Arianne Struik

Arianne Struik My name is Arianne Struik and I’m a clinical psychologist/ family therapist and EMDR consultant.

The Institute for Chronically Traumatized Children (ICTC), founded by Arianne Struik, provides training, supervision, consultation, and research on the treatment of chronically traumatized children and their families. After working in child and adolescent psychiatry for 20 years in the Netherlands, where I developed the award-winning Sleeping Dogs method to motivate children that are unable or unw

illing to engage in trauma treatment, I became director of the Institute for Chronically Traumatized Children (ICTC). We started in Perth, WA, and moved to Agnes Water QLD Australia in 2019.

23/04/2026

🎥 Missed the live training? It’s not too late.⁠
⁠
My recorded workshop Treating Chronically Traumatized Children with the Sleeping Dogs Method is now available to watch anytime.⁠
⁠
✅ Learn how to recognize trauma barriers⁠
✅ Work with families—even when parents are abusive or traumatised⁠
✅ Make a safe plan to begin trauma treatment⁠
⁠
This is a practical, step-by-step workshop for professionals working with complex trauma in children.⁠
⁠
📍 Watch now: https://www.ariannestruik.com/calendar-2/treating-chronically-traumatized-children-with-the-sleeping-dogs-method/

The book behind the method!Why do some children avoid therapy—even when we know they need it?Because trauma teaches them...
21/04/2026

The book behind the method!

Why do some children avoid therapy—even when we know they need it?

Because trauma teaches them to stay quiet.
To protect themselves.
To shut down instead of speak up.

📗 Treating Chronically Traumatized Children introduces the Sleeping Dogs Method—a structured way to help children feel safe enough to start healing.

🎯 Perfect for:
– Therapists
– Foster carers
– Social workers
– Youth teams

🛒 Available in English, Dutch, and Danish:
https://www.amazon.com.au/Treating-Chronically-Traumatized-Children-Sleeping/dp/0367076152

Feeling a bit rusty with EMDR?Working with children with chronic trauma can be hard—especially when you’re unsure how to...
16/04/2026

Feeling a bit rusty with EMDR?

Working with children with chronic trauma can be hard—especially when you’re unsure how to structure your sessions.

My recorded webinar series breaks EMDR down into clear steps for:
– Preparing dissociative children for EMDR
- Using EMDR with dissociative children
– Preverbal trauma
– Suicidality & self-harm
– Selecting targets

Learn in your own time and build your confidence again.

➡️ More info: https://www.ariannestruik.com/calendar-2/rw-webinarpackage-emdr-with-chronic-trauma-in-children/

“Not all trauma is caused by what happened. Some comes from what didn’t happen.”Being unseen.Unheard.Uncared for.💔 Emoti...
14/04/2026

“Not all trauma is caused by what happened. Some comes from what didn’t happen.”

Being unseen.
Unheard.
Uncared for.

💔 Emotional neglect may be invisible, but its scars are real. Children need connection, not perfection.

Let’s notice the quiet wounds, too.

National research like the ACMS isn’t just reporting statistics — it’s revealing patterns that must inform practice and ...
08/04/2026

National research like the ACMS isn’t just reporting statistics — it’s revealing patterns that must inform practice and policy:⁠
⁠
📌 Maltreatment is widespread and often multi‑type⁠
📌 Abuse and neglect are strongly tied to later mental health conditions⁠
📌 Interventions must be trauma‑informed and early⁠
📌 Out‑of‑home care reflects higher intensity maltreatment histories — not just care status itself ⁠
⁠
These findings underscore the importance of holistic treatment, prevention, and trauma‑responsive systems.⁠
⁠

Some children seem unwilling to talk about their trauma.But they’re not avoiding healing—they’re avoiding overwhelm.The ...
06/04/2026

Some children seem unwilling to talk about their trauma.
But they’re not avoiding healing—they’re avoiding overwhelm.

The Sleeping Dogs Method helps therapists:
🔹 Identify trauma therapy barriers
🔹 Collaborate with families (even if they’re part of the trauma)
🔹 Stabilize and motivate children safely

Learn how to:
✔️ Build treatment plans that work
✔️ Prevent therapy dropout
✔️ Support even the most complex families

🎥 Recorded workshop now available
🔗 www.ariannestruik.com/calendar-2

Start helping children who were "too complex" for trauma treatment.

What the audit found: “Too complex to treat”⁠⁠Professionals lack trauma training.⁠⁠Behaviour mistaken for manipulation.⁠...
02/04/2026

What the audit found: “Too complex to treat”⁠
⁠
Professionals lack trauma training.⁠
⁠
Behaviour mistaken for manipulation.⁠
⁠
Early intervention missed.⁠
⁠
The conclusion?⁠
⁠
“Timely and appropriate trauma treatment is essential to prevent long-term negative mental health outcomes.”⁠
⁠
That’s why we need approaches like Sleeping Dogs: to remove the barriers and make treatment accessible—even for the most complex cases.⁠
⁠
Learn more about the method here: https://www.ariannestruik.com/sleeping-dog-method/
⁠

Some children refuse to talk.Some dissociate.Some act out.Some shut down.That doesn’t mean they’re not ready for therapy...
30/03/2026

Some children refuse to talk.
Some dissociate.
Some act out.
Some shut down.

That doesn’t mean they’re not ready for therapy.
It means they need a different starting point.

The Sleeping Dogs Method helps professionals understand WHY children aren’t engaging—and shows how to gently remove those barriers.

Learn more about the method and get material here: https://www.ariannestruik.com/sleeping-dog-method/

No child is “too complex.”
No trauma is “too old.”
Every child deserves a chance to heal. 💙

Alarming findings from a recent Australian audit... 🚨 Children in care aren't getting the trauma therapy they need. Why?...
26/03/2026

Alarming findings from a recent Australian audit... 🚨

Children in care aren't getting the trauma therapy they need. Why?

❌ Too complex
❌ Misunderstood trauma
❌ Wrong diagnoses
❌ Wrong treatment
❌ Focus on behaviour, not cause

Instead of asking "What’s wrong with this child?" We need to ask: "What happened to them?"

The Sleeping Dogs Method helps professionals identify and address trauma - especially when children seem “resistant,” “too complex,” or “not ready.”

💬 Every child deserves trauma treatment. No child is too difficult.
👉 Learn more: www.ariannestruik.com

Working with trauma? Don’t forget to care for yourself too💙This work is heavy. You hold others’ pain. You give and give....
16/03/2026

Working with trauma? Don’t forget to care for yourself too💙

This work is heavy. You hold others’ pain. You give and give.

You need rest.
You deserve support.
Your nervous system matters too.

My self-care this month:
✅ Surfing
✅ Reading
✅ Quiet mornings
✅ Saying no

What’s one thing you do to protect your energy? Share with me 👇

Address

PO Box 407, Agnes Water
Brisbane, QLD
4677

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