Trauma in teens is unpredictable. What may seem innocuous to parents may cause deep-seated hurt and fear in a teenager. If left untreated, teen trauma can cause long-term harm and distress at a particularly vulnerable time of development.
Teen trauma treatment provides teens with education, a “vocabulary” for their feelings, and coping mechanisms that help alleviate their suffering. Learn more about teens and trauma.
Understanding Trauma and PTSD in Teens
Trauma is an emotional response to a dangerous or distressing event. It can cause teens to fear for their (or others’) safety. Teens may develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in response to traumatic events, causing them to internalize a disproportionate sense of fear that interferes with their ability to engage in everyday activities. PTSD may cause nightmares, avoidance patterns, and hypervigilance.
Because of their developmental state, trauma can easily overwhelm a teen’s ability to cope. They may find it difficult to identify and articulate their thoughts about these complex emotions, and they can be more impulsive with their behaviors than adults. As an outlet for these overwhelming and unexpressed feelings, teens are more likely to express themselves through maladaptive behaviors such as substance use, self-harm, or violence.
Evidence-Based Approaches to Teen Trauma Treatment
Teen PTSD treatment and other trauma-related challenges should be tailored to each individual teen’s traumatic experiences in order to meet their unique treatment needs. Typically, an experienced and certified clinician selects the therapeutic approach and sets treatment goals for each teen.
Therapeutic Approaches
Talk therapy is the most common treatment for trauma and PTSD. Clinicians may help teens through the following therapeutic approaches:
- Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT): A type of cognitive behavioral therapy, TF-CBT helps teens identify their thoughts in order to interrupt and redirect unwanted patterns. Teens tune into their bodies to learn how they respond to stress and redirect their thoughts and behaviors toward more supportive paths.
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): During EMDR treatment, teens reprocess traumatic memories while engaging in directed eye movements. This helps the brain remap how memories are stored and allows them to change the emotions and thoughts that they connect to traumatic experiences.
- Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT): A type of cognitive behavioral therapy, TF-CBT helps teens identify their thoughts in order to interrupt and redirect unwanted patterns. Teens tune into their bodies to learn how they respond to stress and redirect their thoughts and behaviors toward more supportive paths.
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): During EMDR treatment, teens reprocess traumatic memories while engaging in directed eye movements. This helps the brain remap how memories are stored and allows them to change the emotions and thoughts that they connect to traumatic experiences.
- Group and Family Therapy: Through group therapy, teens connect with peers who understand their experiences. Together, they can listen to and learn from one another. Families can also offer social support and understanding as teens heal.
Treatment Goals
In the beginning stages of treatment, teens and clinicians work together to reduce distress and related symptoms. This may include identifying triggers, recognizing related health problems, and treating coexisting behavioral health challenges.
Long-term treatment goals are more complex, focusing on supporting a teen’s overall well-being. Teens learn coping skills, rebuild self-esteem, practice emotional regulation techniques, and strive to improve the quality of their lives. The ultimate goal of trauma treatment for teens is to foster resilience while building coping skills that allow them to thrive.
Long-Term Benefits of Residential Treatment
Teens who receive residential treatment for PTSD have better outcomes than traumatized teens who receive no intervention at all. Symptom severity decreases, and teens also see improved academic performance, stronger relationships, and greater emotional stability.
Muir Wood believes in continued support, even after initial treatment ends, for sustained health and progress. We provide aftercare resources, including virtual support for teens and education and virtual support for parents.
Teen PTSD FAQs
According to studies from the National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, roughly 14% – 43% of teenage boys and 15% – 43% of teenage girls experience at least one trauma during their adolescent years. The study further shows that out of these youths, 1% – 6% of teenage boys and 3% – 15% of teenage girls are likely to develop PTSD due to that traumatic event(s).
As mentioned, there are many causes that can prompt PTSD to develop in adolescents. While conditions and triggers differ, PTSD is directly linked to a traumatic event a teen has endured or witnessed. PTSD may also develop in youths who have experienced extreme neglect or abuse. Situations in which a teen experiences or witnesses violence, a sudden loss of a loved one, assault, natural disasters, combat, gang violence, arrests, or auto accident all have the potential to lead to PTSD in teens.
Thankfully, there are many different types of treatment for PTSD in teens. The most common treatment is TF-CBT, which is trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy. This is a kind of talk therapy that mental health professionals use in order to encourage discussion and talk about the traumatic event. Talk therapies for PTSD teens may also include group therapy in which youths can openly and safely discuss their experiences with other teens in similar situations. Other PTSD teenager treatment might include experiential therapy, psychotherapy, and in rare cases, medically assisted therapy.
Why Choose Muir Wood for Teen Trauma Treatment?
Muir Wood’s teen residential treatment programs address mental health challenges and co-occurring substance use disorders. Our program outcomes have demonstrated improvements in resilience and decreased stress, both of which support teens recovering from trauma. Through our trauma-informed therapeutic approach, our expert clinicians help teens overcome their fears and regain confidence.
Real healing is available. Contact us today to learn more about our individualized trauma treatment plans, or you may fill out an assessment form to start the intake process.