NCTSN Learning Center for Child and Adolescent Trauma

In this webinar, an introduction to the series, the speakers provide an overview of the prevalence and incidence of child physical abuse and the status of research and practice in the field. Through case examples, the speakers illustrate the impact of physical abuse on children, identify characteristics of physically abusive caregivers and families, and highlight common biases related to working with these families.

Note: This course will close on July 11, 2025. Be sure to download your certificate before that day. You won’t be able to get it after the course closes.

In this webinar Melissa Runyon and Cynthia Swenson offer practical information about two family interventions commonly delivered for families who are at risk for or who have experienced physical abuse (CPC-CBT and MST-CAN). They discuss Family Safety Planning and Abuse Clarification.

Note: This course will close on July 11, 2025. Be sure to download your certificate before that day. You won’t be able to get it after the course closes.

In this webinar Michael de Arellano and Ruth Campbell explore the relationship between physical abuse and socioeconomic status, religious beliefs, racial and/or ethnic backgrounds, and gender. Speakers share strategies for approaching families with different cultural beliefs about their parenting style and use of physical punishment.

Note: This course will close on July 11, 2025. Be sure to download your certificate before that day. You won’t be able to get it after the course closes.

Eleven-year-old Clara is in her third treatment session, sharing about the first sexual abuse she experienced. Clara’s growing discomfort is evident as she describes her mother’s former live-in boyfriend, Michael, and how the abuse progressed. Clara becomes overtly distressed and leaps onto the therapist, embracing him. The therapist gently reestablishes physical boundaries and facilitates her diaphragmatic breathing. The scenario illustrates the complexity of the therapeutic relationship and the balance therapists must achieve for effectively supporting traumatized patients while also maintaining healthy boundaries.

In this webinar Farah Brink provides statistics for child abuse and neglect in the United States, outlines how to recognize a variety of injuries suggestive ofchild physical abuse, and highlights the basic diagnostic evaluation necessary to evaluate a child for physical abuse.

In this presentation, Bessel van der Kolk explains how trauma--especially repeated, interpersonal trauma such as sexual or physical abuse--affects a child's developing brain.

Joshua’s mom abandoned him when he was a few days old. For the first three years of his life, Joshua lived with his maternal grandmother and her partner. When Joshua began preschool, his teachers had some concerns about his overall hygiene and care. A few months later, his teacher called DCF to report suspected abuse when he came to school with burns on both of his hands. DCF removed Joshua from his grandmother’s care due to neglect and physical abuse. Joshua went to live with his biological father for two years. At 6 years of age, Joshua’s father was incarcerated, forcing Joshua to be placed in a foster home. DCF arranged visits with his father on and off for a few years after his father’s release from prison. Joshua remained in the same foster home until the day he was arrested for attempted armed robbery at age 15​. In this session, the therapist was asked by DCF to work on strengthening the relationship between Joshua and his father to see if he could move in and live with his father’s family in the future. The therapist begins the session by welcoming the father and letting him know that she has been working with Joshua for a month now. The therapist goes over Joshua’s strengths and highlights how grateful Joshua is for the opportunity to reconnect with family.