Trauma expert advises parents on coping with their child being abused

For many parents, the very thought of it induces fear and rage: A "trusted" adult is accused of violating your child.

Childhood trauma expert, Dr. Yaro Garcia, gives her take on the rage parents can often feel in cases like these.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO ... IF ANADULT YOU TRUSTED TO CARE FORYOUR CHILD ENDED UP ACCUSED OFBECOMING INTIMATE WITH YOURKID??IT’S A QUESTION THAT RESURFACEDTHIS WEEK ..

WHEN WE BROKE THESTORY OF A FORMER LEE COUNTYTEACHER ACCUSED OF GETTING INTOAN PHYSICALLY INMATERELATIONSHIP WITH A HIGH SCHOOLSTUDENT.

IT’S NOT THE FIRST TIMEWE’VE COVERED A CASE LIKE THIS.AND YOU IMAGINE THE BETRAYAL ANDANGER PARENTS IN CASES LIKE THISFEEL.

SO I GOT ON A ZOOM CALLWITH A CHILD TRAUMA EXPERT ATF-G-C-U ..

DR. YARO GARCIA ..

TOSHARE WHAT MANY OF YOU SAY ABOUTTHIS ISSUE ON FACEBOOK.(:00)(2:46--3:31)WFTX: Sometimes these parentsfeel rage or I even hear people- even if it hasn’t happened totheir kid - but they say if itwere me, I’d be in prison.

I’dwant to kill that person or atleast harm them.

What do you sayto parents who have thosefeelings?

DR. YARO GARCIA/FGCUTRAUMA EXPERT: Yeah, you’reright, I have often heard manypeople say this.

And I oftenhave to explain that the issuewith utilizing violence or goingafter their rage to do somethingabout it is that that parent isnow going to end up in some sortof legal problem.

And that’sgoing to take away from thembeing (able) to attend in aquality way to that child who’salready traumatized and underlot of stress.(4:32--4:56)under a lot of stress.traumatized and under a lot ofstress.(4:32--4:56)WFTX: What would you say to aparent though who says I want tobe harsh because I want my kidto feel protected primal primalresponse.

?

DR. YARO GARCIA/FGCUTRAUMA EXPERT: Yeah, I wouldtell a parent who says that tounderstand that they themselveshave been tremendously affectedby what has happened to thechild.(cover edit with cutaway of Patat 7;20 to 7;22 or ..

:04 - :06)(5:02- 5:10)DR. YARO GARCIA/FGCU TRAUMAEXPERT: So that rage and thatanger is the first sign that Ihave been affected.

I also needhelp.(5:23-6:00)WFTX: What would you telladults and look at these stories- where it was there child orsomeone else’s, and they do feelthis sense of collective angerthat these teachers, clergymembers they seemed to begetting off with a slap on twrist in the criminal justicesystem.

This piece is sodifficult to respond to becausewhat needs to happen is we allhave to to a better job ofadvocating in the system toimprove the way in which welegally deal with these cases.(6;20--6:28)DR. YARO GARCIA/FGCU TRAUMAEXPERT: I can also tell yousome of the biggest laws thathave been passed, when it comesto these topics have been beenadvocated and dealt with withvictims.(6:40--:46)WFTX: Empowering you to try tomake things as right as they canbe after that level of pain?(6:30--:35)DR. YARO GARCIA/FGCU TRAUMAEXPERT: The families of thevictims. They were ones who madea difference, they were the oneswho made it better.(7;50:--7:54)WFTX: Thank you so much forspeaking with us.

DR. YAROGARCIA/FGCU TRAUMA EXPERT:You’re welcome.

Thank youYOU CAN READ WHAT ELSE DR.GARCIA RECOMMENDS TO CHANNELANGER INTO CONSTRUCTIVE ACTIONWHEN YOU FIND THIS STORY ON FOX4 NOW.

IF YOUR FAMILY’SSTRUGGLING WITH THIS ...YOU’LL FIND FREE PROFESSIONAL