Alarm Metaphor
(Kagan – Real Life Heroes Program)
Purpose: to assist the child an understanding traumatic reactions and the process of treatment.
Instructions: explain to the child how their body has a "fire alarm" to help notify them when there's danger, and briefly highlight “scary situations” when the alarm was triggered. “Alarms are important, because they let us know when there's a danger and they help keep us safe.” Highlight how they're coping reactions helped them to stay safe. “While alarms are really useful, sometimes they cause us problems, especially when they keep going off and we don't want them to. Your alarm might go off in situations where you might not be in real danger. Often, it goes off in situations that remind you of what happened, or even when you remember all on their own.” Explain how the purpose of therapy is to teach the child how to "turn off their alarm" so it doesn't cause them problems.
Purpose: to assist the child an understanding traumatic reactions and the process of treatment.
Instructions: explain to the child how their body has a "fire alarm" to help notify them when there's danger, and briefly highlight “scary situations” when the alarm was triggered. “Alarms are important, because they let us know when there's a danger and they help keep us safe.” Highlight how they're coping reactions helped them to stay safe. “While alarms are really useful, sometimes they cause us problems, especially when they keep going off and we don't want them to. Your alarm might go off in situations where you might not be in real danger. Often, it goes off in situations that remind you of what happened, or even when you remember all on their own.” Explain how the purpose of therapy is to teach the child how to "turn off their alarm" so it doesn't cause them problems.