Complex Trauma Resources

Complex Trauma Resources Complex Trauma Resources provides support and resources to those of traumatized children.

Complex Trauma Resources (CTR) was founded in 2012 by psychologist Dr. Chuck Geddes in order to aid caregivers, educators and clinicians in their work with traumatized children. Complex Trauma refers to the cumulative toll that experiences such as neglect, abuse, violence and/or attachment disruptions take on children and youth. Trauma, particularly in early childhood, affects the developing brain

and this can result in a range of social, emotional, and behavioral difficulties which are hard for anyone working with this child. CTR specializes in finding solutions for you as the caregiver, teacher, educational support teams, care teams and professionals to best support your traumatized child. In addition, The Complex Care and Intervention (CCI) Program, initially developed for the BC Ministry for Children and Family Development (MCFD) by Dr. Chuck Geddes, is a developmentally sensitive, trauma-focused intervention planning tool for child welfare. It is designed for children who have experienced significant trauma or maltreatment, and who exhibit substantial emotional, behavioral and interpersonal difficulties. CCI is an integration of approaches based on current understanding of attachment disruptions (including those caused by parental addictions, mental illness and loss), neglect, family violence and traumatic experiences, and how these experiences affect the neurological development, emotions, thinking, and behaviour of the children we work with. It is a systematic approach which engages in a collaborative partnership with professionals and caregivers for children who are in the care of MCFD or other out-of-home care. Foster parents, adoptive parents, educators and support teams are all affected by children who are experiencing complex trauma. Our goal is to provide you with the resources and support you need to feel successful in your care for this child. Training opportunities, resources, blogs, tips and practical guidance is available at: https://www.complextrauma.ca/

📚 Sept. 22: Pro-d day! 🍎 What workshop are you taking this Friday? Consider spending the day learning about how stress a...
09/18/2023

📚 Sept. 22: Pro-d day! 🍎 What workshop are you taking this Friday? Consider spending the day learning about how stress and trauma can impact the brain and body.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Certificate Provided (5 hours) – Link in bio

For children who have endured trauma, it's essential to understand that the impact isn't just a distant memory of a past...
09/15/2023

For children who have endured trauma, it's essential to understand that the impact isn't just a distant memory of a past event. Instead, these children internalize the trauma, causing it to become something that they experience ongoingly. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​This ongoing trauma disrupts their emotional equilibrium and hinders their capacity to form meaningful connections. Consequently, they start to cultivate negative, frequently shame-driven perceptions of themselves and the world.

Physiologically, this trauma leads to a disconnection from their emotions and the present moment. Profound changes that significantly affect their ability to feel secure, trust others, engage in intimate relationships, maintain self-esteem, and assert themselves.

📚 Sept. 22: Pro-d day! 🍎 Teachers/staff in Coquitlam, Delta, Langley, North Van, Richmond, or Vancouver, your first seme...
09/12/2023

📚 Sept. 22: Pro-d day! 🍎 Teachers/staff in Coquitlam, Delta, Langley, North Van, Richmond, or Vancouver, your first semester workshop awaits. Explore stress & trauma's impact on the brain/body. Link in bio.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

As adults, we often underestimate how much we all need a champion. But if you take a moment to reflect on your upbringin...
09/07/2023

As adults, we often underestimate how much we all need a champion. But if you take a moment to reflect on your upbringing, I'm sure you would think fondly of those who believed in your ability to become the best version of yourself. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​So we need to be these people for our children and youth. Especially for those who have experienced trauma and therefore, have a difficult time believing that they are good.

We are our children’s mirrors, and we reframe their big behaviours to things such as:​​​​​​​​​- “You haven’t had time to...
09/05/2023

We are our children’s mirrors, and we reframe their big behaviours to things such as:​​​​​​​​​- “You haven’t had time to learn this yet.” ​​​​​​​​​- “You're on a learning journey, and this is a lesson that takes time."
- “You're in the process of building your skills to handle situations like this."

Such reframes remind us that our children don't have years of scaffolding on how to cope with stress, disappointment, or anger.

For more information and a script to play around with, watch our reel “How to describe kids who:
manipulate
lie
cheat
dominate, etc.”



We hear first-hand from educators how challenging it is to support children with trauma backgrounds, while still caring ...
08/21/2023

We hear first-hand from educators how challenging it is to support children with trauma backgrounds, while still caring for all the kids in their classroom.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​This fall we are planning to host pro-d workshops to equip educators and school staff with practical strategies to help children heal in the classroom. Stay tuned for more info coming soon.

When we step onto the same side as our kids seeking to understand their perspective, we build trust, connection, and emp...
08/18/2023

When we step onto the same side as our kids seeking to understand their perspective, we build trust, connection, and empathy — even when saying no or setting limits. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​While it doesn't guarantee an absence of meltdowns, it increases the likelihood of your child feeling seen, heard, and understood.

Empathizing with their experiences helps them realize that you truly understand them, and over time, it becomes easier for them to accept your no as a reflection of their best interests.

Parenting has no shortcuts, but this tool is essential for fostering connection in times of heightened disconnection.

For more information and a script to play around with, watch our reel, “Maintaining connection when you have to say "No"


If you have never had anyone teach you what sadness or anger looks or feels like, it just feels like chaos.​​​​​​​​​​​​​...
08/12/2023

If you have never had anyone teach you what sadness or anger looks or feels like, it just feels like chaos.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​An incredibly effective way to teach emotional awareness is by modelling them when we experience an emotion (e.g. sadness, frustration, disappointment) and talking out loud about our process so our kids can make sense of what we are doing.

By providing them with a roadmap to follow and experiment with, we empower our kids to explore their own emotional landscape. Remember, they'll need to see the roadmap many times before they can effectively navigate it themselves.

For more information and a script to play around with, watch this week's reel, “How to help kids learn what they think or feel inside.”

Being part of any family—especially as a foster or adoptive child—can bring up fears and worries about differences. ​​​​...
07/30/2023

Being part of any family—especially as a foster or adoptive child—can bring up fears and worries about differences. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Foster and adoptive children may feel scared or uncertain about where they fit in.

As parents, it's our role to provide a sense of security and acceptance for who our children are.

When we talk openly and respectfully and sometimes, playfully about all the ways (including ourselves) we are the same and different, we help our children feel seen, heard, and valued.

For more information and a script to play with, watch this week's reel, “How to talk about differences and build connection.”




Power struggles are exhausting—especially when they seem to happen on repeat.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​We MUST look underneath p...
07/14/2023

Power struggles are exhausting—especially when they seem to happen on repeat.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​We MUST look underneath power struggles and be curious about why they happen in order to effectively reduce them.

Check out this week’s reel, “What lies beneath power struggles”, to see a script you can use to help your child begin developing an awareness about why power struggles seem to arise so often.

If we model anger as yelling and shouting, our children are much more likely to reflect back anger to us as yelling and ...
07/09/2023

If we model anger as yelling and shouting, our children are much more likely to reflect back anger to us as yelling and shouting.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​If we model anger with deep breaths, taking space, setting boundaries, and repairing, they will *overtime* reflect back to us similar healthy coping mechanisms.

It takes time but the long-term payoff is an important life skill. This is a long-term game.

Watch this week’s reel titled, “Strategy to try: how to help your kid calm down” for a script to experiment with.

We love supporting educators and school staff with trauma-informed tools and resources that can help all children in the...
06/30/2023

We love supporting educators and school staff with trauma-informed tools and resources that can help all children in their classrooms.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Stay tuned for more in-person workshops coming soon!

With consistent routines and clear expectations, we can help our children find stability amidst the chaos, allowing them...
06/30/2023

With consistent routines and clear expectations, we can help our children find stability amidst the chaos, allowing them to develop a profound sense of security and trust. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Watch this week’s reel titled, “Trauma-focused healing with structure—try this strategy” for a practical suggestion to try.

Children who have endured trauma often face inner chaos, where they struggle to understand their own thoughts, feelings,...
06/23/2023

Children who have endured trauma often face inner chaos, where they struggle to understand their own thoughts, feelings, and desires. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​As a result, they may act impulsively, displaying challenging behaviors that even confuse them.

When we as adults, “muse out loud” and provide words to our kid’s experiences we can help them navigate through this inner chaos and gain a deeper understanding of their thoughts and emotions.

Tokens, rewards, punishments, consequences, and incentives are common behavioural interventions that often backfire on c...
06/20/2023

Tokens, rewards, punishments, consequences, and incentives are common behavioural interventions that often backfire on children who have endured complex trauma.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Join our FREE webinar on Friday, June 23 at 1 p.m. to learn practical strategies to help you address your child's challenging behaviours without resorting to these behavioural interventions.

Clear and direct requests or questions can be a great tool to reduce your child's stress and increase their sense of saf...
06/09/2023

Clear and direct requests or questions can be a great tool to reduce your child's stress and increase their sense of safety. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​It’s such a small tweak but it can be very powerful for our kids who struggle with anxiety.

By removing ambiguity, we can alleviate some of the unknowns that contribute to their anxiety and help our kids feel more secure and confident.

Even just a few minutes of intentionally playing together can have a positive and healing impact on our children.​​​​​​​...
06/02/2023

Even just a few minutes of intentionally playing together can have a positive and healing impact on our children.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Think of it as turning the wattage up on a lightbulb for periods of time to sustain them. In the same way, by making a conscious effort to engage with them during these brief moments, we can create a sense of joy and connection that will strengthen our relationship with our children.

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Chilliwack, BC

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Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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