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5 Ways to Treat Trauma

When a teen undergoes a traumatic experience, the best way to help them is by identifying treatment options. Traumas such as sexual abuse, bullying, grief, and witnessing violence can leave teens feeling isolated, fearful, and in some cases, totally withdrawn. When teens feel that they cannot release their pain, they often end up facing anxiety and depression, and in some cases, they can develop substance use disorders. If your son or daughter has experienced a disturbing ordeal, a trauma program for teens will help them learn the coping skills necessary to heal from their past experiences.

What Is Trauma?

Trauma is a life-threatening, disturbing or violent event that happens to someone. Childhood trauma can affect anyone up to the age of 18 who has experienced ordeals such as:

  • Automobile accidents
  • Being threatened
  • Bullying
  • Experiencing eviction
  • Experiencing hate based on race, gender, or religion
  • Losing a parent or loved one
  • Mental abuse
  • Natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, blizzards, or tornadoes
  • Physical abuse or assault
  • Sexual abuse or assault
  • Witnessing an arrest

Programs for trauma will help young adults learn how to process their emotions and positively deal with their experiences. This therapy is vital because many teens can develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a condition that describes a person overwhelmed by their trauma and cannot cope. The stress associated with their ordeal makes the brain’s threat sensors intensely active, restricting someone’s ability to feel safe.

5 Types of Trauma Treatment

Traumatic experiences will have a profound impact on teens. The trauma will be minor for some and allow a teen to heal emotionally over time. However, for more severe forms of trauma, such as sexual abuse, the healing process will take time, patience, and professional support. Helping explain trauma is a healthy first step in helping a teen deal with a less than memorable situation. However, they need further support. Treating trauma is the most significant way to help adolescents heal from their experiences. Here are five ways to treat trauma:

1. Mental Health Therapy

It takes more than time to recover from a traumatic ordeal. People will need to process the experience and then identify coping mechanisms that will help them deal with the emotions associated with the situation. A mental health therapist will help overcome the trauma to enable healing from emotional pain. If your teen is unable to perform properly at school or participate in activities, a mental health therapist can help with:

  • Feeling overwhelmed by anxiety
  • Insomnia
  • Isolation or withdrawal
  • Using drugs or alcohol to cope

2. Attending a Support Group

A trauma-focused therapy program will support your teen’s ability to recover from a traumatic experience. Working in conjunction with a mental health therapist, your teen will participate in a program that includes other teens. Here they will realize they are not alone and will find comfort in others.

3. Participate in a Creative Therapy Program

In addition to mental health therapy and support groups, a creative therapy program is an excellent trauma treatment. Programs for trauma such as art, photography, dance, yoga, and music will support young adults in processing their emotions and sharing their feelings.

4. Speaking with Family and Friends

A person’s community should also be able to support them in navigating a traumatic experience. Family and friends can be present to help make smart choices when triggered by trauma.

5. Using Self-Help Media

Whether it’s books, podcasts, blogs, or videos, there are several ways that young adults can learn more about how to overcome their traumas.

Discover Programs for Trauma Treatment at Destinations for Teens

The first step to helping a loved one recover from a painful experience is to help them understand what trauma is. By being able to define the concept, as parents and adult caregivers, we will be in a better space to support the young adults in our lives. When we are considering the concept of treating trauma, we have to consider the following with honesty:

  • What trauma did the young adult endure?
  • How did the teen’s family and community respond to the event?
  • What do you believe are the short-term and long-term effects of trauma?
  • How can trauma treatment help your teen and even your family recover?

Answers to these questions will lead you to believe that treatment is necessary. Contact Destinations for Teens at 877.466.0620 to learn more about our trauma treatment programs.