Treating PTSD
By Julia Page, LICSW
What Is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?
We talk about PTSD all the time - but what really is it and when do you need to seek help?
PTSD became a formal diagnosis in 1980 as a way of explaining symptoms soldiers experienced when they returned from the Vietnam War. Since then the definition of PTSD has expanded to include people suffering from other traumas like abuse and natural disasters.
For a person to be diagnosed with PTSD, they must have been exposed to a traumatic event. PTSD symptoms can include re-experiencing past trauma and avoiding reminders of the trauma. It can cause hyperarousal, a “fight or flight” response. Hyperarousal includes extreme anxiety and physical symptoms like a fast heart rate.
Some therapists also talk about Complex PTSD. CPSTD is often the result of long-term, repeated trauma that affects children’s development. CPTSD is similar to PSTD but also leads to difficulties regulating emotions, feeling guilty or ashamed, and problems with relationships. Symptoms of CPTSD can be similar to other conditions, including Reactive Attachment Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder, so it’s sometimes difficult to diagnose.
Some folks are more vulnerable to developing symptoms of PTSD than others. Most people who experience trauma do not develop PTSD. For those who do, it’s vital to get the right support.
Trauma and Children
Regardless of the specific diagnosis, the impact of stress, trauma and violence is huge, especially for children. We sometimes talk about “shattered assumptions” - the idea that traumatic events can change how children view the world and themselves. They may no longer feel that the world is safe.
Beyond the symptoms of PTSD, children and teens who have experienced traumatic events may display other challenges that could be related to trauma. They may struggle in school and with friends or have problems sleeping. Complex or developmental trauma is sometimes described as “toxic”: the resources that would have been used for growth and learning are instead used for survival and coping.
Treating Trauma
For children and teens, therapy is usually the first treatment. Medications might be also used to stabilize certain symptoms and make it easier to access support from therapy. For therapy to work, children and their families first need to be safe, and to have basic needs like food and shelter met. If there is ongoing abuse or trauma, therapists will often work closely with child protective services.
A safe, therapeutic environment where a trusting relationship can develop is the most important part of treatment. Trust takes time. It takes some children longer than others to talk openly and freely about past traumas. Therapists do not need to get all the details of a traumatic event to be able to help.
A range of treatments can be helpful to children with PTSD or CPTSD. These include:
Family Therapy - This can help make sure the family feels safe and help parents to deal with their own trauma
Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Exposure-based Therapy - Helps to deal with specific fears
EMDR - This pairs eye movements with relaxation responses
Supportive Psychotherapy - This is a space that allows children to feel safe and heard
Biofeedback - Devices like smartwatches can monitor heart rates while children with PTSD sleep to help target therapies
Group Therapies - Can provide a space to process issues with those who have a similar experience.
If you or your child are experiencing symptoms of PTSD or CPTSD please know you can always discuss treatment options with your pediatrician or with a mental health provider.
At Bradley REACH, we understand how overwhelming it can be to navigate post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or complex PTSD (CPTSD), especially in children and teens. Whether your child is struggling with emotional trauma, trouble sleeping, social withdrawal, or school challenges, early intervention can make a significant difference. Our therapists are trained in trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), EMDR for children, supportive psychotherapy, and other evidence-based approaches to treating PTSD in children and adolescents. We’re here to help families recognize the signs of childhood trauma and explore treatment options in a safe, supportive environment. If you're searching for therapy for trauma, PTSD in teens, or mental health support for kids, we encourage you to reach out and learn more about how we can help.
Get Mental Health Care
We’d love to connect you or someone you know with mental health care. To refer a child/teen/adolescent or yourself, please call (877) 992-2422 or click here to make a referral. Bradley REACH’s expert teams of psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and nurses provide intensive mental health care and therapy to teams and families, virtually, in New England, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Florida.
DISCLAIMER:
The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
If you or your child are in crisis or experiencing mental health problems please seek the advice of a licensed clinician or call 988 or Kids Link in Rhode Island.
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