Interview with a therapeutic social worker who worked with children following a major incident
‘When I was told about the enormity and the seriousness of what had happened to the children it didn’t strike me at that time. I think I was in the mode of thinking about my emotions rather than feeling them. I think because of my work I can separate my emotions and would rather think about what it’s like for the child. I can remember drawing on a piece of paper; about the child’s experience trying to map out and understand more about this. Doing that activity brought home the scale of the disaster the children had experienced but I didn’t feel emotional about it at that stage.
When I met the foster carer and she talked to me about the children’s response and when I met them that was when I started realising more about what they had been through. The thing that really helped was being able to talk about my work with colleagues and other professionals. The fact that the children were in a safe place when I was working with them, that was really the most important thing. I remember that I felt angry later on when I understood more of the details about what the children had been through.
I think being able to switch off from this when I was working with the children also helped me cope. I think my therapeutic training helped me manage my feelings and separate them when I was working with children, I could switch off from the emotional me so that I didn’t transmit this to the children. I think having a faith and a value base to draw on was also helpful although, I’m not saying that has to be same for everyone. Without doubt having supportive colleagues made a real difference. Also the children’s willingness to work with me also made a difference because I could do something to help.
I think when you have shared professional perspective about trauma when you talk with others it feels like you are talking the same language and this feels permissive and liberating. Your colleagues help you remember that your feelings are important and justifiable. Talking directly to the child and seeing the level of resilience in the children despite the harm they have suffered is remarkable as they also find ways of coping- cutting off from their feelings.
Seeing children learn how to function in ways so they don’t stand out at school for example, that can leave you feeling more hopeful. But it is important to remember that each child is different so they will all have their unique responses if they are affected by a major incident.’