The implementation and acceptance of yoga techniques for children with complex trauma among practicing clinicians

Author

Danielle S. Martineau, Smith College

Publication Date

2015

Document Type

Masters Thesis

Department

School for Social Work

Keywords

Post-traumatic stress disorder in children-Treatment, Post-traumatic stress disorder in adolescence-Treatment, Yoga-Therapeutic use, Mind and body therapies, Mixed methods research, Children, Yoga, PTSD, Complex trauma, Mind-body, Adolescents, Child

Abstract

This mixed-method study was undertaken to determine acceptance and utilization rates of yoga techniques in treatment with children ages 5-17, with complex trauma among practicing-clinicians. Secondly, it was to explore beliefs of effectiveness and barriers of implementation of yoga in a therapeutic milieu. An online survey was sent through mass emails of local agencies, online social media sites through groups associated with trauma and mental health to determine practicing therapists' interests, utilization, beliefs of effectiveness, and barriers of implementation of yoga techniques in therapeutic practice with children with complex trauma. To qualify to participate in this study, one had to be a practicing clinician who works with children ages 5-17 with complex trauma. The survey consisted of both quantitative and qualitative data that asked for the demographics of the participants, their interests in utilizing yoga in treatment, their beliefs of the effectiveness of utilizing yoga in treatment, their current utilization rates, and further explored, through open ended questions, what some of their experiences were and their beliefs of effectiveness in utilizing techniques in treatment. The findings revealed that a majority of the participants were interested in utilizing yoga for the treatment of trauma; however, implementing these techniques in practice was a challenge for most clinicians. A majority of the participants believed that lack of knowledge or training was a barrier for implementation, and further research needs to be conducted to determine how agencies could provide opportunities for practicing therapists to effectively utilize yoga techniques in their therapeutic practice with children.

Language

English

Comments

vii, 107 pages. Thesis (M.S.W.)--Smith College School for Social Work, 2015. Includes bibliographical references (pages 86-91)

Recommended Citation

Martineau, Danielle S., "The implementation and acceptance of yoga techniques for children with complex trauma among practicing clinicians" (2015). Masters Thesis, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/theses/924