Rescued Thai cave boys and your trauma

People from all over the world followed this story as the events unfolded and celebrated the successful outcome of this rescue mission.

Many people are concerned about the effect this incident may have on the children’s mental well-being, and rightfully so.

However, one can either focus exclusively on the trauma and potential future negative effects, or one can (also) focus on the resilience, skills, characteristics, resources the boys used to have survived this ordeal.

Yes, they were helped, supported and guided by the adults present, but they had to do something with the support / help/ guidance given, and make it their own.

Can you imagine how powerful it will be if they use and further develop these skills, characteristics and resources later in life?!

Have YOU experienced trauma, or are you currently experiencing trauma?

Which resources, skills or characteristics did YOU draw on to cope DESPITE being traumatised?

You may think you didn’t do anything because you received counselling/therapy, medication or guidance from others, but even so, it might have enabled you to take more control, but still YOU had to DO something after you were enabled!

How can you use the same resources, skills or characteristics to cope with current or future challenges?

This perspective on this event illustrate some of the basic tenets of Solution Focused Brief Therapy that I use in counselling.