A Neuroscience Perspective for Working With
Children and Adolescents continued from page 16
attracted to thrill-seeking behaviors , even if potentially dangerous , and 2 ) they experience greater depths of emotion , as they do not yet have the prefrontal executive functioning required to process and regulate those emotions . ( For more on Dr . Casey ’ s work , see bit . ly / 3IKRWhL .)
Here ’ s an example of how the imbalance theory of brain development affects teenage drivers who drive faster than the speed limit . Most teenagers of driving age ( 16 – 19 ) are aware of the dangers of driving at high rates of speed , as they have :
• Taken some type of behind-the-wheel course ,
• Received information from their caregiver ,
• May have heard of or know someone who has received a speeding ticket or suspended license , and
• May have heard of someone who was involved in a vehicle accident that was related to traveling at a high rate of speed .
Yet despite all of this knowledge , many new teen drivers take the risk of driving too fast and become defensive when caregivers attempt to regulate their driving privileges . When we work with adolescents , we counselors can use information about adolescent brain development , along with encouraging planned behavior ( e . g ., discussions about the benefits and risks of driving at high speed ) to facilitate healthy decision-making .
Chronic Stress
It is well-known that chronic stress during childhood has a negative impact on children ’ s neurophysiological development . Chronic stress might include :
• Bullying ;
• Experiences of discrimination , prejudice , or marginalization ;
• Living in poverty ;
• Adverse childhood experiences ( ACEs ) such as depression , substance use , or suicide attempts by a household member ;
• Imprisonment of a household member ; or
• Witnessing interpersonal / domestic violence towards caregivers .
Chronic stress differs from traumatic stress in that the stressor may persist over a longer period of time , and the stressor does not qualify as a traumatic event .
Any of the stressors listed above can cause significant changes to the stress-response system , which will then provoke subsequent consequences to mental and physical health . Some experts have conceptualized the impacts of chronic stress as developmental trauma . This alternative way of understanding the impacts of stress might better help counselors capture the impact of these experiences on neurophysiological functioning .
CMHCs who work with children who have experienced chronic stress should focus on strengthening the child ’ s relationships with caregivers . Bonding ( especially physical touch such as being held or hugged ) is associated with the release of oxytocin . The amygdala , the seat of fear , has oxytocin receptors . It is theorized that the secretion of oxytocin downregulates the pituitary gland ’ s release of the early stress hormone — called adrenocorticotropic hormone ( ACTH )— which eventually results in the secretion of cortisol and adrenaline via the Hypothalamic- Pituitary-Adrenal ( HPA ) axis .
We CMHCs might help caregivers learn to differentiate between a child ’ s request for nurturance prompted by neurophysiological activation versus one prompted by an avoidance response ( e . g ., attempting to avoid tasks like attending school ). The goal here is to help the child seek and appropriately receive physical nurturance from caregivers to downregulate their stress response .
CMHCs might also consider whether a client would benefit from some therapeutic lifestyle changes to assist with the types of stress often experienced by children and adolescents . Inquiries regarding whether the child is getting adequate sleep and physical exercise seem to be particularly important . The need for more physical exercise might be even more important given the significant period of time children and adolescents spent in isolation as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic .
continued on page 18 The Advocate Magazine 2022 , Issue # 2 American Mental Health Counselors Association ( AMHCA ) www . amhca . org
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