Having a traumatic experience can affect anyone’s life, no matter how old they are. However, for children and young adults, experiencing a traumatic event can impact how they move forward into their adult life. A young person who is dealing with trauma and its aftermath must receive appropriate professional help so that they can recover and grow into a healthy adult. Trauma in teens can manifest as behavioural issues, substance or alcohol abuse, and inappropriate sexual behaviour.
When dealing with trauma, teens can benefit from treatment programs that offer trauma-informed care. Venture Academy can help. Contact us at 866.762.2211 today to learn more about our teen treatment programs.
What Is Trauma and How Does it Manifest in Teenagers?
There are many situations and events that can be traumatic. It can sometimes take years for the effects of trauma to become apparent. Teenagers may find themselves having feelings they can’t control or don’t understand, not realizing that they are dealing with the effects of trauma.
Some of the ways that trauma may manifest in teenagers are:
- Mental health issues such as anxiety or depression
- Anger issues, “blowing up,” or tangling with authority figures
- Acting out sexually in ways that are not appropriate for their maturity level
- Alcohol and substance abuse
What Is Trauma-Informed Care and How Can it Help Your Teen?
Trauma-informed care is a behavioural health care approach that is grounded in an understanding of trauma and its after-effects. Trauma-informed care seeks to help patients process and recover from trauma in a safe environment while also taking care not to re-traumatize the patient. Trauma-informed care also places a high value on patients and clinicians working together to set treatment goals and guide the recovery process.
For teens who are dealing with trauma, it is important to ensure that they receive care that will help them rebuild their sense of safety and trust in others. Trauma-informed care can help traumatized teenagers learn to recognize and understand the behaviours that stem from their experiences, leaving them better equipped to navigate the world in a healthier way.
How Can Parents Help Their Teen Who Has Experienced Trauma?
It can be heartbreaking as a parent to watch your teenager suffer from a traumatic experience. How can you know what to do or how to react? Here are some helpful tips for dealing with a young person who is living with the aftermath of trauma:
- Reassure your teen that they are safe, they are loved, and that no harm is going to come to them. Even when they are not able to hear or believe those words, merely having them in the background can help.
- Stay patient. Teens who are acting out as a result of trauma may act in ways that are hard to handle, but it can help to remember that they are dealing with emotions and reactions that would be hard for even a fully mature adult to manage.
- Seek professional help for your family. Young people who have experienced trauma can benefit significantly from receiving counselling and other appropriate interventions, but other members of the family might also benefit from speaking to someone.
Venture Academy Can Offer Help for Teens Dealing With Trauma
At our treatment centres across Canada, we offer a variety of programs that can help young people who are struggling get back on track. Our clients receive mental and behavioural health care while also staying current with school work. Our highly trained and experienced clinicians can help your teenager recover from trauma and regain control of their behaviour and their life. If your teenager is dealing with the after-effects of trauma and needs help today, reach out to our caring and compassionate staff at 866.762.2211.
