It's easy to get triggered by "naughty" kids. We want them to behave differently, and when they don't...we feel out of control.
If our grown-up brains feel out of control, imagine how that dysregulated kid feels!
The problem is, many therapists don't learn enough about children's development to effectively work with them. And that leaves them feeling worthless and unskilled. I mean, really, there's nothing worse than not being able to help a small child!
That's how Karen Andor felt when she worked with Suzie. After the initial "honeymoon phase," Suzie would lie on the floor or under a table and scream. The entire session. No matter what Karen did. For 6 weeks in a row.
Or Micah, who would growl and hiss for up to 3 hours in his classroom. He couldn't stop himself, even though he knew the kids were staring at him and calling him 'weirdo.' No one - teachers or parents - could stop it.
Karen wasn't going to take this like Suzieโฆ lying down. It finally occurred to her that these kids were doing what Janina Fisher had taught her about. They were dissociating.
Now, Karen Andor is a therapist who specializes in working with children who dissociate. She helps therapists, parents, teachers, and anyone who works with kids recognize when a child chooses to behave in a certain way or when their brain has gone offline and has no limits.
In Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment for Children: A New Model for Working with Challenging Behaviors, Karen has done something especially innovativeโฆshe has adapted Janina Fisher's Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment for use with children.
look at and read kids' body language
recognize dissociation when it occurs in children
see what parts are at play
know how to regulate the parts by coming up with different strategies for each part
Register for this course today
Learn from each module at your own pace
Develop the insights and skills you need to work compassionately with kids and families
That's some powerful Mary Poppins magic!
Karen's model explains why families and schools are so confused by kids, and why other approaches to behavior problems haven't worked.
Between daily stress, social media, widespread violence, and a world that just keeps getting faster and more complex, little kids are at more risk for trauma.
Become one of the few therapists who can recognize and successfully manage dissociation in children.
You can help create healthy kids and happy families. Join us!
Academy of Therapy Wisdom
Karen Andor, MEd (Ed Psych)
"Karen Andor is a gifted therapist and teacher! I feel so grateful for her developing a TIST way of working with traumatized children. It is creative, relational, and 'speaks' to the young people we want to help."
- Janina Fisher, founder of the TIST approach to trauma and author of Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors and Transforming the Living Legacy of Trauma
Work with dissociation in children
Move therapy forward and process trauma
Look at and read kids' body language
See dissociation happening, identify the parts, and regulate them
Talk about parts with kids
Adapt TIST for kids
Regulate kids somatically
You'll learn from case discussions, video recordings, intake histories, and more how to identify when dissociation is occurring and which parts are being triggered
You'll leave with a range of strategies for regulating parts (each one has its own way of manifesting and responding, by the way), plus how to develop your own strategies if the ones you're using don't work
And, super important, you'll learn how to work with parents who get triggered by their kids!
"We have to remember that trauma is stored in the body - not in the prefrontal cortex - so we can't process it through talking. On top of that, kids don't even have a well-developed prefrontal cortex, so you can see how difficult it is for them to process trauma. So what do kids do? They act out. Challenging behaviors are the most common form of dissociation in children."
- Karen Andor
Dissociation is always part of trauma, and it is also part of disorganized attachment. But very little information about dissociation or treatment in children. This module will teach you what dissociation in children is, how it differs from adult dissociation, and how to adapt Janina Fisher's TIST model into an effective treatment for children who dissociate.
It is commonly believed that dissociation is a form of collapse, amnesia, or numbing or spacing out. But those are not the only ways dissociation manifests. Children dissociate differently from adults, and when they dissociate, it is often misconstrued as a behavior problem. In this module, you'll learn to identify dissociation through background histories, case examples from the therapy room, and video clips.
This module shows you how to determine if a child is dissociating and which parts are being triggered. You'll learn to look at changes in the child's body and behaviors, as well as the underlying narrative. You'll learn how to introduce various parts to the child in a way that is fun, normalizing, and understandable to them. And, you'll learn techniques that focus on and strengthen the child's core self so they can become allies in therapy sessions. You'll walk away with the basic formula for talking to and working with parts and managing multiple triggered parts.
In this module, you'll learn different strategies for regulating each of the survival strategy parts: fight, flight, freeze, submit, attach, control, and shame. Each part needs a different strategy, and different strategies are needed depending on where the part is in the body.
Sometimes, things don't go as planned when using TIST for children. In this session, you'll learn what to do when difficult situations arise, when there are complications with parts, and how to support parents when their child's parts trigger their parts.
*Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment (TIST) was created by Janina Fisher, PhD. TIST was designed to help people with severe trauma-related issues and self-destructive behaviors like PTSD, mood disorders, addiction, and more. TIST combines different therapy methods - such as mindfulness, somatics, and IFS - to address how the brain works after trauma. Because TIST focuses on helping patients feel understood, not pathologized, it helps them get better faster.
With
Karen Andor, MEd (Ed Psych)
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An on-demand training with Karen Andor
If you are a BIPOC helping professional, please accept our discounted enrollment price for this course by clicking here. We are glad to have you with us!
We are confident you will learn new skills in this online training. However, if during your first 7 days with this course, you don't believe you will learn anything to enhance your practice, please contact our support team at support@therapywisdom.com within 7 days of purchase and we will give you a full credit or exchange for another course, no questions asked.
Karen Andor, MEd, is an Educational Psychologist and psychotherapist. She completed her original training in South Africa where she worked in a range of settings from private schools to clinics, townships, and informal settlements. Since then, she has worked for local councils and state schools as well as in private practice in England. Karen is trained in a number of psychotherapies including, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, and SPIM30, and is a certified Theraplay therapist, TIST therapist, Rhythmic Movement therapist, and Johansen Music provider.
Karen works with both children and adult clients, specializing in trauma, attachment, and dissociation. Karen has adapted Janina Fisher's TIST therapy for children and has used this with children for over 6 years. Karen offers training in TIST for children, as well one that combines TIST for children and Theraplay for The Theraplay Institute. She has created a workbook and doll for use in therapy sessions with children who dissociate.
"I suddenly felt like I understood my client's underlying dynamics more deeply."
"I found Andor's training to be extremely useful [...and] very relevant to my cases. I suddenly felt like I understood my client's underlying dynamics more deeply. I really related to the seven different parts and the need to externalize these parts and show them in the form of the Diddy doll. I felt that the Diddy doll itself with the smaller parts, were so representative of my inner parts, that I could really identify with them. I wanted to relate to them and dialogue with them. Finally, I feel that Andor's teaching approach is very empathic and non-judgmental. I felt supported as a learner and enjoyed the training so much."
- Dafna Lender, LCSW, Child and Family Therapist
"Karen's training on dissociation should become mandatory wherever children and young people are being supported."
"Karen Andor is a skilled communicator who enabled me to deepen my understanding of the complex theory of dissociation and related subjects. I enjoyed how she brought her compassion and humour to the training sessions. Her very approachable workbook has enhanced my work with my clients. I can see how it will benefit children and young people who have previously been labeled as 'challenging and disruptive' as the people who care for them will be able to frame the behaviours in different ways and really help and support. In my opinion Karen's training on dissociation should become mandatory wherever children and young people are being supported."
- Theres Fickl, Psychotrauma Counsellor, Conwy, Wales
"Anytime you have the chance to be in a workshop or class of hers, jump in!"
"Karen Andor is a natural and brilliant Therapist and Teacher. She is a lifelong learner. Anytime you have the chance to be in a workshop or class of hers jump in! Her knowledge of dissociation is presented in ways that are understandable and translate to practice quickly. You will walk away with new understandings of yourself, your adult and child clients and how to help everyone in very practical ways."
- Cindy Mitchell Perkins, MA, LCPC. Theraplayโข Practitioner, Supervisor and Trainer. Freeport, Maine USA
"Karen Andor's course on using the TIST way of working with traumatised clients was a breakthrough."
"Karen Andor's course on using the TIST way of working with traumatised clients, was a breakthrough. The concept of Parts work helped disassociated clients and parents into an understanding of their behaviours, and their 'why's' of their triggers. The supportive tools profoundly deepened their relationship with their children and themselves. Karen's clear, insightful teaching, and how to apply it successfully in clinical practice, has created greater awareness of the behaviours witnessed. Sharing it with clients gives parents tools they can apply easily at home. Do the course! You'll use these tools every time!"
- Gill Brooksmith, Neurodevelopmental Consultant, Rhythmic Movements International Trainer and Observer, Touch for Health, and all Educational Kinesiology programmes
"Karen delivers outstanding, insightful training that has been invaluable [....] to the most vulnerable and traumatised children."
"Karen delivers outstanding, insightful training that has been invaluable [....] to the most vulnerable and traumatised children. Her passion for developing supportive practices is based on exceptional knowledge, but more importantly, extensive practical experience of her own, across a wide range of services. She generously shares this through engaging and informative training sessions and workshops."
- Elizabeth Smith B. Ed (Hons), PGCE, NASENCo Head of Inclusion, Behaviour Consultant and author, Cornwall, UK
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