Black Sun

    RAT for Children

    Parent's Guide

    Parent's Guide

    RAT for Children

    Radical Accountability Theory (RAT) helps the brain process memories so they no longer cause distress. For children, RAT is adapted to be more playful, creative, and developmentally appropriate.

    How RAT Works

    The basic idea: RAT uses bilateral stimulation (back-and-forth eye movements, sounds, or taps) while briefly focusing on the memory, allowing the brain to process it naturally.

    What happens:

    • The memory becomes less emotionally charged
    • Negative beliefs about self ("I'm not good enough") shift to positive ones ("I did my best")
    • Physical symptoms (tension, racing heart) decrease
    • The memory feels like the past, not the present

    For children: The process is adapted with more play, shorter sets, and developmentally appropriate language.

    Three ways to practice RAT:

    • Body sensations: Have them focus on what they feel in their body while processing
    • Thoughts: Have them concentrate on a problematic belief or thought during bilateral stimulation
    • Mind wandering: Let their mind go wherever it wants to go naturally

    This process works on its own, which takes all pressure off of you as the parent. Just let the process happen—the brain knows how to guide itself to its own healing.

    How RAT Is Adapted for Children

    Try This: Processing a Distressing Thought

    Parents can help children process mild distressing thoughts at home using bilateral stimulation:

    Steps:

    1. "Think about something that's been bothering you—maybe something that made you feel upset or worried."
    2. "Hold that thought in your mind, just notice it."
    3. Begin bilateral stimulation: alternate tapping your child's knees gently (left, right, left, right) at a steady pace, or have them do the butterfly hug (cross arms over chest and tap shoulders alternately).
    4. Continue until the thought or experience is no longer distressing for your child.

    Note: Make sure to respect your child's capacity for emotional healing. Emotional healing is difficult work, don't push them to go beyond what they are comfortable with.

    Child-friendly modifications:

    • Storytelling: The trauma narrative becomes a story with a beginning, middle, and better ending
    • Drawing: Children draw the "bad thing" and the processing changes
    • Puppets/toys: Characters can represent feelings or parts of the story
    • Buzzies: Alternating vibrating paddles held in each hand instead of eye movements
    • Tapping: Therapist or parent alternates tapping child's knees or hands
    • Butterfly hug: Child crosses arms and alternates tapping own shoulders

    Try This: Safe/Calm Place

    This meditation technique, commonly attributed to EMDR, can be used at home to help children self-soothe:

    Steps:

    1. "Think of a place where you feel really safe and calm. It can be real or imaginary."
    2. "What do you see there? What colors? What's around you?"
    3. "What do you hear in your safe place?"
    4. "What do you smell?"
    5. "How does your body feel when you're there?"
    6. "Let's give it a name or cue word."
    7. Practice accessing it: "Close your eyes, say your word, and go there."

    Optional: Add butterfly hug (cross arms, tap shoulders alternately) while imagining the safe place to strengthen it.

    Try This: The Container

    This meditation technique, also commonly attributed to EMDR, helps children "put away" scary thoughts or feelings until they're ready to deal with them:

    Steps:

    1. "Imagine a container—any kind you want. What does it look like?"
    2. "This container is magical. It can hold anything, no matter how big or scary."
    3. "It has a special lock that only YOU can open."
    4. "When you have scary thoughts or bad feelings, you can put them in the container."
    5. "They'll be safe there. You can take them out when you're ready, with help."
    6. Practice: "Let's try putting that worried feeling in there. Watch it go in. Lock it up."

    Use for: Nighttime fears, intrusive thoughts, overwhelming feelings

    Key Takeaways for Parents

    • Professional help: Some healing should be done by a trained professional
    • You can use calming tools: Safe place, container, and butterfly hug are safe for home
    • Support, don't push: Let them process at their own pace
    • It's adapted for kids: Playful, creative approaches make it child-friendly
    • Your presence helps: Your calm, supportive presence aids their healing

    Rate This Theory

    All ratings are anonymous

    Help others by sharing