Exploring Childhood Trauma: Insights from Alice’s Psychiatry & Wellness
At Alice’s Psychiatry & Wellness, we understand that trauma in childhood can shape a person’s life well into adulthood. Childhood trauma, or traumatic stress, happens when a child faces or witnesses frightening, harmful, or life-threatening events. Examples include physical or sexual abuse, domestic violence, neglect, bullying (online or in person), natural disasters, severe accidents, or the sudden loss of a loved one.
When left untreated, trauma can alter behavior, emotions, and thinking in ways that disrupt daily life. Young children might regress in speaking, toilet training, or sleeping, while older kids may display anger, persistent sadness, worry, or skip school.
- Overwhelming fears or deep sadness
- Difficulty sleeping or recurring nightmares
- Clinginess or separation anxiety
- Struggling to concentrate at school
- Withdrawing from friends or activities
If childhood trauma isn’t addressed, it can lead to issues in adolescence or adulthood, like PTSD, depression, substance misuse, and strained relationships. Over time, this may undermine trust, self-esteem, and emotional balance.
Our team at Alice’s Psychiatry & Wellness delivers evidence-based therapies through secure telehealth sessions. With a trauma-informed approach, we guide children, teens, and adults to make sense of their experiences and develop healthier coping skills in a supportive environment.
Adapting treatments to each developmental stage makes a significant difference in trauma recovery. For younger children, therapy often involves play, art, and parent participation.
- Customizing treatment to each developmental stage truly aids in effective childhood trauma recovery.
- For ages three to eighteen, we involve both the child and caregiver.
- Live coaching sessions for parents of 2-7-year-olds happen in real-time.
- Employs storytime, playthings, or sandbox activities so children can express themselves, and work through tough emotions.
- Helps both children and adults express trauma via art forms like painting, sculpture, and other creative mediums. To dive deeper, explore our art therapy programs.
Effective Therapies for Teens & Adults
- Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) – This method guides individuals to challenge and change trauma-related thoughts.
- Assists patients in reshaping harmful thoughts after trauma. We help organize these events into a narrative to support recovery.
- Crafts traumatic events into a life narrative for healing. This writing-focused approach is efficient and time-limited.
- Proven short-term journaling-driven trauma therapy. Following journaling, EMDR (Eye Movement Reprocessing and Desensitization) offers another evidence-based option.
- Supports trauma processing through bilateral stimulation. This method gently guides clients to confront and lessen avoidant reactions.
By gradually and safely facing trauma-related thoughts, clients can reduce avoidant behaviors.
Addressing childhood trauma early is crucial for fostering healthy emotional growth and preventing long-term mental health challenges. When trauma is met with timely, structured care, both children and adults can learn effective coping strategies, build confidence, and lower the likelihood of future issues. Evidence-based treatments help reframe distressing events, boost day-to-day functioning, and strengthen relationships. Whether through talk therapy, play-focused techniques, or trauma-informed care, these interventions enable individuals to regain a sense of stability, safety, and control.
Our dedicated psychiatric care team is here to guide and support you.
At Alice’s Psychiatry & Wellness, we’re dedicated to guiding you through understanding and working through childhood trauma. Whether you’re dealing with a recent event or revisiting memories from long ago, our compassionate team is here to support your path to recovery. Schedule your appointment now and discover the potential for life beyond trauma.