For school psychologists, it’s critical to understand generational trauma and how it can impact the children and teens you serve. Here are resources to help.

<p>
 Curly hair, attached earlobes, dimples, freckles, a sense of humor…these are just a 
 few traits our ancestors may or may not have passed down to us. Our parents, grandparents, 
 great-grandparents and others who came before us can also hand down the <strong>impacts of trauma 
 they themselves experienced</strong> through a phenomenon called <strong>generational trauma</strong>.
</p>
<p> For school psychologists, <strong>it’s critical to understand generational 
  trauma and how it can impact the children and teens you serve.</strong> With that in mind, 
  we’ve provided some <strong>background on generational trauma, signs to watch for, tips to 
  help students, and an overview of resources</strong> from our favorite authorities on the topic. 
</p>
<p> We invite you to follow the links, take a deep dive and explore these 
  resources for a wealth of information that can help you <strong>cultivate the compassion, 
  patience, and tools kids experiencing generational trauma need.</strong> Also, take the 
  opportunity to consider whether trauma has been passed down to you from your own 
  ancestors and <strong>learn how you can help heal future generations in your family 
  and society.</strong> 
</p>

<h2>About Generational Trauma</h2>
<h3 style="margin: 15px 0 15px;">General trauma terminology</h3>
<p>Researchers use <strong>various terms</strong> to describe how traumatic events can permeate 
  generations. As you read, you may come across synonymous or overlapping terms, 
  including: 
</p>
<ul style="margin: 0px 20px">
    <li>  Cultural trauma </li>
    <li> Historical trauma </li>
    <li> Generational trauma </li>
    <li> Transgenerational trauma </li>
    <li> Multigenerational trauma </li>
    <li> Intergenerational trauma </li>
    <li> Secondary traumatization </li>
</ul>

<h3 style="margin: 15px 0 15px;">What types of events can cause generational trauma?</h3>
<p>Generational trauma can result from distressing events that befell our ancestors, including, but not limited to:</p>
<ul style="margin: 0px 20px">
    <li> Abuse </li>
    <li> Addiction </li>
    <li> Community violence </li>
    <li> Death </li>
    <li> Discrimination Disease </li>
    <li> Enslavement </li>
    <li> Health problems </li>
    <li> Famine </li>
    <li> Natural disaster </li>
    <li> Neglect </li>
    <li> Oppression </li>
    <li> Physical or sexual assault </li>
    <li> Racism </li>
    <li> Refugeeism </li>
    <li> Religious or spiritual abuse </li>
    <li> School violence </li>
    <li> Serious accidents </li>
    <li> Sexism </li>
    <li> War </li>
</ul>

<h3 style="margin: 15px 0 15px;">What are some signs of generational trauma?</h3>
<p>Signs of generational trauma among students may include (<a href="https://michaelgquirke.com/recognize-these-intergenerational-trauma-signs-symptoms/" target="_blank">Quirke</a>, 
<a href="https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-safety-and-crisis/mental-health-resources/trauma" target="_blank">NASP</a>): </p>

<ul style="margin: 0px 20px">
    <li> Anger and irritability </li>
    <li> Changes in self-care </li>
    <li> Cutting classes </li>
    <li> Depersonalization </li>
    <li> Decline in school performance </li>
    <li> Drug or alcohol abuse </li>
    <li> Difficulty concentrating </li>
    <li> Disciplinary issues </li>
    <li> Dropping out </li>
    <li> Emotional numbing </li>
    <li> Engaging in risky behaviors </li>
    <li> Fearfulness </li>
    <li> Hyper-vigilance </li>
    <li> Inability to connect with others </li>
    <li> Inability to regulate emotions and behaviors </li>
    <li> Isolation  </li>
    <li> Lack of energy </li>
    <li> Lack of trust of others </li>
    <li> Memory loss </li>
    <li> Nightmares </li>
    <li> Reenacting traumatic events </li>
    <li> Recurring thoughts of death, dying, and suicide </li>
    <li> Poor grades </li>
    <li> Sleep disturbance </li>
    <li> Substance abuse </li>
    <li> Unexplained physical complaints </li>
    <li> Unresolved and complicated grief </li>
    <li> Withdrawal </li>
</ul>

<h2>Generational Trauma – Tips for School Psychologists</h2>
<p>To help students with generational trauma, school psychologists can 
  (<a href="#">Dixon</a>):</p>
<ul style="margin: 0px 20px">
    <li> Watch for warning signs of generational trauma </li>
    <li> Allow students a safe space to speak about trauma </li>
    <li> Ensure children feel cared for  </li>
    <li> Model resilience </li>
    <li> Encourage students to ask parents how they coped </li>
    <li> Teach empathy and compassion </li>
    <li> Help students build a new narrative about how they will face the world </li>
</ul>

<h2 style="margin: 15px 0 15px;">Generational Trauma Resources for School Psychologists</h2>
<h3 style="margin: 15px 0 15px;"><a href="https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-safety-and-crisis/mental-health-resources/trauma" target="_blank">
National Association of School Psychologists – Trauma</a>
</h3>
<p>The National Association of School Psychologists has devoted an entire website section 
  to trauma. Here, you’ll find facts about trauma, lasting impacts, warning signs, 
  emotional reactions to watch for and hotline numbers. NASP articles also include how 
  to support students experiencing trauma, guidelines for administrators and crisis teams 
  on trauma prevention, childhood trauma coping mechanisms, managing strong emotional 
  reactions to trauma, and guidance on screening for trauma in schools.
</p>

<h3 style="margin: 15px 0 15px;"><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-flourishing-family/202107/breaking-the-chains-generational-trauma" target="_blank">
Psychology Today – Breaking the Chains of Generational Trauma</a>
</h3>
<p>
In this Psychology Today article, <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-flourishing-family/202107/breaking-the-chains-generational-trauma" target="_blank">Elizabeth Dixon</a>, 
LISW-CP, discusses the often “covert, 
undefined, and subtle” nature of transgenerational trauma and how it can even contribute 
to autoimmune disease and other chronic illnesses. She says when families are secretive 
about trauma, the effects can snowball. Dixon speaks to the importance 
of teaching resilience, opening dialogue among generations, and working through trauma. 
</p>

<h3 style="margin: 15px 0 15px;">Administration for Children & Families – What Is Historical Trauma?</h3>
<p>This resource from the <a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/trauma-toolkit/trauma-concept" target="_blank">U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration 
  for Children and Families</a> delves into historical trauma, “multigenerational trauma 
  experienced by a specific cultural, racial or ethnic group.” It cites examples of 
  historical trauma, including slavery, forced migration, the Holocaust and the 
  violent colonization of Native Americans. The article also provides resources 
  for further learning, including conversations about historical trauma from the 
  National Child Traumatic Stress Network, articles from the U.S. Indian Health 
  Service and more.
</p>
<p>As you help kids with generational trauma, be mindful of possibly unresolved 
  grief and remember that not everyone in a group has the same response to a traumatic 
  event and that individuals may be susceptible to re-traumatizing triggers (<a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/trauma-toolkit/trauma-concept" target="_blank">USDHH</a>). 
  Above all, know that as a school psychologist, you’re uniquely qualified to help 
  students with these issues, and you have the ability to play a vital role in helping 
  kids thrive in the school environment and beyond. 

</p>

<p>To discover where students need your specialized skills, 
  <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/education" target="_blank">browse our school psychologist jobs</a> 
  in exciting locations nationwide.
</p>
