How Trauma Can Affect a Child and the Benefits of Therapy for Children

Whether the result of abuse, neglect, the sudden loss of a loved one, becoming homeless, a natural disaster, or witnessing or experiencing a frightening, violent, or life-threatening event, childhood trauma can have a lasting impact that lasts a lifetime. In this article, we will look at some of the many benefits of trauma therapy for children.

Childhood trauma affects the child’s sense of safety and trust, and left untreated, can lead to mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as physical problems such as heart disease or diabetes.

Childhood trauma therapy is a specialized form of counseling that provides children with a safe, supportive environment in which they can share what they have experienced, as well as process and come to understand their feelings and have them validated as real and important.

It uses talk, play, and creative activities specifically designed to promote healing from the impact of the trauma, resilience, teach the child new, more helpful ways of thinking and feeling about the traumatic event, and equip him or her with healthy coping skills that enable them to deal with triggers and challenging situations.

Common symptoms of childhood trauma

• Separation anxiety.
• Clinginess.
• Trouble sleeping.
• Nightmares.
• Loss of appetite.
• Avoiding things that are reminders of the traumatic event.
• Acting out.
• Angry outbursts.
• Frequent crying.
• Hypervigilance.
• Withdrawing from friends.
• Loss of interest in social activities.
• Erratic behavior.
• Trouble concentrating.
• Self-harming behaviors.

Most effective types of therapy for children

Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT)

Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy is an evidence-based form of cognitive behavioral therapy that specifically addresses trauma and the child’s ensuing emotional struggles resulting from his or her memory of the traumatic event.

TF-CBT also involves the participation of trusted family members and/or caregivers, by teaching them how to actively listen and communicate with their child in ways that are emotionally supportive and enhance a feeling of closeness and trust that helps the child feel safe about opening up and expressing his or her feelings.

Cognitive processing therapy (CPT)

Cognitive processing therapy is also an evidence-based type of cognitive behavioral therapy. It focuses on helping the child process the trauma, learn new ways to reframe and manage dysfunctional thought patterns related to it, and recognize and cope with triggers.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing is a form of therapy aimed at reducing trauma-induced symptoms by changing how memories of the trauma are stored in the brain.

It uses a series of guided bilateral stimulations such as repetitive eye movements or taps while the child simultaneously focuses on a traumatic memory to help his or her brain reprocess it in a way that decreases its emotional impact and enables the child to heal from the fear associated with it.

Child and family traumatic stress intervention (CFTSI)

The goal of child and family traumatic stress intervention is to reduce the child’s trauma-induced symptoms, strengthen caregiver communication and emotional support, and equip the child with healthy, age-appropriate coping skills.

Parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT)

Parent-child interaction therapy is an evidence-based intervention that was traditionally designed for young children with behavior issues, but that can also be adapted for children with a history of trauma.

Its focus is on improving the quality of the parent-child relationship and interactions through in-the-moment coaching that helps build a warm connection between them and equips the parent to manage the child’s challenging behaviors in a calm, appropriate fashion.

Child-parent psychotherapy (CPP)

Child-parent psychotherapy is a therapeutic intervention designed for children aged five and under who are experiencing attachment and/or behavior issues resulting from trauma. Its primary goal is to strengthen the parent-child bond so the child’s ability to function in a healthy way can be restored.

Play therapy for children

Play therapy enables children as young as three years old to be able to express themselves and work through their trauma even when they are unable to verbalize their thoughts and feelings.

Art therapy for children

Art therapy has also been proven to be an effective non-verbal treatment modality. It promotes healing by using different mediums to address, express, and creatively process the effects of the traumatic event without the need for words.

If you have questions about this article regarding trauma therapy for children and/or would like to set up an appointment with one of the faith-based counselors in our directory to see how we can help you and your child manage the challenges he or she is facing, please give us a call at Mansfield Christian Counseling.