About Dr. Pianka

Pediatricians and other pediatric health professionals are daily  being challenged by the youth mental health crisis, the shortage of  pediatric mental health professionals, and their own risk for burnout.  Research increasingly shows that a trauma-informed care approach, like  that presented in Coaching Families for Resilience, can help address some of the most pressing issues facing families and pediatric care providers.

Coaching Families for Resilience offers a structured program  that pediatricians can offer within the framework of primary care  office visits. It is designed to teach parents and kids skills and  techniques to begin addressing trauma, toxic stress, and behavioral and  mental health issues immediately, even while waiting for an appointment  with a therapist or psychiatrist.

Over a series of 4 weekly visits, the clinician works with caregivers  to identify the most important issues and desired changes, coaches the  family on techniques for calming, emotional regulation, and  de-escalation, and introduces a simple process for stepwise change. Coaching Families for Resilience also illustrates how to apply the core toolkit of interventions to a broad range of clinical scenarios, including

• Handling acute visits for anxiety, depression, and oppositional behaviors
• Caring for children in foster care
• Working with families dealing with illness or other crises
• Adapting anticipatory guidance recommendations to suit the needs of families affected by significant adversity and toxic stress

A chapter of clinical vignettes breaks down a series of complex  office visits into manageable pieces that can be approached using the  book’s toolkit, illustrating in detail how a trauma-informed approach  can transform practice.

Professionals who care for children will be empowered by this guide  and may find themselves and their practices revitalized by this  practical guide to connecting with and assisting families in real time.