Are there any don'ts in how I should talk to my child following a school shooting?

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Hayley Sherwood
Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Reston Psychological Center, P.C.
www.restonpsych.com  
(703) 437-3236

Dr. Sherwood is a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice at Reston Psychological Center, P.C., in Reston, Virginia.  She specializes in parenting, family, and women's issues.  She has extensive experience with clients with a variety of emotional and behavioral difficulties in clinical, community, and school settings.  Dr. Sherwood received her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from Temple University in 2000.  She is a member of the American Psychological Association, the Virginia Psychological Association, the Northern Virginia Society of Clinical Psychologists, and the National Register for Health Service Providers in Psychology.

Are there any don'ts in how I should talk to my child following a school shooting?

 

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Host: Are there any don'ts in how I should talk to my child following a school shooting? Dr. Hayley Sherwood: According to the American Psychological Association's 2006 publication, 'Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Violence and Disasters', after a traumatic event such as a school shooting, parents should not minimize a child's concerns, expect a child to be brave or tough, force the child to discuss the event before he or she is ready. Get angry or be dismissive, if a child shows strong emotions, get upset of a child begins acting out, bed wetting or thumb sucking or ignore severe reactions or sudden changes in behavior, language or emotions.

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