Childhood Trauma
I’ve worked with girls and boys who have experienced acts of atrocity; individuals who have lived a thousand lifetimes of pain before they even hit puberty. Trauma directly effects brain development, including the ability to regulate emotions and process information. With a limited ability to express themselves, children who experience trauma often suffer alone, feeling confused and isolated from the world around them.
Adolescents
In early adolescence, the body is in a turbulent disarray. Significant growth occurs physically, hormonally, and emotionally. However, the skills of emotion regulation, self-control, and confidence are rarely developed, making adolescence a difficult time for many teens to navigate. When you add additional stressors, such as bullying, social expectations, trauma, mental health, and/or family discord, maladaptive behaviors often arise. Such maladaptive behaviors may include cutting, isolating oneself, changes in friend group, decline in grades, changes in clothing style, oppositional behaviors, substance use, fighting, etc.
Families [Parents]
Many families experience hopelessness from the frustration of destructive patterns playing out over and over again. Feeling powerless while desperately trying to regain control of the life they once dreamed of for themselves, their children, and their family.
Adults
Many adults struggle with difficulties related to depression, anxiety, trauma, adjusting to a new environment, or the lack of motivation and confusion that can come from living in a fast paced, competitive, and unbalanced society. These stressors are often compounded by day-to-day responsibilities of work, school, relationships, family, and meeting one’s basic needs, such as paying bills and buying groceries. It’s exhausting.
