Healing Past Trauma

Facing Teen Trauma

You love your teen. You want nothing more than to see him or her happy and safe.

For a parent, watching your child undergo traumatic circumstances can be incredibly challenging because, when you see your child suffering, it hurts.

We understand, and we’re here to help.

First things first

The good news? There’s a way through. Teen trauma can be healed.

The bad news? You – and your teen – have to face it first, and that’s not always easy to do.

Working with a therapist can help your teen, you, and your family understand that you’re not alone in this struggle.

The grass isn’t always greener…

When you’re struggling, it can seem as though you’re the only family in the world dealing with what you’re experiencing.

But what you may not know is this: teen trauma is far from rare.

In a recent study, 61% of teens (ages 13 to 17) had been exposed to at least one traumatic event in their lifetime. 19% had experienced three or more such events.

When you consider the challenging lives of teenagers, these numbers really aren’t surprising. Adolescence is a time of significant transitions and growth. Furthermore, as they take steps toward adulthood, teens are being exposed to the world on a larger scale.

And accidents happen. In a split second, a teen can witness or experience a life-altering incident. Yet, accidental trauma is only one of the many kinds of teen trauma.

Teen trauma also includes physical violence, sexual assault, emotional distress, and mental suffering.

Moreover, teen trauma experiences often result in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Benefits of Trauma-Focused Therapy

Trauma-Focused therapy can be beneficial to youth who have experienced a traumatic event.

By engaging in trauma-focused treatment, teens can learn more about what they’re experiencing, how to address the concerns, and how to cope in healthier, more positive ways.

Together, in trauma-focused therapy tailored specifically to meet your needs, we’ll engage in the following activities:

Learning About Trauma – We’ll provide a safe space for children and their families to learn about normal responses to trauma and specifically how a traumatic event has impacted the child and family.

Re-Establishing Safety – We’ll define what safety means to you by finding out what makes you feel secure; and, based on your responses, we’ll create that environment.

Identifying Triggers – We’ll find out what intensifies anxiety feelings/thoughts/actions.

Developing Healthy Coping Skills – Then, we’ll identify what helps you manage intense thoughts and feelings.

Practicing Trauma Processing or Integration – We’ll use in-therapy and out-of-therapy activities to act out ways to incorporate your new skills into your life when trauma triggers arise.

Decreasing Traumatic Stress Symptoms – Through this process, you’ll notice a reduction in symptoms from past trauma events.

Face it. Focus on it. Find a way to break through.

You don’t have to resign yourself to watching your teen suffer helplessly. Reach out now to stop the hurt and start the healing process.

Let trauma-focused therapy help your teen live the life he or she deserves.