Sigma Counseling Services

May. 20, 2011 | Author: Cenpatico

NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas – Therapists from across the state gathered in New Braunfels this week to learn new ways of treating foster children who have suffered traumatic events, a pair of foster-care professionals said.

The seminar was Monday and Tuesday at McKenna Events Center, where about 60 clinicians – from Austin, San Antonio, EI Paso and elsewhere– were reminded that medications can’t be thrown at every problem. Where once abused, neglected or traumatized children in the foster-care system were diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and medicated, therapists are finding other treatments work better, said D.J. Tessier, vice president of Comal County Child Welfare Board and president of Texas Child Welfare Board.

"What we try to do is get the best specialist in that area in to inform us of the best approaches on how to treat these children," Tessier said. "The training helps us recognize how to evaluate these children and after evaluation to learn how to treat them."

Dr. Susana Rivera’s PowerPoint presentation highlighted trauma-based cognitive behavioral therapy (TB-CBT), said Tracy Eilers, director of foster care at Cenpatico in New Braunfels. She said Rivera taught other professionals to understand what abused foster children have been through and the impact that abuse and neglect has on them.

TB-CBT helps teach the doctors who work with foster children and the foster parents who are raising traumatized youth, Eilers said.

"The focus is to educate all parts of the system on what these kids have been through," she said. "It’s teaching them how to respectfully work with children."

Once the diagnoses are made correctly, then the healing can begin, Eilers said. She said sometimes traumatized foster children have difficulty discussing the traumatic events. Sometimes, they are reluctant to talk to therapists or other adults, and TB-CBT training helps clinicians find other tools to move past such obstacles.

"This kind of draws the roadmap that services as a guide so certain pieces aren’t missed," Eilers said. "And if they run into a roadblock its how to get around them. The core part is to help the children heal."

And what’s really important is helping emotionally and physically wounded children heal, said Tessier, who reminds everyone that doing so is a daily job.

"Remember that child abuse happens year round," Tessier said. "Although April is Child Abuse Awareness Month, we would like to make sure people don’t forget our children."

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