Arianne Struik

03/03/2026

Childhood trauma doesn’t just affect emotions.
It reshapes the brain:

🧠 Hippocampus → smaller (memory problems)
🧠 Amygdala → overactive (always on alert)
🧠 Prefrontal cortex → underdeveloped (struggles with impulse control)

But here’s the hope:
🧠 Neuroplasticity = the brain can heal.
With the right support, children can thrive again.

26/02/2026

Have you read Treating Chronically Traumatized Children?

It’s available in:
🇬🇧 English
🇩🇰 Danish
🇳🇱 Dutch

And it might just change how you approach complex child trauma.

📘 Buy it here:
www.ariannestruik.com/materialer

24/02/2026

It’s not defiance—it’s self-protection. 💙⁠
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Some children can’t talk about their trauma because they don’t feel safe yet.⁠
The Sleeping Dogs Method helps professionals gently uncover what’s in the way and build a clear path forward.⁠
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🧠 Identify barriers⁠
🏠 Engage the child’s environment⁠
🐾 Create safety—step by step⁠
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Every child can heal when we meet them where they are.⁠
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Learn more: www.ariannestruik.com/calendar-2/treating-chronically-traumatized-children-with-the-sleeping-dogs-method
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17/02/2026

Do you work with children who avoid talking about their trauma, shut down, or become aggressive when the topic comes up?

They're not resistant.
They're protecting themselves.

The Sleeping Dogs Method helps you uncover why a child isn't engaging—and what you can do to help them safely begin treatment.

Developed by Arianne Struik, this recorded workshop walks you through:
✔️ Understanding barriers to trauma therapy
✔️ Collaborating with families—even when parents are part of the problem
✔️ Stabilizing, motivating, and preparing children
✔️ Avoiding drop-out and failed treatments

🎓 Includes worksheets, real cases, and clear steps.
📍 Watch anytime. Learn at your own pace.
🔗 Sign up: https://www.ariannestruik.com/calendar-2/treating-chronically-traumatized-children-with-the-sleeping-dogs-method/

16/02/2026

Trauma isn’t just emotional. It rewires the brain.

✅ Hippocampus shrinks → memory issues
✅ Amygdala overactive → emotional reactivity
✅ Prefrontal cortex underdeveloped → poor regulation

The good news? Neuroplasticity. The brain can heal.
Early intervention and trauma-informed therapy can make all the difference.

Support the healing brain with:

– Safe relationships
– EMDR & attachment-based therapy
– Time, play, and compassion

12/02/2026

I'm honoured to have written two chapters for the Oxford Handbook of EMDR with Children and Adolescents — one on the Sleeping Dogs Method and one on EMDR with dissociative disorders, co-authored with Kirsten Hauber.⁠
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We based our work on the latest research and clinical insights, and we’re excited to contribute to this important field.⁠
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🧠 It’s coming very soon both online and in hardcopy!⁠
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11/02/2026

Some children seem “fine.” But trauma doesn’t always show up as tantrums or nightmares. Sometimes it hides in perfectionism, withdrawal, or silence.

📌 Even kids who look like they’re coping may carry deep emotional wounds.

🧠 Research shows that chronic stress in early life impacts the brain and body increasing the risk of mental and physical health problems.

We need to look beyond behavior and listen to what’s not being said. Every child deserves to be seen, heard, and supported.

05/02/2026

Just came back from my tour in Europe. It has been great! A lot of trainings, catching up with friends and enjoying the snow. I’ll be back in May/ June

04/02/2026

Working with children who are stuck in survival mode?⁠
⁠
My book Treating Chronically Traumatized Children' is a must-read for therapists, case workers, and caregivers working with children who:⁠
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🔹 Don’t want to talk about the trauma⁠
🔹 Seem “unmotivated” or “resistant”⁠
🔹 Dissociate, act out, or shut down in therapy⁠
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This book introduces the Sleeping Dogs Method, a structured, step-by-step approach to safely engage these children in trauma treatment.⁠
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🗣️ Available in:⁠
🇬🇧 English⁠
🇩🇰 Danish⁠
🇳🇱 Dutch⁠
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📖 Learn how to assess barriers, stabilize families, and build readiness for EMDR or TF-CBT without rushing or retraumatizing.⁠
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Buy now: https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B07RZM6XPS/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=247&creative=1211&creativeASIN=B07RZM6XPS&linkCode=as2&tag=ariannnestrui-22&linkId=633be42cd150c79da8f991312930427f
⁠

03/02/2026

When children are unwilling to start trauma therapy, we often label them as “resistant.” But in the Sleeping Dogs Method, we look deeper: Often, it’s the parents who hold the key.

Parents can motivate, encourage, and lower their child’s emotional barrier, even when the parents themselves have trauma, or were part of the child’s traumatic experience.

Real healing begins when families are part of the process.

Want proof? A recent Swedish study shows the same: Parents play a critical role in helping children join support groups and engage in treatment.

Read the study: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13691457.2024.2405846

02/02/2026

So true!

If you've ever been told to "send them to calm down" and it didn't sit right with you - this is why.
Children don't learn regulation through isolation. They learn it through connection. Through an adult who stays close, steady, and calm enough for them to borrow that calm until their own nervous system can catch up. This isn't about spoiling or rescuing. It's about building the brain skills that make self-regulation possible.

Credit - The Contented Child, Child Wellbeing Consultancy

30/01/2026

What makes the Sleeping Dogs Method so powerful?

Parents.

When trauma treatment stalls, it’s often because the child isn’t ready. But we don’t give up.

Instead, we involve the people who matter most:
👩‍👦 Their parents, even if they’re struggling, even if they’ve been part of the problem.

Why? Because children are wired for connection. If we work with the parent, we can help the child feel safe enough to heal.

This approach is backed by research and clinical experience, just like this Swedish study on engaging children in support groups: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13691457.2024.2405846