The Two Extremes of Trauma
- Jumping to Power: Some young people react to trauma by lashing out. These are the kids who might bully others, join gangs, or even get involved in knife crime. They often end up being excluded from school because of their behaviour.
- WithdrawingOn the other end, some young people internalize their feelings. They turn their anger inward and may struggle with depression, anxiety, or self-harm. These are the students who often avoid school, showing signs of Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA).]
These behaviours don’t just come out of nowhere—they're influenced by the young person’s home life, school environment, and even wider societal issues. Today, we live in a world that often divides people into two categories: the powerful and the powerless. This dynamic can further complicate how young people see themselves and their place in the world.
A New Way to Think About Trauma
At Act for Change, we believe it's time to shift the conversation. Instead of focusing only on who has power and who is the victim, we want to help young people understand and integrate both their power and their feelings. This can help them express their emotions without acting out or withdrawing.
We’ve developed a method called EF36, which is designed to support young people in this process. By helping them talk about their feelings—whether it's anger or the urge to withdraw—we aim to keep them engaged in school and connected with the important people in their lives.
The Roles Trauma Creates
When trauma happens, it usually involves certain roles:
- Perpetrator: The person who causes harm.
- Victim: The person who is hurt.
- Bystander: Someone who sees the harm but does nothing.
- Protector: The role that is often missing in traumatic situations.
It’s hard to feel like a victim, so sometimes young people may try to take control by adopting the perpetrator role, or by becoming a protector for someone else.
Our Approach at Act for Change
We work with these roles to help young people heal. Here’s how:
- SAFEGUARD: We collaborate with Social Services to bring back the protective role, making sure young people are safe.
- INCLUDE: We work hard to keep young people included in school and at home, and also help them embrace all parts of themselves, including the parts that struggle with difficult feelings.
- EXPRESS: Through our counselling and mentoring services, we give young people a space to express their emotions and be heard. Our Deep Democracy Forums also allow entire communities to share and listen to each other.
- ENGAGE: Engagement is key. Before anything else, we focus on connecting with young people and building trust.
The Goals of Our Work
- Pick Up the Protector Role: Help young people feel safe by ensuring there is someone to protect and care for them.
- Transform the Bystander: Encourage people to become active witnesses who listen and support healing.
- Integrate Power and Feelings: Help young people understand their emotions and how to express them in a healthy way.
By supporting young people in these ways, we aim to help them stay connected to their education, their relationships, and their communities. If you're interested in learning more, keep an eye out for my upcoming book, The Tribe Within, releasing in Winter 2025, which explores these ideas further!