Restoring the Whole Child: Yoga-Based Psychotherapy for Children and Adolescents Who Have Experienced Trauma

The neurobiological effects of childhood abuse and neglect are well documented. Among other implications, these negative effects can reduce the development of self-regulatory capacities, which in turn inhibits social and emotional functioning and makes traditional mental health interventions less effective. Clinicians at the Center for Child and Family Traumatic Stress have developed a yoga-based psychotherapy group (YBPG) protocol to address deficits in self-regulatory capacities using principles from yoga and movement therapy; during a 14-week trauma-informed group intervention for youth ages 8–12, clinicians at the center use yoga and movement techniques to increase self-awareness and improve self-regulation, self-esteem and pro-social behaviors. This six-hour workshop examines yoga as an alternative treatment, identifies how its principles can be used to provide traumainformed treatment, and includes a copy of the YBPG protocol for each participant. No previous yoga experience is required, and movement is optional.