Children may be quite sensitive to the occurrences in their surroundings. Traumatizing occurrences may yield long-term effects in a child’s way of life. In the case of Jessica, the symptoms he presents are long-term as he is acting in alignment with flashbacks of an event that occurred six months ago. The magnitude of trauma experienced by an individual- whether a child, adolescent, or adult- determines the type of method or assessment tool to be used in assessing the associated impact.
For Jessica, the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Reaction Index tool could work well. The main reason for choosing this tool is because it embarks on stress that goes beyond 30 days of the occurrence of a stressful event (Baggerly & Exum, 2008). Jessica’s trauma and the associated impact are founded on a tornando that occurred six months ago. This means that there are aspects of that occurrence that keep flashing in his mind thus causing fear and the overprotective trait toward his siblings.
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The Frequency Rating Scale would particularly be critical in my counseling sessions as it will expose me to various aspects of the trauma that Jessica is going through. Steinberg and Britanny’s (2013) UCLA PSTD Reaction Index Frequency Rating Scale, comprises of aspects that could be causing fear to Jessica and thus yielding various reactions. The idea of perceiving the world as a dangerous place is one of the aspects. Other aspects revolve around guilt, the gross or sickening factors of the tornando, sleep difficulties, and shame or embarrassment. In my personal counseling sessions, I would interview Jessica to find answers in alignment with such aspects so that I can then embark on the necessary therapeutic endeavors.
Jessica’s trauma can be said to be acute as it culminates from a single occurrence (Burr-Harris, 2012). In terms of crisis assessment, some of the aspects that depict a crisis for Jessica include difficulties in sleeping and being over-protective toward the other siblings. These two aspects may be founded on fears of the recurrence of the traumatic event and feelings of guilt, particularly because he was asleep when everything occurred. Jessica depicts the view that he could protect his siblings from the effects of the tornando were it not for the fact that it occurred while he was asleep. He also feels guilty because he found the mother screaming and offering instructions to the children to go to the bathroom as a protective measure. The death of the elderly lady who was Jessica’s neighbor could also elicit some feelings of fear and the over-protective trait he has adopted. Again, the father-figure of this family is not mentioned anywhere in the case. While the case states that Jessica lives with his parents and siblings, it is only the mother’s role that gets articulated during the occurrence of the traumatic event. As such, it may be possible that Jessica takes the blame for not assisting his mother at a time when she depicted so much panic.
In this case, one of the ethical concerns that arise is in connection with the role of the father. As a counselor, I would ask the mother about the father rather than asking the child. It is not clear whether the father was around during the incidence and if he was, then his role ought to have been articulated more than that of the mother as fathers are perceived as protectors of their families (Government of Western Australia, 2007). The overriding rule in this case, is to eliminate feelings of fear and blame for Jessica to lead a normal life. It seems like he is overburdened by the fact that he has to protect his siblings, particularly because he is a male.
References
Baggerly, J. & Exum, H. A., (2008). Counselig children after natural disasters: Guidance for family therapists. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 36, 79-93. Doi: 10.1080/01926180601057598
Burr-Harris, A. (2012). Trauma: Impact on children and opportunities for healing. Retrieved from http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/outreach/occyshn/training-education/upload/TraumaPowerpoint-DrBurrHarris2012.pdf
Government of Western Australia (2007). Involving fathers-improving outcomes for children: Strategic framework for men in their role as fathers. Retrieved from https://www.dcp.wa.gov.au/Resources/Documents/Policies%20and%20Frameworks/Men%20in%20their%20Roles%20as%20Fathers%20-%20Strategic%20Framework%202007.pdf
Steinberg, A.M. & Britanny, B. (2013). UCLA PTSD Reaction Index: DSM-5 Version. UCLA/Duke University National Center for Child Traumatic Stress, University of California, Los Angeles. Retrieved from http://www.nctsn.org/nctsn_assets/pdfs/mediasite/ptsd-training.pdf
