What are you doing about the effects of domestic abuse?

It’s most probable that some of your pupils are suffering from seeing abuse at home.  Their learning capability is impaired.

A minimum of 750,000 British children and young people a year are witnesses to domestic abuse.  Also 62% of children living with domestic abuse are directly harmed by the perpetrator of the abuse, in addition to the harm caused by witnessing the abuse of others.

Every case of domestic abuse is different and children are affected in lots of different ways, depending on their circumstances, personality, the severity of the situation and availability of appropriate support. It is recognised that some children are resilient enough to recover quickly from exposure to domestic abuse; while others may react adversely and require therapeutic intervention to help deal with the trauma and prevent any long-term negative effects.

Children learn from what they experience. They may learn that it is acceptable to use violence or other forms of controlling behaviours.  Children’s immediate reactions include overall anxiety and worry, separation anxiety,  excessive worry about their safety and that of the non-abusive parent/ carer, sleep problems, nightmares, difficulty with concentration, increased hyperactivity, increased anger/aggression, withdrawal, low self-esteem, and confidence.

Play therapy helps to alleviate these conditions.  Between 77% and 84% of children receiving therapy from a Play Therapy UK registrant show a positive change.

If you want to know more about how play therapy works, the training required for a member of  your staff to become a registered Play Therapist, please email Monika at mokijep@majemail.com

www.playtherapy.org.uk  and www.playtherapyregister.org.uk