Trauma Therapy for Teens
Supporting teens and their parents in understanding and coping with the effects of trauma in Sacramento and throughout California.
Has your child experienced a stressful or scary event?
Have you noticed difficulty with focus, or perhaps your teen has lost interest in their previously loved activities? You may have noticed misplaced guilt, or sleep disruptions. Maybe it’s memory loss or reckless behavior that’s becoming more prevalent. Perhaps you’re feeling confused about their symptoms and need help understanding and responding.
Whatever it is that they’re experiencing, you’re beginning to notice the impact of this in every facet of their life:
Jittery, unable to sit still
Difficulty falling and staying asleep (i.e intrusive thoughts and nightmares)
Difficulty with focus or dissociation
Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities
Reckless behavior
Decreased or failing grades
These symptoms might be affecting the whole family, not just your teen. Maybe it’s worrying a sibling or a grandparent, or maybe the family relationships are changing and you’re not quite sure how to help. If any of these symptoms are happening and you’re feeling concerned, you’re not alone and you’re in the right place.
Trauma Therapy for Teens can help
It may feel impossible now, but your teen can have positive relationships. They can enjoy previous interests and activities again. They can feel safe and secure. They can feel empowerment. And I can help them get there.
Parents and families are important too
I work closely with the family system to learn the family dynamics, strengths, and expectations to tailor the therapeutic approach to meeting those needs. The families provide essential support in reinforcing new skills at home and working with the teen toward the desired outcomes.
Trauma Therapy for Teens helps your teen do 3 things:
Process the trauma
Rebuild relationships
Reintegrate into activities of daily life
I’ll help through this process
I will tailor each step to their unique needs and circumstances. My approach to Trauma Therapy for Teens comes from a place of support and education : we can’t erase the trauma but we can make it livable.
Common questions about trauma in youth
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Any event that is stressful or scary can be traumatic. Some examples of traumatic events that are often not considered as traumatic are dog bites, car or bike crash, and natural disasters like earthquakes or fires. Trauma can come from a one time event or repeated or on-going situations that happen directly to you or around you.
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Stressful and scary experiences can happen to anyone, anytime, and anywhere. Sometimes we don’t realize that a stressful and scary experience can leave a lasting impact and cause issues like nightmares, hypervigilience, avoidance, negative mood changes (anxiety, numbness, guilt) as well as physical symptoms like stomach/head aches and difficulty with sleep. And sometimes we don’t realize that anyone can be traumatized by an event, even if it didn’t happen directly to them but happened around them or to someone close to them.
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Yes! I firmly believe that the parents play an integral part in the therapeutic process. Although your teen is the client, I will do frequent check-ins and follow ups with the family on the client’s needs, progress, and skills to better support the client in the home.
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While I can’t make guarantees, I will share that I know learning and growth is possible - I see it daily in my work with teens and families. The therapeutic relationship is an important factor in determining readiness for change - both for learning and for implementing. Schedule a free consultation with me and we can get to know each other and see if we’re a good fit!
Your teenager doesn’t have to live life feeling scared or out of control. They don’t have to experience social withdrawal.
I can help.