Trauma Therapy for Teens: What Is It And Which One Is Best

Suffering from a traumatic experience can take a toll on one’s life, especially for teens who are already in a sensitive stage of brain development. Unresolved trauma as a teen can create lifelong problems that follow them into adulthood such as strained relationships, substance abuse, and academic decline.

Fortunately, as research around trauma continues to grow, there are several treatments available tailored for adolescents to help them overcome their trauma and develop positive coping skills. 

Understanding Trauma in Teens 

Trauma can be complex and sometimes difficult to diagnose and treat. It can manifest as physical, emotional, or psychological symptoms. Trauma is caused by an extremely distressing experience, one that goes above and beyond everyday stressors. 

When struggling from trauma, the brain goes into survival mode, flooding the body with the stress hormone cortisol. Trauma makes the body stay in this state of survival for the long term, creating debilitating symptoms that impact a teen´s ability to function in daily life. 

Some experiences that can lead to symptoms of trauma include: 

• Physical, sexual, or emotional abuse
• Car accident
• School shooting
• Natural Disaster 
• Growing up in a violent community 
• Living in a war zone 

Recognizing Signs of Trauma in Teens

It´s helpful for parents to recognize signs of trauma in teens so they can intervene and get them proper treatment. Some common signs include: 

• Flashbacks or nightmares
• Avoiding triggers such as people, places, or situations 
• Depression or anxiety
• Reckless or impulsive behavior 
• Substance abuse 
• Isolation
• Changes in sleep/appetite 
• Physical symptoms without a direct cause such as stomach problems, headaches, muscle & joint pain
• Suicidal thoughts or self-harm behaviors 

Is It Trauma or PTSD? 

A traumatic event is an experience that can be extremely stressful or frightening. Most of us have gone through a traumatic experience in life such as the death of a loved one, medical injury, or accident. Following a traumatic episode, one may experience temporary symptoms such as flashbacks or nightmares. 

If symptoms are ongoing and impact one´s ability to function in everyday life, it could be a sign of PTSD. However, not everyone who experiences a traumatic event will go on to develop PTSD. 

PTSD is diagnosed when symptoms from one of four clusters are experienced after a traumatic experience, for at least a month:   

• Re-experiencing the events through flashbacks, dreams, memories, or intrusive thoughts 
• Avoiding places, people, or situations that remind one of the trauma 
• Ongoing patterns of negative thinking that can cause depression or anxiety
• Hypervigilance (being easily startled, feeling restless, or having trouble focusing)

Trauma-Focused Therapy For Teens 

Teens with trauma should receive proper treatment so it doesn´t impact them as adults. 

There are several trauma-focused therapies available designed to help process emotional distress associated with trauma, build healthy coping skills, and reduce stress on the nervous system. 

Treating trauma is a highly personalized experience and there is no single treatment that is the best. Some of the most effective trauma therapies include: 

• EMDR teaches teens to process negative distress associated with the trauma and become aware of bodily sensations that are caused by stress. 
• Trauma focused CBT helps teens recognize triggers, break negative thinking patterns, develop positive coping skills, and set goals to overcome challenges caused by trauma. 
• Experiential therapies help teens work through trauma stored in the body and stay grounded. These include art, dance & movement, roleplay, and music.

• Group therapy can help teens connect with others who share similar experiences. This can help reduce isolation and allow them to learn new coping skills. 

Helping Teens Overcome Trauma 

Although professional help is an important part of the healing journey, there are many steps parents can take around the home to support their teens in overcoming trauma and building resilience. 

Resilience is the ability to overcome distressing or traumatic experiences, an important tool for teens suffering from trauma to learn. Some of these include: 

• Building trust and an open line of communication with your teen so they can come to you during times of need
• Actively listening and validating their struggles 
• Encouraging them to make healthy social connections outside of the home 
• Promoting mindfulness in the home (meditation, journaling, dance, arts and crafts, music, deep breathing, going on a walk, yoga, etc) 

Professional Help At Clearfork Academy 

If you identify warning signs of trauma in your teen, reach out for professional support to help find the best plan of treatment. 

At Clearfork Academy our team of compassionate, licensed therapists understands the complex nature of mental health disorders in teens. Reach out to our Admissions team to learn more. 

Sources

National Institute of Mental Health. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.