Child Life Trauma-Informed Care Flashcards

Re-traumatization in a hospital context is best described as:

Answer: The reactivation of trauma responses triggered by hospital experiences that mirror or remind the child of past adversity

Re-traumatization occurs when aspects of the hospital environment—sights, sounds, loss of control, separation—activate the child's previous trauma responses, intensifying distress beyond the current event.

Which of the following ACEs categories is classified as a 'household dysfunction' in the original CDC-Kaiser ACEs study?

Answer: Witnessing domestic violence

In the original ACEs study, household dysfunctions included witnessing domestic violence, household substance abuse, household mental illness, parental separation/divorce, and incarcerated household members.

A child life specialist practicing self-care to prevent compassion fatigue is engaging in which professional obligation?

Answer: An ethical and professional responsibility that sustains the capacity to provide quality, empathic care

Professional self-care is an ethical obligation in child life practice because compassion fatigue impairs the quality of care and the specialist's capacity for empathic engagement.

When designing a trauma-informed therapeutic play session for a child recovering from an ICU stay, the child life specialist should prioritize:

Answer: Child-directed play that restores a sense of agency, provides emotional expression opportunities, and builds mastery

Trauma-informed therapeutic play restores agency and mastery—key antidotes to the helplessness of ICU trauma—while allowing the child to process experiences at their own pace.

The trauma-informed principle of 'safety' in a hospital setting specifically refers to:

Answer: Creating both physical and emotional safety so patients and families feel secure, respected, and free from harm

In trauma-informed care, safety encompasses both physical and emotional safety—creating an environment where patients and families feel respected, heard, and free from harm or judgment.

Which of the following grounding techniques is most appropriate for a school-age child experiencing acute trauma-triggered anxiety during a procedure?

Answer: Using a sensory-based technique such as the '5-4-3-2-1' exercise to anchor the child in the present

The 5-4-3-2-1 grounding technique uses sensory awareness to bring the child's attention back to the present moment, interrupting the trauma response and supporting nervous system regulation.

The Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) emphasizes trauma-informed care within child life scope of practice primarily because:

Answer: Pediatric hospitalization itself can be a traumatic experience, and understanding trauma supports effective psychosocial care for all patients

ACLP recognizes that hospitalization itself carries trauma potential for any child, making trauma-informed principles foundational to effective psychosocial care across all pediatric settings.