Trauma Loss and Compassion (TLC™)

The Trauma Loss and Compassion (TLC™) Support Group for Young Children is an internationally implemented program, that has successfully assisted young children who have experienced loss and/or trauma.  Dr. Kiti Freier Randall, owner/developer of this program, and her colleagues have effectively and successfully implemented TLC™ in San Bernardino County Preschool Services Department for nine years.   TLC™ is a 90-minute, once per week for 10 weeks, structured support group for young children (3-6).  In TLC™ young children are invited to explore, identify and share feelings, thoughts, and stories during circle time and participate in structured, creative play/art activities that will assist them in identifying and working through their feelings.  The group is intended to help the child find relief from distressing symptoms, to cope with loss and trauma in a healthier way, and to function better on an interpersonal level. Most directly it provides skill sets in identification and communication of emotions.  The TLC™ Support Group provides a safe and nurturing environment for children to cope with loss, significant changes, or traumas that may have occurred in their life. Loss and trauma can be a time of crisis for children, but with caring, support, and acceptance during the healing process it can become a time of growth.

In order to best ameliorate functioning of the child in the TLC™ program, parents are also offered a concurrent support group.  These groups will meet weekly on the same day as the child’s session so as to provide parallel support to both the child and the caregiver.  Topics for discussion at each of the sessions is centered around a similar subject matter to what the children have been processing but may also include:  understanding the young child’s perspectives on loss, how to communicate their young child about grief, creating space and structure for grieving children, and responding to behavior and attitude changes.  Providing this service and support to caregivers enhances parenting competencies and increase positive and nurturing parenting which is intended to ameliorate discipline approaches and providing positive strategies for behavioral compliance.  Caregivers are also offered strategies which can impact problem solving,  anger management, and communication skills. 

Within the preschool system, teachers who have concerns are also provided consultation regarding the young child and loss.  

Parents who have attended these groups over the past seven years have indicated the benefits of this support group in understanding and parenting their child; including improved functioning in the home environment.  Additionally, teachers have reported that those parents who attend these groups further reinforce the child’s skills in communication and social-emotional development making positive gains notable in the classroom environment as well.  These groups and feedback to teachers has helped caregivers and teaching staff work more collaboratively to ensure consistency across settings and better meet the young child’s needs.  Further, when the caregivers are engaged this increases the caregivers involvement in children’s academic related activities at home as well.   

Dr Kiti Freier Randall - Director/Owner

Michele Putini, LMFT - Lead Trainer