Medical Trauma in Play Therapy

Medical trauma can be prevalent in many children who have undergone medical procedures or experienced chronic and acute conditions. This shows up in the playroom in a variety of ways, including those that can lead the therapist to jump to conclusions. Listen in to explore how to not only help children who have experienced this type of trauma but how to minimize future trauma as well.

1:07 Lisa introduces the Lessons from the Playroom Podcast Series

3:30 What is the definition of Pediatric Medical Trauma?

5:00 How does medical trauma occur?

5:44 80% of children undergoing medical procedures experience traumatic stress

6:39 The Four Threats of the Brain

7:36 20-30% of parents and 15% of children experience chronic stress from medical procedures

9:00 Signs of a hyper-arousal or a hypo-arousal response to medical trauma

10:15 How does PTSD look?

11:30 Why is making the unknown known so important?

14:44 Children may naturally want to play their traumas out

16:30 What might this play look like?

17:33 Lisa shares a story from the playroom

19:05 Medical trauma can show up in the playroom looking like sexual abuse or sensory trauma

24:05 Medical trauma can look many different ways

25:00 Why is it so important to avoid assumption?