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The Service Tree lists all services in "branched" groups, starting with the very general and moving to the very specific. Click on the name of any group name to see the sub-groups available within it. Click on a service code to see its details and the providers who offer that service.

Toxic Stress Treatment Services

Taxonomy Code: RP-6400.8000-850

Programs that provide assistance for children who are experiencing traumatic events such as abuse, neglect, bullying, racism, a divorce in the family or other situations that leave them feeling emotionally overwhelmed for sustained periods of time and/or emotionally abandoned when their parents or other caregivers are unable to respond effectively to their needs. Children in these circumstances feel unsafe, their stress levels move from manageable to toxic and they begin to experience physiological changes that affect their mind, brain and body. Toxic stress can lead to a damaged stress response system, which can affect the child into adulthood. Fortunately support from nurturing adults can mitigate the harmful effects of toxic stress by helping children feel safer and allowing their bodies to turn off the stress response and develop resilience. If the activation is time-limited and buffered by relationships with adults who help the child adapt, the brain and other organs can recover from what might otherwise be damaging effects. An important step in the treatment process is ensuring that key family members know how to make the child feel safe by being the caring, emotionally attuned adult that he or she needs. Caregivers need to spend time with the child who may feel frightened when alone; speak in a gentle low calm voice with soft eyes and slow movements to avoid jarring or startling a fragile nervous system; play with the child, when possible, to foster a safe connection; help the child name and express their feelings using stories (personal or created ones), games, drawings and puppets; give hugs and other expressions of physical affection when the child accepts them; and reassure the child as best possible and help them make sense of what is happening. Evidence also supports the use of parent-child interaction therapy, child-parent psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and trauma-focused psychotherapy for children showing signs of toxic stress. Tapping into the relaxation response with breathing techniques, guided imagery, and biofeedback may be well received depending on the age of child (and if different techniques are offered as options). Other mind-body interventions that have been shown to decrease stress include hypnosis, guided imagery, music therapy and progressive muscle relaxation.

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