Trauma treatment for kids is often quite different from the treatment adults receive. This is because children are still developing and their brains are more malleable, making them more responsive to certain types of treatments. Furthermore, children are often more vulnerable to the effects of trauma and may require more specialized care. Here is what you should expect from the medical personnel working with your child.
Build Trust
When it comes to trauma treatment, children need to be treated with sensitivity and patience, since they may not have the psychological capacity or maturity to process their traumatic experiences. It is important to build a trusting relationship with the child before delving into the trauma. This is often done by creating a safe, supportive environment and using play therapy to encourage the child to open up about their experiences. In order to ensure the child's safety, talking about the trauma may be limited to what the child can handle.
Allow Self-Expression
In addition to talking therapy, art therapy and other creative forms of expression can be used to help the child express themselves. This can be beneficial for children who are unable or unwilling to talk about their trauma. For example, art therapy can be used to help children process their emotions in a safe way, while also giving them an outlet to express themselves.
Help Managing Emotions
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is also used in trauma treatment for children. This type of therapy helps children to learn how to manage their emotions and behavior in a healthy way. It also gives them the tools to recognize and change negative thought patterns and beliefs.
Extended Therapy
Because children are still developing, they may require more frequent therapy sessions than adults. This is because children tend to need more time and repetition to learn the skills taught in therapy. Additionally, family therapy can be beneficial for the child and their family, as it can help them to work through the trauma together. This can be especially useful if the trauma was caused by a family member or if the trauma has caused a rift in the family.
Overall, trauma treatment for children is often different from treatment for adults due to the child's age and developmental stage. It is important to take a sensitive and compassionate approach when treating children, as well as to utilize therapies that are tailored to the child's specific needs. If done correctly, trauma treatment for children can help them to heal and move forward in a healthy way.
To learn more, contact a youth trauma treatment center in your area such as LifeLine For Youth.