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Trauma
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Is Your Child Struggling with Trauma?
Children who have experienced trauma often carry the emotional weight of those events well into their daily lives. Whether it’s the result of a specific traumatic event, ongoing stress, or difficult childhood experiences, trauma can deeply affect how a child thinks, feels, and behaves. You may have noticed sudden changes in their mood, emotional outbursts, withdrawal from others, or even trouble sleeping.
As a parent, it’s heart-wrenching to watch your child struggle, especially when you don’t know how to help. Trauma can have lasting effects on a child’s development, but with the right therapeutic support, healing is possible.
How Trauma Affects Children
Trauma can manifest in many different ways for children, depending on their age and the nature of the event. Your child may have trouble concentrating, experience sudden mood swings, or avoid situations that remind them of their traumatic experience. They may even act out or become overly clingy, seeking reassurance that they are safe.
It’s important to recognize that trauma is not always about a single event. Emotional neglect, ongoing family conflict, or even bullying can lead to deep-rooted feelings of fear, sadness, or anger. These experiences may leave your child feeling confused and overwhelmed by emotions they don’t yet know how to process.
How Therapy Can Help Your Child Heal
Therapy can help your child make sense of what they’ve experienced, regain their sense of safety, and learn how to cope with the overwhelming emotions that trauma often leaves behind. Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) helps children process traumatic memories by understanding how their thoughts influence their feelings and behaviors. It allows them to develop healthier emotional responses and reduce the impact of their traumatic experiences over time.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) focuses on emotional regulation, giving children the tools to manage intense feelings that often arise from trauma. Through mindfulness practices, children learn to stay grounded in the present moment, which can be crucial when dealing with triggers or intrusive memories.
We also incorporate Play Therapy, which provides a safe, supportive environment for younger children to express their feelings in a way that feels natural to them, allowing them to process trauma without the pressure of verbal expression. Mindfulness remains a powerful tool, teaching your child how to stay present and manage their emotional responses without becoming overwhelmed by traumatic memories.
In trauma therapy, your child will:
- Learn how to manage and process their emotions through TF- CBT.
- Develop emotional regulation skills using DBT.
- Practice mindfulness to stay grounded and reduce the intensity of traumatic memories.
- Safely express emotions and experiences through Play Therapy.
- Gain skills to cope with triggers and rebuild trust in themselves and others.
Your Child May Benefit from Trauma Therapy If:
- They have experienced a traumatic event or ongoing stress, such as bullying or emotional neglect.
- They have sudden mood changes, outbursts, or periods of intense sadness.
- They avoid places, people, or situations that remind them of the traumatic experience.
- They are struggling with nightmares, flashbacks, or have trouble sleeping.
- They find it difficult to trust others or express their emotions.
Who Benefits Most from Trauma Therapy?
Trauma therapy is ideal for children aged 8 to 17 who are coping with the emotional and psychological effects of trauma. Therapy helps them make sense of their feelings and experiences, giving them the tools to manage emotions, build resilience, and move forward with confidence.
You Can Help Your Child Heal from Trauma
Trauma therapy offers your child a safe and supportive space to explore their feelings and develop healthier ways of coping with what they’ve been through. Through a combination of CBT, DBT, mindfulness, and Play Therapy, your child can find healing, rebuild trust, and regain a sense of peace and safety.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your child heal from trauma and move forward toward a brighter future.
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