A PROPOSED YOUTH TRAUMA REHABILITATION CENTER

SUBMITTED BY: KEVIN PAOLO ANINON, MARK PRUEL J. TAN

ABSTRACT
Childhood is a dangerous time. For centuries, children--the most vulnerable members of
our species--have struggled to survive this harsh world. For infants and children, survival is
dependent upon adults, most typically, the nuclear family. It is in the family setting that the child
is fed, clothed, sheltered, nurtured as well as educated - directly and indirectly - in the language ,
beliefs, and value systems of the culture. It is in the family setting in which the non-genetic
DNA of the culture is transmitted from generation to generation , allowing the amazing process
of socio-cultural evolution.
When the childs development is characterized by structure, predictability, nurturing, and
enriching emotional, social and cognitive experiences, a vulnerable and powerless infant can
grow to become a happy, productive, insightful and caring member of society -- contributing to
us all. Sadly, few families and communities can provide this idealized early life. Indeed, it is in
the familial incubator that children are most frequently manipulated, coerced, degraded,
inoculated with destructive beliefs, and exposed to violence, traumatizing the child
psychologically. (Bruce D. Perry, M.D., Ph.D. (2000). Understanding Traumatized and
Maltreated Children: The Core Concepts. Retrieved 11 August 2014, www.ChildTrauma.org)
Psychological trauma can have a big impact to children , as vulnerable as they are.
Adults often see it as something trivial and , in effect, ignore the signs and symptoms children
show. The study aims to provide architectural solutions to this problem which can negatively
affect our society when left unattended, but a problem like this cannot be solved directly through
architectural means. Knowing that, the researchers conclude that a Youth Trauma Rehabilitation
Center is an appropriate solution that will provide an appropriate environment for the children to
prepare to return to society as a strong person bringing with them their traumatic experience as
a "weapon" that can make them better people.

INTRODUCTION
Psychological trauma is a type of damage to the psyche that occurs as a result of a
severely distressing event. Trauma is often the result of an overwhelming amount of stress that
exceeds one's ability to cope or integrate the emotions involved with that experience.
(http://www.samhsa.gov/traumajustice/traumadefinition/definition.aspx)
A traumatic event involves one experience, or repeating events with the sense of being
overwhelmed that can be delayed by weeks, years, or even decades as the person struggles to
cope with the immediate circumstances, eventually leading to serious, long-term negative
consequences, often overlooked even by mental health professionals.
Psychologically traumatic experiences often involve physical trauma that threatens one's
survival and sense of security.
(http://www.helpguide.org/mental/emotional_psychological_trauma.htm). Typical causes and
dangers of psychological trauma include harassment, sexual abuse, employment
discrimination, police brutality, bullying, domestic violence, indoctrination, being the victim of
an alcoholic parent, the threat of either, or the witnessing of either, particularly in childhood, lifethreatening medical conditions, medication-induced trauma. (Whitfield, Charles
(2010). "Psychiatric drugs as agents of Trauma". The International Journal of Risk and Safety in
Medicine 22 (4): 195207. Retrieved 11 August 2014.). Catastrophic natural disasters such as
earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, war or other mass violence can also cause psychological
trauma. Long-term exposure to situations such as extreme poverty or milder forms of abuse,
such as verbal abuse, exist independently of physical trauma but still generate psychological
trauma.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

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Childhood trauma can increase one's risk for psychological disorders including PTSD,
depression, and substance abuse. Childhood abuse tends to have the most complications with
long-term effects out of all forms of trauma because it occurs during the most sensitive and
critical stages of psychological development. It could also lead to violent behavior, possibly as
extreme as serial murder. For example, Hickey's Trauma-Control Model suggests that
"childhood trauma for serial murderers may serve as a triggering mechanism resulting in an
individual's inability to cope with the stress of certain events." (Hickey, E. W. (2010). Serial
Murderers and Their Victims. Blemont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning. Retrieved 11 August
2014)

GOALS
This research aims to be able to design and develop a Youth Trauma Rehabilitation
Center which will attend to the needs of the underage that will help them move on with their
psychological trauma. The Youth Trauma Rehabilitation Center's design will consider the fact
that the main and major users of the facility are underage and have recently undergone
psychological trauma that had enough impact on them for them to be brought in the facility.

OBJECTIVES
1. To help the children move on with their trauma and learn to accept it;
2. To give the children the environment needed for them to reflect with their trauma;

3. To provide a facility in which rehabilitation for children who experienced psychological trauma
here in the Davao region.
4. To speed up the recovery of the children who suffer with traumatic experiences.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
INDEPENDENT VARIABLE

DEPENDENT VARIABLE

INTERVENING VARIABLE
Designing a space in which
that gives importance on the

Youth
center

trauma

rehabilitation

-comfortable environment for

comfort of the users through

speedy recovery

interior design, zoning and

-activities within rehabilitation

planning.

centers

Maximizing

-circulation of users within

creating areas or zones for

rehabilitation centers

activities yet also focusing on

the

space

by

the circulation inside of the

structure.

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA DEFINED
To understand what trauma does we have to understand what it is . Lenore Terr, a child
psychiatrist who did the first longitudinal study of traumatized children writes , "psychic trauma
occurs when a sudden, unexpected, overwhelming intense emotional blow or a series of blown
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assaults the person from outside. Traumatic events are external, but they quickly become
incorporated into the mind" (Terr, 1990, p.8). Van der Kolk makes a similar point about the
complicated nature of trauma when he says , "Traumatization occurs when both internal and
external resources are inadequate to cope with external threat" (Van der Kolk , 1989, p.393).
Both clinicians make the point that it is not the trauma itself that does the damage , It is how the
individual's mind and body reacts in its own unique way to the traumatic experience in
combination with the unique response of the individual's social group.
Children are traumatized whenever they fear for their lives or for the lives of someone
they love. A traumatic experience impacts the entire person - the way we think , the way we
learn, the way we remember things, the way we feel about ourselves, the way we feel about
other people, and the way we make sense of the world are all profoundly altered by traumatic
experience. (Sandra L. Bloom, M.D. (1999). Trauma Theory Abbreviated. Retrieved 12 August
2014)

HYPOTHESIS
"The limited amount of rehabilitation centers catering to psychological trauma is making the
recovery of the children suffering from trauma more challenging and takes more time"

ASSUMPTION
"The limited amount of rehabilitation centers in the Davao region is not enough for the growing
number of children who suffer from trauma."

SCOPE AND LIMITATION

in this study, we have gathered statistics about psychological traumas and their effects
on the victims and their daily lives . we have researched about the lives of the victims and how it
has affected them at home, at school and at social interaction. in order to help the children and
give them a chance back to a normal life in the world , to grow without any fears and scars, we
have studied the methods in rehabilitation of psychological trauma especially in youth . the study
also includes the proper treatment and environment needed by the youth in order for a
successful rehabilitation. We have also gathered statistics about the children in the Mindanao
region which suffer in inflicted psychological trauma and the current facilities in which they are
being rehabilitated (if they are) . the study also gathered data about the effects of the
psychological trauma in the youth here in the Mindanao region in which , causes of such
traumas are rape, abandonment and child abuse.
We have not, however, gathered data about psychological trauma in patients 18 years
old and above, also the lasting effects of the rehabilitation of the victims . the study also did not
gather statistics about the outside sources in which such trauma originates.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The number of children who suffer from traumatic experiences are growing every year , and if
not treated in a young age , it might pose a problem in their adulthood . This section of the
research will provide a brief description on the different significances of the study . To the youth
suffering from psychological trauma, the study helps the victims of trauma by providing a facility
that focuses in their recovery. To the families, it provides a safe and stable environment for their
children to overcome their trauma, without having to worry of dangers . To the medical
community, it serves as a reference guide on creating similar facilities or programs . To the
community, it serves the future as it provides stable persons to participate in society , creating a
better and more efficient functioning society. To the psychiatrists, the proposed study will held
give a deeper understanding in the development and recovery of traumatic experiences and its

victims. To the future researchers, the proposed study benefits and helps the future researchers
as a base and guide in the study of the subject.