Fostering Intrinsic Resilience: A Neuroscience-Informed Model of Conceptualizing and Treating Adverse Childhood Experiences

Abstract

An increasingly common dialogue among mental health professionals revolves around adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and developmental trauma. ACEs can occur in a number of ways with a myriad of potential outcomes, often making treatment choices difficult. During critical stages of neurodevelopmental growth, trauma makes a mark on the brain and body at a physiological level. Although the National Institute of Mental Health's Research Domain Criteria have been used to address this brain–body impact, the far-reaching scope of implications needs grounding in a theoretical framework. The current paper discusses developmental trauma and proposes a new reciprocally determinant model that advocates for neuroscience-informed counseling interventions such as neurofeedback therapy. Clinical implications and considerations for counselors are discussed.

The Link Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Financial Security in Adulthood

“…Building resilience for adults and children can have long-term benefits for mental and physical health outcomes -as well as financial security and wellbeing. The need to account for ACEs affects many fields, such as primary care physicians (Barnes & Andrews, 2019), social workers (Levenson, 2017), and mental health professionals (Schauss et al, 2019). The resulting policies and practices will need to be multi-faceted and diverse since the causes and manifestations of the effect from ACEs are multi-faceted and diverse, as pointed out in a recent special issue of American Psychologist (Portwood et al, 2021).…”

COVID-19’s Effect on Students: How School Counselors Rise to the Rescue

“…Wan noted nearly 20% of the United States population is expected to be unemployed during the summer of 2020 due to the COVID-19 shutdowns, affecting financial stress and subsequent family issues. Frasquilho et al (2016) noted a clear connection between parental distress due to unemployment and financial struggles with adolescent emotional problems due to the tension in the home as a result of There is a concern among experts that many students will be reentering schools from the COVID-19 lockdowns with family, after experiencing or witnessing multiple Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) including abuse of a child; whether it is sexual, emotional, or physical in nature (Schauss et al, 2019). Research has shown that ACEs clearly affect development in the adolescent brain.…”

“…There is a concern among experts that many students will be reentering schools from the COVID-19 lockdowns with family, after experiencing or witnessing multiple Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) including abuse of a child; whether it is sexual, emotional, or physical in nature (Schauss et al, 2019). Research has shown that ACEs clearly affect development in the adolescent brain.…”

“…Agitation from the negative impact of the coronavirus can cause displaced aggression and schools may be the outlet from some youth. As stated above, students suffering from ACEs can be violent, requiring safety plans relying on collaboration of school leaders, including school counselors, and the community (Schauss et al, 2019).…”

Youth in Foster Care and the Reasonable and Prudent Parenting Standard

“…Children who experience trauma prior to foster care often experience psychological distress in the form of feelings of confusion, fear, sadness, anxiety, and stress (Bruskas, 2008), as well as negative, long-lasting effects on physical, social, and emotional well-being and development (Felitti et al, 2019; Infurna et al, 2015). Childhood and adolescent trauma increases the risk for neurodevelopmental impairment (Schauss et al, 2019), aggressive behavior (Khodabandeh et al, 2018), mental health concerns (Hughes et al, 2019; Poletti et al, 2017), substance use disorders (Garland et al, 2019; Hughes et al, 2019), attachment difficulties (Fowler et al, 2013), obesity (Isohookana et al, 2016), and premature mortality in adulthood (Meadows et al, 2019).…”