Specialties
Trauma Therapy for Children, Teens and Families
Healing happens in relationships, and children are most resilient with at least one supportive caregiver.
Anxiety, fear, sadness and hopelessness can linger after painful or traumatic experiences, for children, teens and young adults alike. Trauma is a core specialty at Serene Trails Therapy.
How trauma can affect children
Trauma can follow a single event, repeated experiences, or the loss or separation that sometimes comes with adoption and foster care. Because young children communicate through behavior, their reactions can show up as big emotions, regression or changes in sleep and play.
Signs to look for
- Nightmares, trouble sleeping or new fears
- Strong reactions to reminders of what happened
- Regression, such as clinginess or toileting setbacks
- Irritability, anger or frequent meltdowns
- Withdrawal or seeming numb
- Trouble concentrating at school
How we help
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
TF-CBT is an evidence-based treatment for children and teens affected by trauma, and their parents or caregivers. It includes coping skills, work with thinking patterns, processing the event and emotions, and building healthy relationships and support. [VERIFY: TF-CBT certification status; the old site said 'currently undergoing certification']
Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP)
For children from birth to 6 who have experienced trauma, CPP strengthens the caregiver-child relationship. Sessions begin with the caregiver, then continue weekly with caregiver and child together.
Experiential approaches
Play, art and sand tray therapy, and for some families equine-assisted psychotherapy, give children ways to process experiences without needing all the words.
Need help right now? Call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, any time, day or night. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. Serene Trails Therapy is not a crisis service, and email, text messages and contact forms are not monitored for emergencies.