Early Childhood Trauma

   Childhood trauma can be characterized in different categories and for different age levels. According to the Peterson (2018), early childhood trauma refers to children that experience traumatic events between the ages of 0-6. This age group is not immune from trauma but typically have a harder time expressing their reactions to a threat or dangerous event. According to the Peterson (2018), age can be a contributor to the misconceptions of understanding and reactions to trauma. A reduced size of the brain cortex, memory, perceptional awareness, language, and consciousness are some things listed that are side effects of trauma in young children (Peterson, 2018). Young children may seem to grow out of trauma but most cases show that the early effects of the trauma continues into older youth and adult underlying issues associated with trauma.

In order to get down to the underlying issues, therapist should use a pre-assessment and post assessment for the child. The Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) is suggested for children 1.5 to five years old. According to Williams (2019), the Achenbach CBCL is categorized to access internalizing behaviors, externalizing behaviors, social, attention and thought problems and additional problem behaviors. As counseling treatment increases, the goal or benefit of the assessment is to see different responses to behaviors that are identified on the CBCL. The cons found for using the assessment is the age mood or behavior shifts in young children and the present of an adult that may contribute to the trauma. According to Peterson (2018), trauma can cause attachment behaviors. Peterson (2018) suggests an intervention treatment plan that includes the child and parent called Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CCP). This would also be an intervention tool used to deal with attachment behaviors if an assessment cannot be completed in the beginning in counseling a child suffering from trauma.

*References

• Peterson, S. (2018, March 21). Screening and Assessment. Retrieved from https://www.nctsn.org/what-is-child-trauma/trauma-types/early-childhood-trauma/screening-and-assessment

• Williams, J. (2019, December 24). The Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist. Retrieved from https://healthfully.com/171696-the-achenbach-child-behavior-checklist.html

#childtrauma#childtherapy