Developmental Trauma Assessments

 

Developmental trauma in children and young people is a term that reflects the impact on the development of early adverse experiences of childhood (ACES). Such experiences can include exposure to abuse or neglect, inconsistent parental care due to mental illness, domestic violence or drug or alcohol misuse. Additional experiences such as loss, bereavement, separation, attachment instability, or the impact of intrusive medical interventions or illnesses can all impact the development of the young person. Research now shows that trauma reactions and responses can also be experienced in utero.

 

Developmental trauma can change the development of our behaviour, attitudes, relationships and emotions and the child’s brain can become neurobiologically primed to respond to perceived threat in a self-protective manner. However, the overactivation of the stress response system can impact other areas of development including emotional, behavioural and relational areas and also impact upon learning. Developmental trauma can impact on the development of the sense of self, adaptive emotional and behavioural regulation skills and interpersonal functioning. It is therefore a risk factor in terms of later mental health difficulties as well as wider social and behavioural difficulties. It is not the event itself per se, that predicts the impact on the young person’s development, but the sense they have made of this event.

Our clinicians have extensive experience and expertise in working with young people who have experienced developmental trauma. We can provide empathic assessments with plans for support and intervention that focus on developing resilience and identifying strengths.

 

Please contact us for more details.