Each year in this country millions of children are the victims of child abuse at the hands of parents, guardians and other adults. Whether this abuse is physical, sexual, verbal or emotional, it can leave scars on their heart and psyche for many years.Here are just some of the long-term effects of child abuse on adult survivors:Forming Healthy Bonds and RelationshipsThe lingering effects of childhood abuse make it very difficult to trust others and form normal, healthy connections. Survivors may ...read more
What Is Trauma-Informed Care?
According to CDC data, 1 in 4 children experiences some form of trauma or abuse in their childhood. More sobering statistics indicate that 1 in 5 women and 1 in 71 men have experienced rape at some point in their lives. These numbers suggest that many people, male and female, young and old, have and will experience trauma in their lifetime. Treating Health in People with Trauma If you’ve ever gone to the doctor or been treated at an emergency room, you know that the entire ...read more
Overcoming Generational Trauma
You know you got your hairline from your Dad’s side of the family and your eye color from your mom. You know diabetes runs in your family, as does heart disease and Parkinson’s.But do you know that many families also pass down trauma to their loved ones? It’s not just our physical makeup and risk of disease that we inherit from our family, it is also the emotional wounds as well.What is Transgenerational Trauma?Before you were born you were in your mother’s womb and very susceptible to her ...read more
3 Therapy Approaches for Childhood Trauma
There are 3 fantastic therapy approaches for childhood trauma. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), roughly two-thirds of adolescents and teens report experiencing at least one traumatic event by the age of 16. Luckily, a qualified therapist can help kids navigate and process their emotions related to the trauma. Ramifications of Childhood Trauma Whether it’s physical or sexual abuse, emotional neglect, bullying (including cyber), ...read more
What is Emotional Incest?
Emotional incest is troubling any time it shows up in families. Many of us grew up in households that were dysfunctional, where boundaries between parents and adults were blurred in unhealthy ways. Emotional incest is not sexual in nature. It does, however, describe unhealthy emotional interactions between adults and children that are psychologically damaging. In a real-life this looks like a parent treating their child as a partner, relying on them for emotional support and care. ...read more