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Healthy Ways for Teens to Cope With Trauma

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A traumatic experience causes a threat to our safety and/or puts a life, or the lives of others, at risk. In response to trauma, a person may experience intense emotional, psychological and physical distress that could impact their function. Like adults, teenagers suffer traumatic events too, but unlike grown-ups, young people do not have the life experiences to cope with trauma healthily. Our compassionate team helps teens cope with trauma, heal and learn strategies for living a healthy life through our trauma therapy program. Reach out to us online or call us 888.291.2309 to learn more about what a trauma therapy program can do for the teens in your life.

The Uniqueness of Teen Trauma

Teenagers can be deeply upset by local, national, or international tragedies they witness on TV or social media. Additionally, teen trauma can affect them personally or their friends. Because they are young, emotional, and inexperienced with such sadness, your teenager will handle their trauma differently to adults. To help teens cope with trauma, parents need to understand how teenagers manage their emotions, stress, and sadness.

A trauma therapy program works because it can uncover and attempt to make sense of the traumatic experiences teens have had and suffered from. Some of the most common forms of teen trauma are:

  • Physical abuse
  • Emotional abuse
  • Sexual abuse
  • Domestic violence
  • Childhood neglect
  • Death of a parent or child
  • Tornado, hurricane or living through other acts of nature
  • Surviving a car accident, train, or plane crash

Teens may find themselves overwhelmed and feeling alone when coping with the issues arising from the traumatic experience(s). A trauma therapy program for teens ensures that they know they are not alone, that the teen trauma they have suffered and the related emotional turmoil is valid and seen, and assures them that they can and will overcome the trauma to live a happy, healthy life.

Healthy Ways for Teens to Cope With Trauma

Teenagers who have been exposed to traumatizing events are not immune to the effects of these events. It may have been many years since the trauma occurred, but it can still be carried forward and need treatment to overcome. No teen should have to suffer in silence. Here are healthy ways for teens to cope with trauma.

Be Patient With Them

This may seem easier said than done, but it is important to be patient during a teen trauma flashback when your child may believe that their life is being threatened again. Your teen may be defensive or even violent to cope with trauma, but having patience and empathy during their traumatic memories can help them get through it.

Avoid Triggers

Teen trauma can be triggered by certain events, images, locations, people, sights, sounds that remind the victim of the original trauma they have experienced. One effective way your teen can cope with trauma is to learn the stimuli and situations that need to be avoided and then steer clear of those triggers.

Trauma Therapy Program

There are a variety of treatment options to help with teen trauma. The option that will work the best for your teen will depend on them, their trauma, life experiences, temperament, and goals but our trauma therapy program can be of help in healing and learning the essential coping skills and techniques to manage triggers, process emotion, and move forward toward healthier, happier adulthood.

Learn More at Imagine Fort Collins

A trauma therapy program is one of the most effective ways to cope with trauma. If your teen has suffered trauma in their life, don’t hesitate to call us 888.291.2309 or contact our team online. With vast experience in counseling teens and treating mental health issues in adolescents, Imagine Fort Collins is here for you and your teen.