Trauma-Informed Care for Adolescents

Learn About Trauma-Informed Therapy For Teens And Adolescents at Artemis

Do you suspect that your teen might have a traumatic event in their past that you know nothing about? Maybe you do know that they’ve lived through a natural disaster, a sexual assault, or something equally challenging. Perhaps you have even considered enrolling them in trauma-informed care for adolescents, where they will truly be seen and heard.

But what makes this approach to therapeutic interventions so different and so important?

When it comes to trauma-informed care, the therapist stops asking what is wrong with your child and starts to ask what happened to them instead. The emphasis is on strengthening them and promoting more resilience. Individual and family therapy, as well as peer support, are all components of care.

Artemis Adolescent Healing Center wants to help your teen heal from both traditional and complex trauma, whether they’re experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder or just struggling with daily activities. Our program offers all teens a safe space to land when they need it most.

Here’s what parents should know about seeking a trauma-informed approach for their child’s care.

What is Trauma-Informed Care for Adverse Childhood Experiences?

Trauma-informed services are an essential component of treatment for any teen or adolescent who has experienced adverse childhood experiences. Almost 64 percent of all adults in the United States have experienced one traumatic event in childhood, and teens can use help sooner rather than later.

Unfortunately, not all mental health professionals are well-versed in child traumatic stress or the many ways it can impact how a child responds to care. A therapist may unknowingly trigger past trauma if they don’t know where to look. The result is that the child shuts down and doesn’t receive help.

Here’s what you should know about a trauma-informed approach when you suspect that your teen has been through childhood trauma of some kind, known or unknown to you.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Offers a Robust Definition of Trauma-Informed Care

When it comes to behavioral health services, not all treatments are created equal. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration defines trauma-informed care quite simply. It’s recognized by a subtle shift in the approach to the client.

Many therapists start their sessions with a simple question: What is wrong with you? This gives clients the opportunity to explore areas where their lives have become difficult and where they might not be functioning as well as they would like.

To implement trauma-informed care, therapists change the question: What happened to you?

This emphasis on the reasons behind trauma symptoms allows teens to explore the root cause of their mental health concerns. They can learn to deal with complex trauma, learn new coping strategies, and integrate all of this into their sense of self.

There’s no judgment perceived with the second question, allowing teens to focus on the positive aspects of their time in treatment.

How Does the National Child Traumatic Stress Network Outline Behavioral Health Screenings?

Sometimes, finding out that a child has experienced or is experiencing trauma isn’t as simple as a post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis. Some of the symptoms of adverse childhood experiences are much more subtle and may be masked by other mental health conditions like anxiety and depression or even substance abuse.

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network outlines how human services should incorporate a trauma lens into every interview and client case.

First, every adolescent should be screened for and monitored for symptoms of traumatic experiences. Teens can be hesitant to speak up, but may respond to a direct question about their lived experiences. Every assessment should be culturally sensitive and grounded in evidence.

Only once the adolescent and family members are on the same page with the therapist can trauma therapy begin. The goal is to increase protective factors and strengthen resilience in young adults.

How Do Therapists Start Implementing Trauma-Informed Care?

Once you have settled on a trauma-informed approach for your adolescent, it’s time to know what you can expect from the treatment improvement protocol. It starts long before your child ever walks into a therapy room.

Trauma-informed therapists may give the teen their choice of a therapist with a preferred gender. This may make them feel more comfortable talking about complex trauma without reminding them of their abuser or a negative situation. The therapist will review the assessment before the first session so that the child does not have to reiterate all of those difficult memories.

When treating trauma, the teen must maintain control over the therapy process. During the first few sessions, inform them that they don’t have to answer questions, discuss anything that might make them uncomfortable, or consent to physical exams for related issues.

The goal is to give young adults some agency over their lives and the therapeutic process. Only then can they start to unearth the impact of psychological trauma and toxic stress.

What are the Goals of Trauma-Informed Care for Child Welfare?

Unfortunately, not every hospital or therapist offers trauma-informed services. Parents will need to take the lead in requesting that their teen experience this approach to care, as some inpatient programs may view it as a novel approach rather than a standard one.

In general, there are four main goals of treatment for childhood adversity in traumatized children:

1. Reduce the likelihood of re-traumatizing a child through the therapeutic process.
2. Emphasize the child’s strengths and resilience in coping with past trauma.
3. Promote resilience, healing, and trauma recovery.
4. Offer healthy short-term and long-term coping strategies for posttraumatic stress disorder and the daily struggle of trauma exposure.

All four of these goals are necessary to promote recovery that will last long after therapeutic services are rendered. Trauma before seeking help should always come with these four goals, and they can even help treat adolescents who have not yet disclosed past trauma.

If you aren’t sure but suspect your child may have an increased risk of trauma, help them on their healing process with some of these basic tenets.

How to Incorporate Therapy for Complex Trauma and Childhood Trauma

When many people think of complex trauma, they picture domestic violence or moments when the child did not feel physically safe. They may have lived through sexual assault or even a natural disaster. All of this impacts brain development and human development in general.

Where should you start with therapy for a teen who exhibits signs of the adverse effects of trauma?

The first place that most parents will look is individual therapy, such as trauma-focused CBT. This can be a great tool to get teens in the mood to talk and to prove that they are taken seriously. They can develop trust with a therapist and engage with topics that make them feel too vulnerable to discuss in other settings.

However, peer support is also one of the key principles of improving children’s lives. Once they are well-established with a counselor or therapist, it’s important to connect them with kids their age who have also experienced complex trauma. Support groups allow teens to hear from others, learn coping skills, and provide age-appropriate and supportive friendships.

There is also a need for family therapy because a child’s well-being depends on the support they will receive in their home life. Parents will learn how to support, connect with, and protect their teen from future trauma. Everyone needs a safe space to express their feelings.

Choose Artemis for Trauma-Informed Care Support Today

Young adults benefit from the intensive and comprehensive programs at Artemis Adolescent Healing Center. Our program provides comprehensive, sensitive assessments to screen teens for the types of childhood trauma that are often missed. We make a difficult process easier by being open about these experiences and being culturally sensitive.

Every teen who enters our program will receive trauma-informed care. Our mental health professionals want them to recognize their strengths and develop resilience, regardless of their experiences.

Our team will develop a treatment plan tailored to support brain development and healing.

When you’re ready to start helping your teen through a difficult time, let Artemis come alongside your family with the trauma-informed care your child needs and deserves. Our Admissions staff is ready and waiting to answer your questions, verify your insurance benefits, and reserve a spot for your teen When you are ready. All calls are confidential, so please do not hesitate to reach out for options now.

References

1. Swedo EA, Aslam MV, Dahlberg LL, et al. Prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences Among U.S. Adults — Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2011–2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2023;72:707–715. DOI:
2. Menschner, C., & Maul, A. (2016, April). Key Ingredients for Successful Trauma-Informed Care Implementation. Center for Healthcare Strategies.
3. Peterson, S. (2018, September 20). Creating trauma-informed systems. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network.
4. Fialkowski, A., Shaffer, K., Ball-Burack, M., Brooks, T. L., Trinh, N. T., Potter, J. E., & Peeler, K. R. (2022). Trauma-Informed Care for Hospitalized Adolescents. Current pediatrics reports, 10(2), 45–54.
5. Kooij, L. H., van der Pol, T. M., Daams, J. G., Hein, I. M., & Lindauer, R. J. L. (2022). Common elements of evidence-based trauma therapy for children and adolescents. European journal of psychotraumatology, 13(1), 2079845.
6. Peer Support Programs for Youth Mental Health: Health Technology Assessment [Internet]. Ottawa (ON): Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health; 2022 Nov. Available from:
7. Fictorie, V., Jonkman, C., Visser, M., Vandenbosch, M., Steketee, M., & Schuengel, C. (2022). Effectiveness of a high-intensive trauma-focused, family-based therapy for youth exposed to family violence: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials, 23(1), 46.