8
christian counseling today
Vol. 20 no. 2
A
pproximately 25% of all
children in the United States
will experience at least one
significant traumatic event
before the age of 16, with 15% of girls
and 6% of boys developing symp-
toms of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Unintentional injury remains the lead-
ing cause of death among those aged 14
and younger, while nearly 38,000 inju-
ries occur on a daily basis that require
medical attention—nearly a half-million
emergency room visits annually for trau-
matic brain injuries. More than 10,000
children are diagnosed with cancer every
year, and the most common tumors are
brain-related. Each year, somewhere
between three to four million reports of
childhood abuse and neglect are filed
with state and local Child Protective
Services (60% of all cases are under the
age of 13). Over 800,000 minors are
reported missing each year (2,200 times
every single day). Minors account for
39% of the homeless population in the
United States (almost half of those are
under the age of five) and there are an
estimated 1.3 million homeless and run-
away street kids throughout the country.
(Sources: Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, National Institutes of
Health, U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services, FBI National Crime
Information Center, National Coalition
for the Homeless)
The above statistics are stag-
gering and can leave most people
feeling overwhelmed. Many of these
trauma-oriented life experiences can
create significant emotional, cognitive,
behavioral and relational obstacles that
children and their families must face
and overcome. However, some prob-
lems also arise, not so much as a result
of certain incidents being perpetrated
upon unsuspecting children, but simply
due to complications during pregnancy
or because of genetic and birth defects.
Nevertheless, with 46 million children
under the age of 11 (15% of the total
U.S. census), this demographic cannot
be summarily dismissed or ignored.
The Scriptures tell us that children
are a gift of the Lord (Psalm 127:3).
Jesus often blessed them (Matthew
19:13) and said the kingdom of God
belongs to such as these (Luke 18:16).
God’s Word is also full of metaphors
and examples of how we are His
children and, as such, should walk
with and serve Him in obedience and
truth. We are to become childlike in
our trust and humble ourselves if we
want to be considered great in the
kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:2-5).
Christ Himself came into the world as
a newborn child. Understanding and
engaging this population can be chal-
lenging and heartrending, as well as
dynamic and extremely rewarding. The
e-team felt that devoting an entire issue
to children was relevant and worthwhile,
especially when considering the poten-
tial “next generation” impact.
Therapeutic work with children
often requires additional training and
expertise due to a number of develop-
mental factors that may be present and
the need to have sufficient awareness
regarding attachment theory, neuro-
biological considerations, and early
life experiences, as well as the various
nuances within most family relation-
ships. When it comes to assessment,
diagnostic conclusions and treatment
interventions, an adept practitioner must
be well-versed in systemic processes,
behavioral approaches such as play
therapy, and have the ability to connect
and communicate with children at their
level. While it is not necessary for every
therapist to be able to complete a full
psychological evaluation, the ability to
understand the findings and incorporate
specific recommendations is critical for
effective counseling to take place. Albert
Einstein once commented, “Play is the
highest form of research.”
In this particular issue of
CCT
,
contributions cover a broad range of
childhood disorders, assessment and
diagnosis protocols, and evidenced-
based treatment strategies. Cynthia
Tobias shares that the ways in which
our children need us may change and
vary, but the fact they do need us
never changes. Several articles include
important revisions in the
DSM-5
that released in May 2013. Linda
Mintle discusses frequently diag-
nosed (and misdiagnosed) Attention
Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, while
Eric Scalise and Stephanie Holmes
provide a timely and comprehensive
piece on Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Attachment-related disorders, including
signs, symptoms, prevalence and treat-
ment options are addressed by Joshua
Straub, and the dual elimination prob-
lems (enuresis and encopresis) children
sometimes wrestle with are covered
by Trina Young Greer. On the impor-
tant topic of intellectual and learning
disabilities, child psychologist, Carrie
Pagels, gives an overview of the stigma-
tization minors often face within school
and community environments, as well
as important educational and treat-
ment considerations parents, teachers
and mental health practitioners need to
know for competent care. Finally, Steve
Warren explores some of the factors
that come into play when looking at
violence and other behavioral disorders
in children.
Understanding and Caring for
the Most Vulnerable Among Us
from the e-team
