Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), is a mental health condition that can develop after a traumatic event. In can occur in people of any age, gender, race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. PTSD can occur after any type of physically or psychologically stressful event- directly witnessing the event, hearing about the event, or direct exposure. Situations that may bring about PTSD symptoms include:

• Car accidents
• Sexual Abuse/Assault
• Physical Abuse
• Verbal Abuse
• Natural Disasters
• Bullying
• Incarceration of Parents
• Death of loved one ( friend/family member)
• Military
• Separation from Caregivers

While everyone experiences PTSD differently, there are 4 main types of symptoms:

PTSD Symptoms in Children

In Children especially very young children- the symptoms of PTSD can differ from those of adults and may include:

• Fear of being separated
• Losing previously-acquired skills ( such as toilet training)
• Sleep problems and nightmares
• Somber, compulsive play in which themes or aspects of the trauma are repeated
• New phobias and anxieties that seem unrelated to the trauma (such as fear of monsters)
• Acting out the trauma through play, drawings, or stories
• Aches and pains with no apparent cause
• Irritability and aggression

Treatment for Trauma

There are many forms of treatment to address PTSD. In individuals (ages 4-18) we offer Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ( TF-CBT) which is a evidenced-based treatment for children and adolescents impacted by trauma and their parents/caregivers. It is a components-based treatment model that incorporates trauma-sensitive interventions with cognitive behavioral, family, and humanistic principles and techniques. For adults, treatment modalities included but are not limited to, cognitive behavioral therapy, EMDR, and cognitive processing therapy.