Massage & Bodywork

September/October 2013

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3 million There are more than reports of child abuse each year, and a new report is made every 10 seconds. Connecting with Young Clients Take a Moment. Relax yourself! the event; the child's age and ability to understand the situation; gender, personality, and functioning prior to the event; resulting changes in living situations; the existing support network; and previous traumatic experiences. Some children are born with different biological tendencies in how they process or respond to stressful events, and different children have different levels of resilience—some are more adaptable than others. Children who are at greater risk from the effects of trauma include those who have physical exposure to, or witness, a traumatic event; are near the location of a disaster or incident; have preexisting mentalhealth issues; have preexisting family-life stressors such as divorce or job loss; had previous traumatic experiences; have limited support networks; or whose caregivers have emotional challenges of their own. Some events that may cause trauma for children include hospitalization or medical issues; physical, sexual, or verbal abuse; natural disasters; being a refugee of war or terrorism; community or school M eet the Child where he is at, in whatever position he is comfortable receiving massage. A sk Permission. Use a structured permission process. Practice it. U se Tactile Items. Initiate contact and provide a developmentally appropriate approach, such as puppets, textured balls, or fidget toys. St art with Hands and Feet. It may be more comfortable to the child. U se Slow Transitions. Always be consistent, predictable, and repetitive. C areful Interaction. Interact based on the emotional age of the child. Be Calming. Use soothing, nonverbal interactions. „ When Tina gives me a massage, I am happy and don't feel scared. David, age 8 www.abmp.com. See what benefits await you. 61

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