Haruv institute - Leading Principles in Trauma-Informed Child Representation

• Coping with trauma triggers: A trauma trigger is essentially a reference to trauma that may be evoked by smell, taste, color, appearance, an object, a certain situation, the posture of the body, etc. Through these sensory channels, the trigger resurfaces the trauma back into the child’s consciousness, in an intrusive, intense, and uncontrollable manner. Children who have experienced traumatic events may often react with great distress towards events that anyone outside the situation may perceive as minor or insignificant, yet these are trauma triggers for the child. Therefore, identifying, understanding, and responding appropriately to these trauma events is essential to understand the child’s vulnerability and help them regain control over their body and emotions. • Preparing the child to deal with trauma triggers: If it is expected that the child will encounter trauma triggers at any point in the legal proceedings and representation (and there is no way to avoid them), the child must be prepared for this possibility and asked what they will need in order to better cope with that trigger. – Idea for practice: Try to stay attentive to non-verbal expressions of distress, such as crying. Alternatively, the child’s detachment or maladaptive affect may indicate that a dissociative experience has been triggered. Pay attention to body language and behaviors that seem simple but may carry a deep meaning. When you see a change that feels like a reaction to a trauma trigger, you may address the child and say: “I see that... how are you? What can help you in this moment?” When emotional regulation is lacking, you can invite the child to drink water, breathe, or go for a short walk together, if appropriate. • Communicating trauma triggers to the system: It is important to raise awareness among other professionals involved in the legal proceeding (e.g., the court, attorneys, and representatives of the

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