After reviewing the resources on mental health concerns, I was really surprised by the statistics that were highlighted. I did not realize that 1 out of 5 adults experience mental illness and 17% of the youth population experience a mental health disorder. The statistic that really surprised me was the number of adolescents that did not receive mental health services the previous year (50%)! That number is very concerning and helps me further understand the importance of this line of work.

My previous experience with mental health, trauma, and/or crisis is related to addiction and the impact it can have on the addict and their loved ones. My ability to focus on the social emotional development of my students has always led me to try to improve their self-efficacy and self-awareness. As a middle school assistant principal and counselor, I worked with numerous students and their struggles with addiction. Most of the students who struggled with addiction were trying to “numb” a discomfort in their lives. And many of these students had experienced some form of trauma as children. I spent a lot of time trying to determine what caused my students to think their addiction was the proper way to handle their discomfort or “numb” their pain. I also realized that many of the students who struggled with an addiction, also had an undiagnosed mental illness. 

I have numerous family members who currently struggle with a mental illness. My maternal grandmother struggled with depression and suicidal ideations throughout her life. She was a victim of sexual abuse as a child and this traumatic experience led to her mental illness as an adult. My mother struggles with depression and I struggle with anxiety. Therefore, I know my chosen field of study has been influenced by my past experiences with trauma and mental illness. My personal experience with trauma involves my ex-husband and his refusal to seek treatment for his mental illness. He lost his temper when our son was 14 years old and gave him a concussion. As a mother of two boys that experienced this traumatic event, I can honestly tell you the impact can be emotionally devastating. This traumatic event occurred six years ago, and our family is still working through the repercussions. My ex-husband has not seen our children in over five years because he chose to move to Ruidoso, NM instead of focusing on his own recovery. I have personally witnessed how mental illness can disrupt lives, leading to chaos, fractured relationships, and profound loneliness.

I chose to take the Mental Health Quiz on the Deconstructing Stigma website, and the experience was eye-opening. I was surprised by the number of questions I answered incorrectly, particularly learning that depression is a leading contributor to the global burden of disease and that 4 out of 5 people with a mental health disorder report being impacted by stigma. These staggering statistics deepened my understanding of how mental illness not only affects individuals but can also shape the wellbeing and productivity of entire families across generations. I have personally experienced this reality, as mental illness on my maternal side of the family can be traced back at least four generations. Patterns of depression, suicidal tendencies, and bipolar disorder have appeared repeatedly, and today my own children struggle with anxiety and depression. This personal history has given me a firsthand perspective on the long-lasting and intergenerational impact of mental illness.

In my future role as a licensed professional counselor, understanding the physiological and psychological impact of trauma on children and adolescents will be essential to my effectiveness. After reading Childhood Adversity and Neural Development: A Systematic Review (McLaughlin, Sheridan, & Lambert, 2022), I have a deeper awareness of how trauma can alter both the chemistry of the brain and the trajectory of psychological development. The authors highlight that children exposed to adversity often struggle with learning, attention, and emotional regulation due to these neurological changes. Importantly, the article emphasizes that trauma is not solely a psychological experience but also a biological one, capable of reshaping the brain’s architecture in ways that may have lifelong consequences for mental health and development (McLaughlin et al., 2022). I am really looking forward to learning and growing with you this semester.

Take care,

Elisa Bird

McLaughlin, K. A., Sheridan, M. A., & Lambert, H. K. (2022). Childhood adversity and neural development: A systematic review. Annual Review of Developmental Psychology, 4, 1–30. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-devpsych-121121-093146

This artifact represents my current understanding of trauma, which I hope to expand throughout the course.

Through this course, I hope to deepen my understanding of trauma-informed care and evidence-based interventions, such as Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). I want to learn how to apply these concepts in practice, while also strengthening my ability to assess and respond to trauma with cultural sensitivity and ethical responsibility. My goal is to leave this course more confident in my ability to support clients who have faced trauma, while also knowing when to collaborate with or refer to other professionals.

What stood out most was the emphasis on presence and calmness. The training reminded me that simply being available and offering reassurance can make a significant difference for someone in distress. I also valued the focus on self-care, since caring for others requires maintaining my own well-being. Overall, this course equipped me with practical tools that I can apply in both personal and professional settings, and it gave me a stronger sense of confidence in responding compassionately to others during difficult times.

The emphasis on creating safety plans, fostering healthy communication, and collaborating with community resources resonated with me the most. It highlighted that preventing harm requires both awareness and action. This knowledge not only prepares me to respond appropriately in professional settings but also empowers me to recognize and support healthy relationships in my personal life. Overall, this learning reinforced the value of vigilance, empathy, and proactive intervention in reducing the impact of dating violence.

I also recognized the critical role of building trust and safety first. Techniques like attending behavior, paraphrasing, and reflection are not just theoretical; they are essential for helping a youth feel heard and understood. It became clear that intervention requires patience, consistency, and a collaborative approach with both the youth and his family. Planning actionable steps for Steven’s self-regulation, social skills, and cognitive restructuring gave me a practical framework for supporting him while also respecting his autonomy.

Overall, this case reinforced that effective counseling is about combining empathy, structure, and practical strategies to support growth and safety. It reminded me that each adolescent brings a unique set of experiences, and interventions must be tailored thoughtfully to meet their multidimensional needs.