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These Are the Best Therapies for PTSD From Childhood Trauma, According to Therapists

These Are the Best Therapies for PTSD From Childhood Trauma, According to Therapists

Trauma can impact your emotional as well as physical health. This impact can occur either immediately or after some time and result in various problems that affect your emotions, relationships, and even the way you see yourself. Therapy can treat PTSD from childhood trauma. It teaches you the right ways to overcome trauma-related symptoms and restores a positive mindset. Liz Chelak can help you develop the skills to deal with challenges and live a more fulfilling life. She uses the best therapies and techniques that feel comfortable to you and treat your traumas most effectively.

Begin personalized therapy, online or in-person, in West Palm Beach, and Boca Raton, FL.

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Any dangerous, violent, or frightening event that occurred before a child turned 18, can be referred to as childhood trauma. Also known as an adverse childhood experience, these experiences can range from growing up with an abusive caregiver, struggling with substance abuse, and going through a parent’s divorce, which most children or teenagers go through.
Because of this, it is essential to recognize when a child may need professional support to deal with their trauma. Early intervention can also prevent the ongoing effects of trauma into adulthood.

Because of this, it is essential to recognize when a child may need professional support to deal with their trauma. Early intervention can also prevent the ongoing effects of trauma into adulthood.

Understanding Childhood Trauma

Any event or a series of events that can result in physical, emotional, or mental distress and harm to a child is known as childhood trauma. This can include being a victim of abuse or neglect, exposure to domestic violence, and surviving the sudden loss of a loved one.

The impact of such events can lead to several distressing and even lasting symptoms as it can affect how a child’s brain develops. People who have been through childhood trauma might experience anxiety, depression, difficulties with trust and relationships, and a disturbed sense of self. They may even grow up struggling with low self-worth. It is important to note that child abuse or childhood trauma is not the victim’s fault, no matter what their emotions or others tell them.

The good news is that healing from childhood trauma is possible. Therapy is an effective way to process and understand traumatic events, which can lead to healing. Even though the memories or trauma will not go away entirely, they will not have the power to affect you as strongly.

The Best Therapy for PTSD From Childhood Trauma

Psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of both these treatments can help to treat PTSD from childhood trauma. Therapy provides teens and young adults a chance to change the way their trauma is affecting them.

While traumatic experiences vary from person to person, effective PTSD treatment has proved effective for most individuals. It can help to regularize emotions, develop coping skills, and reduce the impact of trauma and PTSD symptoms.

Experts recommend the following therapies for managing PTSD from childhood trauma successfully:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

It is a type of psychotherapy that can help treat several mental health conditions. it can address a wide range of symptoms and concerns by focusing on relationships among thoughts, feelings and behaviors. CBT targets current problems and issues and works with patients to change the way they behave, think and feel so they can resume normal functioning.

CBT works well for teens and young adults who are trying to overcome their childhood trauma or suffer from PTSD. It empowers them to challenge negative thoughts and deal with distressing emotions successfully. As their unhelpful thinking patterns are altered, it results in emotional regulation and healthier responses.

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)

It is a specific type of cognitive behavioral therapy that processes and manages trauma by helping you modify and challenge thoughts and emotions related to trauma. The theorist will use specific tools and techniques to reframe distorted thoughts connected to trauma.

CPT usually requires 12 sessions that help you better understand your trauma and reduce its impact in the long run. As you learn how to get rid of these unhelpful thoughts, you can start to rebuild your perspective and in doing so, prevent trauma from affecting your life.

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

This is the most commonly used therapy for treating children and teens with childhood trauma. The therapist provides treatment by involving the child or teen as well as the parent or guardian and helps them understand their trauma, address it successfully, and overcome its effects together as a family.

TF-CBT involves psychoeducation, skills building, creating a trauma narrative, and elements of cognitive behavior therapy. It helps individuals realize how thoughts can affect their emotions and how their emotions can affect their behaviors. as they learn how to improve mood symptoms, social skills, behavioral patterns and get rid of negative thoughts, they can focus on the mental as well as physical wellbeing.

Prolonged Exposure (PE)

This therapy helps individuals to gradually approach their trauma-related memories, feelings, and events. As a specific type of cognitive behavioral therapy, it enables children and young adults to confront their fears in a safe and controlled environment. As they face their trauma triggers, they learn to slowly reduce the emotions associated with these memories, manage their responses, and move forward.

It may sound a bit extreme, but studies show that this therapy can effectively reduce symptoms of depression in children and teens with PTSD. Confronting what they were fearing or identifying gives them a chance to understand that these trauma-related emotions are not dangerous, and they don’t have to avoid them.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

This structured therapy has been specifically designed to help people manage and overcome PTSD and childhood trauma. As the patients focus on the traumatic memory, they experience bilateral stimulation, usually back-and-forth eye movements or tapping, at the same time. The back-and-forth eye movements or tapping can reduce distressed memories, thoughts, and feelings associated with the trauma that patients have been through.

Healing from trauma might be difficult but it is not impossible. It is essential to remember that the healing journey may be challenging, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to therapy. Everyone is different, and often it is the nature of the relationship between the therapist and the client that proves to be the most impactful way of healing.

For more information about our counselors or to schedule an appointment for your therapy, call our office by number:

(561) 363-7994

Trauma vs PTSD

Knowing the differences between trauma and PTSD can help you determine which therapy would work best for you or your child. While trauma is the emotional reaction to any traumatic event or situation, PTSD is a mental health condition that usually develops after trauma.

Trauma

It is the emotional reaction after you have experienced or witnessed some distressing or even life-threatening event. Trauma can occur once or multiple times.

Trauma is categorized based on its severity, duration, and impact on an individual.

Some of the common signs and symptoms of trauma observed in teens and young adults are:

PTSD

It is a mental health condition that often develops when trauma is not processed by the mind and body. This severely affects the ability to respond normally and daily functioning. People who are diagnosed with PTSD experience symptoms for more than a month, and these symptoms are severe enough to affect their routine life.

Symptoms include:

It is a long-term condition that can also cause flashbacks, ongoing stress, and re-experiencing of trauma.

The following factors can increase your chances of developing PTSD:

Remember, not everyone who goes through a traumatic experience will develop PTSD. Some people may only have a few symptoms, while others may have no symptoms at all. If your symptoms continue for weeks and months after the event and disrupt your ability to function normally, it may be a sign of PTSD.

Related Articles:

8 of the Best Proven Treatments for PTSD
What Are The Best Treatments For Ptsd?

Why it is important to treat PTSD from childhood trauma?

PTSD resulting from childhood trauma can lead to long-term mental and physical health concerns if it is not treated right. Evidence shows that youth with PTSD are at a greater risk of developing panic disorder, depression, or substance abuse issues, among other problems.

Unresolved trauma, particularly that stems from childhood abuse or sexual violence, can increase the risk of suicide. Timely treatment and professional guidance are the most effective ways to ensure complete healing.

Begin personalized therapy, online or in-person, in West Palm Beach, and Boca Raton, FL.

Call Us

Trauma therapies offer several benefits, and working with a trained and experienced therapist plays a significant role in helping you achieve mental wellness. Whether it is you or a loved one who has experienced trauma and suffers from PTSD or unresolved trauma, call the West Palm Beach Trauma Therapy Center today and schedule an appointment with Liz Chelak for the best treatment. As a trauma-informed therapist, Liz helps you overcome your childhood trauma successfully. She utilizes her expertise, experience, and years of training to ensure a holistic approach to your well-being.

Page Modified on Feb 4, 2025 by Liz Chelak (Trauma Therapist)