No one ever wants to think about traumatic situations happening to kids. Unfortunately, abuse, accidents, illnesses, and other traumatic events can happen to people of any age. Every child is an individual, and each form of trauma is similarly unique. That's why it's only logical that different children require different approaches when it comes to healing from trauma. These are four forms of trauma therapy that can help teenagers recover from PTSD and other forms of trauma.

1. Informal Talk Therapy

Every suffering child needs, first and foremost, to know that they are loved and supported. Some teens who are not ready to undertake formal trauma therapy can benefit from supportive talk therapy. During informal talk therapy sessions, teens will have the opportunity to bring up anything that's on their minds. The freedom to talk about topics spontaneously can help teens process difficult feelings. This environment can also encourage teens to talk about trauma when they're ready without placing undue pressure on them.

2. EMDR Therapy

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy is one of the most effective ways to treat trauma in teenagers and adults. During EMDR therapy sessions, patients are guided through a series of eye movement exercises by a therapist. The work done in EMDR therapy can retrain the brain to stop producing negative responses to memories of traumatic situations. This type of therapy can be especially helpful to teens who suffer from hypervigilance as a result of their trauma.

3. Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy is used to treat conditions ranging from depression to anxiety. Ordinary CBT may not be helpful for people who have suffered from trauma, since some of the techniques used during this type of therapy can exacerbate symptoms. However, trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy is different. This type of therapy combines CBT techniques with an acute understanding of trauma to help teens manage PTSD and C-PTSD.

4. Interactive Therapy

It's natural for young people to have more energy than adults. Some people respond to trauma by getting agitated and lashing out. Adolescents with this type of trauma response may benefit from having a safe place to work out their energy and aggression. Activity-based therapy often takes place outdoors and includes vigorous activities, such as hiking, horseback riding, and farming. These forms of therapy can help trauma patients reconnect with their bodies as well as heal emotionally. Interactive outdoor therapy may be especially helpful for teens who are resistant to the idea of seeing a counselor since it is very different from what most people imagine when they think of therapy.

For more information on trauma treatment for teens, contact a company near you.