Treating Traumatic Stress in Children and Adolescents

“A comprehensive, practical guide....I would highly recommend [it] to anyone interested in the field.”

—Journal of Mental Health (on the first edition)


“This book is rooted in a lucid understanding of developmental and attachment processes and the impact that trauma has on them. Described in a way that reflects years of clinical experience, the interventions are sensitive to the complexities of clinical work with children, and provide guidance for working with caregivers, families, and systems of care. The book is encyclopedic—it is chock-full of information on everything from developmental theory to therapist self-care, matching interventions to patient needs, and implementation strategies.”

—Marylene Cloitre, PhD, Associate Director of Research, National Center for PTSD Dissemination and Training Division; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University


“Confronted with the suffering of a child exposed to stress and adversity, it is easy for a clinician to become overwhelmed, unsure where to even begin addressing the complexly troubled and often chaotic lives of the child and his or her caregiving system. The ARC framework avoids doing what is all too common—simply affixing a diagnostic label to a traumatized child and providing a referral to a physician for medication. In clear, accessible, and direct language, using case illustrations, the authors present an integrative framework for addressing complex developmental trauma and the behaviors that signify it. ARC respects the art of therapeutic intervention while offering concrete goals, strategies, and interventions to guide the process of treatment toward health and well-being.”

—Sandra L. Bloom, MD, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University


“The second edition of this extraordinary volume offers an even more integrated and comprehensive resource. The authors have fine-tuned the ARC framework, seamlessly linking theory and practice, individuals and systems, the needs and resources of children and their caregivers, behavior and triggers, and problems and solutions. They know what makes these kids tick—and how to help them. ARC is a practical, reassuring, step-wise approach that helps us to increase our own capacity for attachment, regulation, and competence as we do the same for dysregulated kids and their overwhelmed systems. If you have reached an impasse with a distressed child in the home, office, school, or treatment center, or if you need just the right handout, activity, worksheet, session tracking checklist, or educational resource to support traumatized children and caregivers, this essential book is for you.”

—Martha B. Straus, PhD, Department of Clinical Psychology, Antioch University New England


“The second edition of this excellent treatment guide provides cutting-edge information on working with children who have been exposed to complex developmental trauma and their caregivers. Adaptable for a variety of settings, ARC offers detailed strategies that increase the child’s integration of traumatic experiences and the caregiver’s capacities to nurture, parent, and provide optimal attachment experiences. Theoretical concepts are illustrated throughout by case examples, and are linked to extensive practical material on the core domains of attachment, regulation, and competency. This book represents an important contribution to the child trauma field and is highly recommended for new and experienced clinicians alike.”

—Cheryl Lanktree, PhD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California


“An excellent resource for professionals in both clinical and educational settings. Blaustein and Kinniburgh effectively explain the complexity of developmental trauma, its impact on youth, and the need for individualized treatment, and present their ARC framework. The second edition elaborates on applications of ARC outside traditional clinical settings. It provides useful tools for professionals working with traumatized children, including downloadable activities and worksheets. Graduate students in school psychology, school counseling, pediatric neuropsychology, and clinical child psychology will benefit from reading this book in classes and using it as a resource in their future careers.”

—Terry Diamanduros, PhD, School Psychology Program, Georgia Southern University