Ellie explains trauma: A guide for children and adolescents
It’s not often that a project speaks to both your heart and craft. Something I’ve been working on quietly over the last few months has validated all the work I’ve done over the years, as it’s so closely aligned with my purpose. When Parandaman Thechanamurthi, a Specialist Chartered Forensic Psychologist with the British Psychological Society (BPS), reached out to me, I was intrigued. Parandaman supports children and adolescents in juvenile offending, child protection, and family protection cases. Many of the young people he works with have experienced trauma or other complex mental health challenges. His focus is on understanding each child’s story and helping them feel supported, and heard, even in difficult legal or clinical settings.
For very young children involved in legal proceedings, undergoing a psychological assessment can be frightening. How do you explain trauma in a way they can understand? How do you help them feel safe in that moment? To answer this, we collaborated on an animated presentation. Through the Ellie the Elephant and Bunny the Rabbit, children learn why the brain sometimes reacts in extreme ways, and what they can do to feel calmer, grounded, and more in control.
This animated storybook is designed to be used with a counsellor, helping young ones process emotions they might not yet understand, through words and images to emotions they might not yet understand. It’s meant to be used in its animated format on a tablet, allowing plenty of time for pause and discussion.
Though this material was created for children and adolescents, I think it’s also a useful guide for adults. Swipe through below and view in full screen mode for the best experience.
Halfway up the mountain
When the summit is not the goal 🙂
A comic inspired by a recent hike up Middle Fell in the Lake District, England. The route takes you via Greendale Tarn and is supposed to be a “moderate” walk according to the National Trust, but with a bad foot and improper shoes I found the steep uphill climb really difficult. After a lot of being pulled up by K, I found a spot by Greendale Gill where I decided to settle down and wait while he climbed up to the tarn. I could see the Wastwater Screes plunge into the water before me, and far away in the distance I could see the sea! I could even make out the windmills.
I drank the water from the gill and listened to its musical gurgling. I opened a bag of chips and ate it happily. I was perfectly content, and my initial dismay at not having made it to the top faded away. Maybe there was beauty in being halfway up, too.
High performance and burnout
What I learned from burnout: It’s impossible to consistently and sustainably deliver an “exceeds expectations” performance. Some days the sun hides, the plant refuses to grow: even nature rebels. You have to lower the flame to keep it burning longer.
