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How Therapy for Childhood Trauma Can Help

Medically reviewed by Jacquelyn Johnson, PsyD. — Written by Sara Lindberg on March 4, 2021

By age 16, more than two-thirds of children report experiencing at least one traumatic event, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Fortunately, the right therapy can help children, adolescents, teens, and adults find ways to heal and cope with the effects of traumatic experiences like abuse, community violence, natural disasters, neglect, and sudden loss of a loved one.

Here, we discuss childhood trauma, the different types, how it may affect you, signs to be aware of, and treatment options for children and adults.

What is childhood trauma?

A traumatic event poses a threat to a child’s life or physical safety. This includes events that are frightening, dangerous, or violent.

For some kids, there may be no time for healing between traumatic events — their life is in an almost constant state of chronic stress and trauma.

Examples of childhood trauma include:

physical abuse

sexual abuse

psychological and emotional abuse

neglect

natural disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes, or fires

homelessness

racism

serious accidents or life threatening illness

violent loss of a loved one

sexual exploitation

refugee and war experiences

community and school violence

witnessing or experiencing family or partner violence

military stressors like loss, injury, or parental deployment

How childhood trauma may affect you

Childhood trauma affects each person differently. However, there are some common signs and symptoms to watch out for in both kids and adults.

In preschool and elementary-age children:

separation anxiety

becoming anxious and fearful

difficulty sleeping and increase in nightmares

crying or acting out

decrease in appetite

moodiness

increased aggression and anger

Teens can experience all of the signs mentioned above, plus the following:

irritability

withdrawal from social activities

academic problems

self-blame for the event (guilt and shame)

feeling depressed

difficulty concentrating

eating disorders and other self-harm behaviors

increase in behaviors like sexual activity and alcohol or drug use

In adults, unresolved childhood trauma can take on many forms. For example, female adults who experience sexual abuse as a child or teen often show signs of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), distorted self-perception, shame, fear, guilt, self-blame, humiliation, and chronic physical pain, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Adults dealing with PTSD from childhood trauma can struggle in their jobs, interpersonal relationships, and with their own mental health.

Here are some emotional, physical, and behavioral signs to be aware of:

anxiety

depression

panic attacks

poor concentration

fatigue

impulsiveness

problems with sleep

chronic health conditions

compulsion

self-harm

chronic stress and inflammation

isolation

eating disorders

suicidal ideation

What treatment is available to help recover from childhood trauma?

Childhood trauma can cause adverse effects both immediately and in the future. But the good news is that treatment can help you identify triggers, develop coping strategies, and decrease the symptoms, all in a safe and supportive environment.

Here are some of the common treatment modalities for adolescents, teens, and adults.

Cognitive processing therapy (CPT)

Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) is a subtype of cognitive behavioral therapy. CPT is often a first choice when treating PTSD, especially when addressing the long-term effects of childhood traumas in adults.

For PTSD, the American Psychiatric Association recommends treatment over 12 sessions. This typically involves education regarding PTSD thoughts and emotions followed by formal processing of the trauma and skill development to identify and address unhelpful thinking related to traumatic events.

Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT)

Similar to CPT, trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy is a subtype of cognitive behavioral therapy.

This evidence-based modelTrusted Source incorporates trauma-sensitive interventions with cognitive behavioral techniques, humanistic principles, and family support that relies on the participation of trusted parents and caregivers in the treatment process.

TF-CBT is effective for children, teens, and adolescents who have significant emotional difficulties from a traumatic event. The typical duration is 12 to 15 sessions.

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing is another therapy for treating trauma and PTSD. EMDR uses repetitive eye movements to re-pattern memories from a trauma.

There are eight phases of EMDR including history, preparation, assessment, treatment, and evaluation. ResearchTrusted Source shows that EMDR is an empirically validated treatment to address unprocessed memories related to adverse life experiences and trauma.

Narrative exposure therapy (NET)

Narrative exposure therapy is an alternative to TF-CBT for people, including children, with PTSD. NET is a short-term individual intervention that focuses on embedding trauma exposure into an autobiographical context known as a timeline.

This timeline remains with the patient after therapy is over. NET is most effective in treating people with multiple traumatic events.

Prolonged exposure therapy (PE)

Prolonged exposure therapy is a subtype of cognitive behavioral therapy used to treat PTSD and other mental health conditions. PE often takes place over 3 months.

During the sessions, the therapist helps individuals confront trauma-related memories, fears, feelings, and situations. The therapeutic relationship needs to be stable before exposure begins in the office and outside of therapy.

Treatment for children will look different than treatment for adolescents, teens, and adults. Because of this, kids need specialized therapy designed to accommodate their developmental levels and ability to participate in the process.

Play therapy

Play therapy uses the therapeutic power of play to help children work through trauma. The target group for play therapy is children ages 3 to 12.

During a play therapy session, the therapist can observe a child through play. They can also use this age-appropriate behavior to address trauma and develop coping strategies.

Art therapy

Art therapy uses creative expression to address and heal the effects of traumatic events. Art mediums include drawing, coloring, painting, collage, and sculpture.

The American Art Therapy Association says art therapy provides an outlet without words. It can help improve cognition, foster self-esteem and self-awareness, reduce conflicts and stress, and cultivate emotional resilience.

What other mental health conditions may be related to childhood trauma?

Childhood trauma can have consequences well into adulthood. One 2019 study found that adults in psychiatric outpatient programs experienced a higher rate of traumatic events as kids compared to adults not in treatment.

Another 2019 studyTrusted Source looked at data from 1,420 participants and found that those with childhood trauma experienced adverse outcomes in adulthood including mental illness, addiction, and health problems.

The participants were interviewed annually as children and then four more times during adulthood (at ages 19, 21, 25, and 30) over 22 years.

Of the 1,420 participants, 30.9 percent said they experienced one traumatic childhood event, 22.5 percent experienced two traumatic events, and 14.8 percent experienced three or more.

The effects of trauma at a young age can result in mental health conditions including:

PTSD

anxiety disorders

major depressive disorder

eating disorders

substance and alcohol use disorders

Experiencing sexual abuse as a child can also increase suicide ideation in adults, according to results from a 2017 surveyTrusted Source.

Can you prevent or lessen the effects of childhood trauma?

Preventing or lessening the consequences of childhood trauma is possible.

If your child is dealing with the effects of trauma, the first step is showing support. You’ll want to find a mental health professional qualified to treat the trauma your child is dealing with and get them into therapy as soon as possible.

Family therapy is also recommended. Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy is one form that includes the family in the process.

These sessions can help parents or caregivers learn how to support and encourage their children at home. It also teaches parents how to avoid blame, learn how to listen, and watch for worsening symptoms.

Finding help for childhood trauma

Mental health professionals like psychologists, psychiatrists, and therapists can help with childhood trauma. Some therapists specialize in treating children, so ask before scheduling an appointment. If you’re interested in a specific type of therapy, like play therapy, look for a therapist with that credential. Some resources to find help include:

Anxiety and Depression Association of America

Art Therapy Credentials Board

Association for Play Therapy

Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

GoodTherapy

The Trevor Project (crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQIA+ youth): Call 866-488-7386 or Text START to 678-678.

Therapy for Black Girls

Healthline

What’s the outlook for people who’ve experienced childhood trauma?

Long-term effects of childhood trauma can increase the risk of mental health conditions like PTSD and depression, chronic illness, or substance use disorders.

However, with the right therapy, the outlook for people who’ve experienced childhood trauma is positive.

Depending on the type of trauma and how long it occurred, treatment may take a while, especially if you’re addressing these issues as an adult.

The bottom line

Therapy for childhood trauma can help lessen the impact of abuse, neglect, witnessing violence, natural disasters, and serious accidents or life threatening illnesses.

Addressing these issues during childhood or adolescence can reduce the risk of developing mental health issues like anxiety and depression or chronic conditions. However, seeking treatment as an adult is also beneficial, helping you identify trauma and deal with its effects.

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