Supervisor:
Nina Bjørnstad
Sexually abused children can sometimes struggle to do things to care for themselves. The demand for help was so great. Although effective treatments have been developed, they are not widely available, and sometimes when children try to help themselves they often make matters worse.
Together is a mental health recovery toolbox containing different products to assistant a long-term self-healing program.
1. Physical grounding tools:
It is common for a survivor to experience vivid images of rape or sexual abuse, making them feel as though the event is happening all over again. These vivid images are known as flash-backs and are active memories of a past traumatic event. Children do not have sufficient expe-rience in finding calm but must learn to reduce discomfort in some ways. Grounding strategies and tools that can help children manage stress reactions and cope with flashbacks: Get ground-ed and focus on the present, so that they know where they are and that they are no longer trapped in a situation they cannot escape from.
2. Mind game:
This card game is useful for survivors to learn more about common reactions to trauma and PTSD. When they learn that the symptoms of PTSD are common, they will realize that they are not alone, weak, or crazy. This game can be played by single or multiple players. Conveying information about common reactions to trauma can be helpful, not only to the child but also to the people around him or her, including parents, teachers... Knowing what to expect and what reactions are most common can relieve adults’ worries that the child will not recover or will be damaged forever. This information can also be useful before a traumatic event, and thus can be used in a preventative format.
Contact
Xiaotong Wang / wxtsandy@gmail.com / www.behance.net/wxtsandy