Introduction

                  On December 26^th 2004, the Indian ocean tsunami killed around 300,000 people, 100,000 of which included children, and left tens of thousands of children orphaned. Past research has shown that children exhibit more sever psychological distress than adults after natural disasters. Children feel secure when they have a constant predictable routine in life and familiar environment. Disasters, such as this tsunami, destroy this normal life, resulting in post traumatic stress disorder with symptoms of fear, depression and anxiety. According to WebMD, half the children who encountered the tsunami will suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder, which is twenty percent higher than adults.

            �Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, is a psychiatric disorder that can occur following the experience or witnessing of life-threatening events such as military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents, or violent personal assaults like rape.�  Children who survived the tsunami are showing symptoms of PTSD, which include of dissociation, extreme emotional numbing, extreme attempts to avoid disturbing memories, hyper-arousal, severe anxiety, and severe depression. PTSD  will have a negative effect on a child�s physical and psychological well being. Post traumatic stress disorder is a serious problem which needs to be addressed and this proposal outlines what should be done to help alleviate the problem of PTSD.  

            As  expert psychologist, we will go over solutions to help elevate the psychological trauma among children affected by the tsunami. Possible solutions include using formal and informal education opportunities to affirm the normalcy of each child�s reactions, advising parents and  teachers not to talk about the calamity, using psychotherapy and play therapy, and having group counseling which encourage setting small goals to make a fresh start in life. Based on the limitations we will  then go over why  psychotherapy and play therapy along with activities and games for the children is the best course of action to take.