Volume_5_Issue_2_Digest

1 TPC Digest Edward F. Hudspeth Over the past 15 years, countless researchers have described the impact of chronic stress and adverse childhood experiences and the subsequent development of complex trauma. Complex trauma is defined by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network as a series of traumatic experiences that are usually interpersonal in nature and lead to numerous long-term adverse effects on health and well-being. The duration and intensity of traumatic experiences as well as the age of onset of these experiences can determine the outcome of both complex trauma and developmental trauma. Though the term complex trauma was originally used to represent repeated abuse or an accumulation of traumatic experiences, recent neuroscience research has extended this term to other conditions and experiences such as chronic illness, homelessness, bullying, poverty, etc. In the first two articles of this special issue, school counseling is the focus. Havlik and Bryan explore homelessness as a special circumstance. They indicate that school counselors must first identify which students are experiencing homelessness in their school and then determine the students’ specific needs. When analyzing school counselor training, Geddes Hall states that less than half of school counselor preparation programs include content related to special education in their training, and that often when the content is provided, it is done through existing courses rather than specific courses on special education. The next three articles have a relationship focus. They include Buss, Warren, and Horton’s in-depth coverage of the short- and long-term impact of trauma on the physical, mental, emotional and social development of traumatized children, which includes associated trajectories to adult mental and physical health conditions. Next, Liu and Hazler delineate differences noted among adoptees from various countries that may include behavioral, social and emotional characteristics as well as the adoptees’ proclivity to form an attachment with a primary caregiver. Finally, Sheperis and colleagues acknowledge that counselors, whether working with children who have disruptive behavior or providing parenting training to families, should be knowledgeable of the application of various behavioral techniques in order to utilize them effectively and teach them to parents. The remaining four articles examine specific special needs. Children With Special Needs and Circumstances Conceptualization Through a Complex Trauma Lens First, Leppma, Szente, and Brosch’s article provides an overview of the current landscape of children’s fears to help delineate a contemporary, adaptive and holistic approach to treatment. Next, Goodman-Scott and Lambert examine sensory processing disorder and report that counselors can provide individual, group and family counseling modalities using solution-focused and cognitive-behavioral techniques to address children’s mental health needs and co-occurring disorders. Then, Storlie and Baltrinic’s article illuminates the impact of a chronic disease on individuals, caregivers, and counselors working with the family, and offers suggestions for compassionate care as well as for avoiding compassion fatigue. Finally, in a personal account of rearing a child with spina bifida, Richmond-Frank expresses both the successes and shortcomings that she has experienced over nearly three decades. From my point of view, issues that are prolonged, intense, cumulative, and vary over developmental periods should be conceptualized through lenses that address the complexity of intermingled systems. By failing to see this complexity and all of its aspects, we fail to fully address the complexity of children with special needs and circumstances. Edward F. Hudspeth, NCC is an Assistant Professor of Counselor Education at Henderson State University, and served as the guest editor for the special issue of The Professional Counselor on children with special needs and circumstances. Correspondence can be addressed to Edward F. Hudspeth, Department of Counselor Education, Henderson State University, 1100 Henderson Street, Arkadelphia, AR 71999, franchudspeth@gmail.com. Read full article and references: Hudspeth, E. F. (2015). Children with special needs and circumstances: Conceptualization through a complex trauma lens. The Professional Counselor , 5 , 195–199. doi: 10.15241/efh.5.2.195