Understanding PTSD in Teens | Specialized Trauma Treatment Program

Trauma isn’t everyday stress like fear of a critical exam or a new class. A traumatic event is shocking and makes you feel at risk. That heightened sense of stress and fear is what triggers the fight-or-flight response. A trauma could be different for each person, though. Some common traumas include:

• Natural disasters
• School shootings
• Car accidents
• Violent attacks

A traumatic event puts your ability to function at risk.

Some living situations will increase the risk of trauma and PTSD, such as:

• Domestic, sexual, or child abuse
• Domestic violence in the home
• Community violence
• School violence or shooting

Individual risk factors are things specific to each teen, like:

• Age – The young person is more likely to develop PTSD than older children and teens.
• Gender – PTSD is more common in girls
• History of mental health issues – Other mental disorders can increase the risk of PTSD; our trauma therapy for teens is designed to address these co-occurring issues like anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder simultaneously.
• High-strung personality – Someone who is naturally anxious may have an increased risk.
• Lack of social support – Isolation and lack of friends can make dealing with trauma more difficult, which is why our trauma treatment program emphasizes building a strong social support network during recovery.
• School issues – The victim of bullying, school shootings, or someone who struggles academically might have a higher risk.
• Physical health – Someone with chronic health issues may find it hard to cope with emotional distress, making the tailored approach of trauma therapy for teens even more important for physical and mental healing.

Because family is the primary support system for teens, our trauma treatment program often involves family therapy to help parents and children heal together. Family risk factors would include:

• Parental – Parents influence how children react to anything. Parents with psychiatric disorders or who are victims of sexual abuse or violence may under- or overreact to something and trigger PTSD.
• Family problems or dysfunction – Domestic violence or parental substance abuse can increase the risk that a teen will develop PTSD after a trauma.
• Socioeconomic status – Economic hardship can make a teen more vulnerable to PTSD.

While risk factors can make a difference, any teen can experience PTSD after trauma.

Cognitive behavioral therapy combines two common approaches that can be critical to teen trauma treatment: cognitive and behavioral therapy. For teens who experienced trauma, we structure the program to help them process these experiences and manage the symptoms of PTSD.

CBT targets thoughts and beliefs related to a trauma, such as witnessing violence or physical abuse. Some of the thoughts might not be accurate or may be overly pessimistic. For example, they may think that they are responsible in some way for the traumatic event.  We teach teens to regulate their emotions better and control these negative and false thoughts.

Behavioral therapy deals with how the teen responds to these thoughts, such as acting out. Within our teen trauma therapy sessions, our specialists help adolescents find more productive and healthier coping mechanisms.

As a key component of our trauma therapy program, EMDR is a distinctive therapy for processing traumatic memories using guided eye movements and other forms of bilateral stimulation. It is a technique that helps to reduce the intensity of the emotions that come with these memories and to create more adaptive coping mechanisms.

DBT is a practical approach for teens who have PTSD along with co-occurring mental health issues such as emotional dysregulation and self-harm. DBT applies skills such as mindfulness and emotion regulation that help them better tolerate complicated feelings and modify their behaviors in response to them.

Family and parental support are crucial in trauma treatment. Our therapists work closely with families to ensure they have the resources and education to support open communication and a positive, safe space at home.

Family group sessions also help those close to an impacted teen learn more about PTSD. It can be a hard condition for others to understand, especially for those who didn’t experience the trauma. Family therapy teaches them more about the condition and how it can impact a person’s life.

Group therapy at our trauma treatment facility lets teens connect with other survivors who share their experiences and truly understand their feelings in a safe, clinical setting. It creates a safe environment for children and adolescents to share stories of traumatic experiences and discuss coping strategies.