that parents can look for is if the child is returning back into their normal activities with the feeling of engagement and happiness. And if they seem to be going through things that are repetitive or mechanical way, that could be an indication that they haven’t fully processed the trauma.