In childhood, we develop the emotional, social and cognitive skills needed to thrive as adults. Sadly, however, many young people experience early trauma such as abuse, neglect or other adverse experiences that can disrupt their development across a range of areas and lead to a range of mental health challenges later in life.
Safe, nurturing and trusting relationships with caregivers and supportive adults are pivotal to helping a child to heal from trauma. At Meadows Psychology Service, we have specialist therapists and psychologists who have extensive experience in supporting young people who have experienced trauma, along with the carers and systems around them.
Our dedicated team utilises specialist training in Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy and other relational approaches to support carers and young people in developing secure and healthy attachments that foster resilience and positive outcomes for young people.
What is Childhood Trauma?
The term ‘childhood trauma’ encompasses a range of adverse experiences that occur in infancy and childhood. E.g. Bullying.
- The death of a loved one.
- Physical, emotional and/or sexual abuse.
- Neglect.
- Family instability.
These adverse childhood experiences (or ACEs), like many others, can disrupt the fundamental sense of safety that children rely on for healthy development. Adverse childhood experiences may be a single event, or prolonged exposure to something which threatens a young person’s trust, safety, security or bodily integrity (Young Minds, 2018).
How Does Trauma Affect Children?
Exposure to childhood trauma can have a significant impact on a child’s developing brain [link to impact on brain blog].
Research shows that exposure to early trauma leads to structural changes in specific brain regions. For example, young people who have experienced trauma tend to have a smaller hippocampus, which is responsible for forming and retrieving memories. This means that children who have experienced childhood trauma can have trouble retaining information, which could impact their academic performance.
Complex trauma can also lead to an enlarged amygdala (the brain’s alarm system), which results in the child’s brain continuously scanning their environment for threats. As a result, children can appear anxious and on edge, which can make engaging in things like learning or socialising difficult.
Identifying and addressing signs of trauma as early as possible can significantly improve long-term outcomes for those who have experienced trauma in childhood.
How to Identify Childhood Trauma
Whilst every child is unique, and the impacts of trauma are wide-ranging, there are some tell-tale signs that you should be aware of:
1. Difficulties in Education
Trauma can impact a child’s social, emotional and cognitive development, all of which can make it difficult for them to engage in the school curriculum or focus in the classroom.
It may appear that they are disinterested, that they have difficulty regulating their emotions so that they can participate in learning activities alongside others, or that their grades are below those of their peers.
For example, a child who has experienced trauma may be delayed in terms of speech and be unable to form abstract reasoning skills, which can make it difficult to grasp academic concepts.
2. Regression
Regression is a typical trauma response amongst adolescents and can be a clear sign that a child has experienced a traumatic event.
In cases of trauma, a child may revert to past behaviours, such as bed-wetting or even thumb-sucking. These behaviours can serve a range of functions. However, for some young people, they may be an indicator that the child is regressing or mentally returning to a time when they last felt safe.
3. Difficulty Making Friends or Trusting Adults
Children who have experienced trauma can develop an insecure attachment style and have a difficult time trusting others. This can make it difficult for them to form meaningful relationships.
Children who have been exposed to trauma may have learnt from an early age that other people are harmful, untrustworthy, and unable to keep them safe.
These children have also likely missed out on opportunities to develop social and emotional skills, which can help them form meaningful friendships and appropriately manage ruptures within these relationships.
4. Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties
Children who have experienced early trauma often have difficulty regulating their emotions. This can lead to behaviours such as physical or verbal aggression, property damage, or self-harm.
Children learn how to regulate their emotions through repeated experiences of co-regulation in early development (such as when a mother soothes a crying baby by rocking it).
When a child’s early life has been disrupted by trauma, and they have lacked a consistent, attuned and nurturing caregiver to soothe them when they feel distressed, they are likely to have difficulty soothing themselves when things get difficult.
The Importance of Addressing Childhood Trauma
Caregivers and supportive adults play a key role in helping children and young people recover from developmental trauma. With time, patience and specialist trauma-informed support, those impacted by childhood trauma can go on to build positive relationships and live healthy and fulfilling lives.
How You Can Help
Here are some of the ways that you can provide support for a child experiencing trauma.
Don’t rush into things:
It is important to make sure you are equipped to offer the support they need.
Compassionate, trauma-informed support from professionals, educators, and caregivers plays a vital role in supporting young people who have experienced trauma.
Specialist support and training can help you to ensure that the child is provided with an environment which fosters safety and trust; something which these young people have often lacked.
Focus on safety and make it clear they are supported:
Above all, a child who has gone through a traumatic experience needs and deserves support. When you have undergone an adverse childhood experience, it can be easy to feel alone and isolate yourself when the subject is approached, so be sure that the child knows they are in a safe and supportive environment.
Don’t dive straight into discussing the subject; give them some space to talk about it on their terms. It is important that the child feels comfortable and in control, or they may panic or refuse to share their true feelings.
Take it slow, and always keep the child’s well-being at the forefront of your mind. How you approach it can determine whether or not they feel safe to accept the help that they need.
Invest in the relationship:
We know that supportive, trusting relationships with adult caregivers are key to helping a young person heal from trauma. However, this can be difficult since these young people are likely to have difficulty trusting the adults around them.
Utilising relational and attachment-focused approaches such as the PACE approach by Dr Dan Hughes can help foster positive relational connections with young people.
Remain consistent and prioritise routines:
Young people who have experienced trauma have often experienced environments and events which have felt very unpredictable and unsafe.
These children desperately need caregivers who implement boundaries consistently, and who encourage predictably routines (e.g., morning and evening routines, mealtimes, etc). This helps them to feel safe and contained.
Seek professional help:
Addressing childhood trauma can be difficult, and it can be hard to know whether you are making the right choices when helping a young person who has experienced developmental trauma.
At Meadows Psychology Services, we are committed to providing resources to help you foster an environment of safety for young people.
Our dedicated and compassionate team specialise in working with children and young people who have experienced trauma alongside the carers and professionals who support them. Contact our team today to learn more about our available resources and child therapeutic services.
