Bridging Worlds : Understanding and Facilitating Adolescent Recovery from the Trauma of Abuse

Turning our backs on problems like the physical, sexual, and emotional abuse of children and adolescents doesn't help them go away. With Bridging Worlds, you will learn to uncover the roots of teenage problems--the causes behind symptoms such as self-destructiveness, anger, recklessness, and violence. Quite often, these symptoms will point to trauma if they are looked at closely enough. But, you have to look! Begin with Bridging Worlds. It is an important step in peeling away the ignorance communities hide behind and in preventing the resulting neglect of children and teenagers abused by caretakers and public systems.

The unique developmental needs, vulnerabilities, and survival tactics of adolescents often hide trauma symptoms. This adds to the complexity of finding and implementing effective interventions that meet the special treatment needs of teenagers. Bridging Worlds shows you how to develop treatment guidelines and thoughtful frames of reference that address the problems of teenage violence, pregnancy, truancy, and delinquency. You will acquire a strong understanding of the large scope of adolescent developmental needs and the problems adolescents face through the book's discussion of:

• trauma theory and treatment
• attachment theory
• issues of diversity
• the need for cross-training and cross-consulting
• juvenile justice and public policy issues
• the psychological impact of socioeconomic class
• different educational choices and outcomes
  
  Bridging Worlds will help parents and other caregivers detect when the reckless, even frightening, behavior of adolescents is a cry for help and show adults what they can do to defuse the situation, make authentic and meaningful connections, and offer valuable help. This much-needed book also shows therapists, educators, child protection workers, juvenile attorneys, and students of social work, education, law, nursing, and psychology how they might intervene to protect the civil rights of adolescents and help them come to terms with the trauma they have experienced.