Right now I am at the Wisconsin School Counselors Association conference. I am presenting tomorrow, and more nervous than normal. But I digress..



There are expected to be about 1400 school counselors, teachers, and other administrators here. I'm hoping to get through to at least some of them. I don't think my message should be that hard to receive, since it seems to be an overwhelming focus of many sessions.

As I go through the list of sessions for the next two days, I see...

• The Effects of Domestic Violence on Children and Youth
• Child Sexual Abuse: Prevention and Intervention
• Identifying and Easing Anxiety in Kids
• The Volcano- Intervention with Trauma Victims
• Adolescent Grief Issues
• Improving School Intervention and Prevention for Students with Attachment Issues or Disorder
• Helping Children Cope with Grief
• Understanding Mental Health and Behaviors

Along with two pre-conference workshops that were targeted at traumatized children, or children with extreme behaviors issues.

Obviously, this is an important issue. We have known it for years, but it is so prominent with the education system right now.

I am happy to see that it is so prominent in the presentations, but it makes me wonder, “why now?” Trauma isn’t a new issue, so what is making it more important, and worthy of so many presentations?

Admittedly, this is my first time attending this conference, so maybe it has been a big theme over the previous years, but that has not been my experience with conferences.

I spent a good deal of time talking with several moms today, and handing out my business cards. The hurt, heartache, and trauma were so evident in their voices, especially from the mom that has made the decisions to disrupt an adoption. The moms I talked to had come to hear Nancy Thomas speak today, and she was great. Even though the talk was directed at teachers, she gave interventions and explanations that apply to the home as well.

Five us went to dinner with Nancy, and spent time talking about individual kids and cases, and the level of trauma our kids have endured is astounding. I am so happy to see it being addressed at an educational level.

I am actually having a hard time choosing what I’m going to attend tomorrow, since there are several interesting sessions running at the same time. I will report back what I learn.