C&A'S BLOG
Biologically-based Multigenerational Trauma
Previous blog posts in this series have looked at ways that trauma can spread across groups and cultures and ways that trauma can be passed down through generations. Today we are going to take a look at biologically-based ways that trauma can be transmitted from parent to child. In Ultero Exposure When a person goes through a high stress situation there are chemical reactions that happen in the body. Of particular importance, the stress hormone cortisol is released to mobilize the resources needed to engage the … Continued
Trauma crosses generations through learned behaviors
Multigenerational trauma is trauma that is passed down from one generation to the next. Often the people affected by multigenerational trauma aren’t even aware of it. They might describe their lives as difficult, but because it doesn’t fit the typical profile of trauma, they wouldn’t use the word trauma to describe what they’ve experienced. One way that trauma can be transmitted across generations is through learned behaviors. Human beings are amazing for our ability to learn from experience and from the example of others. For most people parents … Continued
How does one traumatic event affect a family for generations?
Trauma has occurred throughout human history. Awful things have happened to people that overwhelm the ability to cope and have effects that last for a long time. Most of the time when we talk about trauma the focus is on individuals – how individual persons experience and are affected by traumatic events. However, recent research has shed light on the ways that trauma’s impact can be much broader than that. Whole families, communities, and groups of people in society can be affected by the same traumatic event. The … Continued
A history of self-care
With so many stressful events happening in close succession over the past few years we have all heard reminders to make time for self-care. Some of these come in a paternalistic tone, like a concerned parent reminding a child to brush her teeth. Others come across more like a supportive friend who’s been there for you with a pint of ice cream after a breakup. In modern life most of us take the concept of self-care for granted, as something we all know we should do even when … Continued
Is allowing your child to drink a small amount of alcohol on New Year’s Eve harmless or irresponsible parenting?
As thoughts shift toward a fresh start in a new year, there is an energy in the air and hope in our hearts for new beginnings. Out with the old, in with the new! Let’s celebrate! Friends and families gather again to welcome in the New Year in a variety of ways. The question of whether to allow your child a sip of the bubbly might be yours to answer this season. For some, the answer is easy, others wrestle with it. Rather than take a side one … Continued
Suicide in Children
When we talk about suicide usually the discussion is about teens and young adults. In fact, many people believe that younger children aren’t capable of intentionally ending their own lives because they assume that children don’t really understand what it means to be dead. Unfortunately, this type of thinking is not only incorrect, but also dangerous. The hard truth Pre-adolescent children can and do die by suicide. According to data from the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, suicide is the eighth leading cause of death for … Continued
Is your adolescent behaving sexually appropriate?
In a perfect world, parents would have started the difficult conversations regarding appropriate and inappropriate sexual behavior with their child before reaching double digits. As youth approach the middle school years, hormonal changes combined with technology can lead to not only curiosity but behavior that can lead to a youth being in trouble with the law. In part one of this two-part blog series, C&A’s Sexually Inappropriate Behavioral Remediation (SIBR) team of Dr. Emma Farkas and Dr. Seandra Walker discussed what is sexually appropriate behavior for children ages … Continued
What is sexually appropriate behavior for kids ages 5 to 9?
A parent has many decisions to make when caring for their children. Oftentimes, decisions start with having conversations with your child. Many of those talks center around the table sharing each other’s day while eating dinner. Dinnertime conversation can lead to the start of uncomfortable topics. The most uncomfortable conversation for most parents is talking about sex. One way to address and discuss sex and healthy sexuality is to start at an early age so over time the conversations become less painful and embarrassing for both parties. Child … Continued
C&A’s Collegiate Fairs provide self-care tips to college students
In many ways, this past year has tested the patience of even the most positive person. On a monthly basis, one obstacle after another seems to have been placed in front of every individual. All of these challenges has led each of us to a unique shared experience. Young adults and adolescents have had a major disruption to the way they are used to socializing, learning, communicating, quarantining, masking up and not being able to attend events in person. This has led to an increase in stress and … Continued
Facts About FASD
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs) is one of the most common preventable neuro-developmental disorders. FASDs are a collection of diagnoses with a range of different effects that occur in individuals who were exposed to alcohol through the umbilical cord during their mother’s pregnancy. The effects on an individual with an FASD diagnose differ from person to person and range from physical, mental, behavioral and/or learning challenges. Signs and Symptoms Like any other disorder, signs and symptoms differ from person-to-person. Though an individual may not experience all these signs … Continued