Are you caring for a child with CPTSD? Looking for treatment options for complex PTSD in children? We have researched and compiled helpful information.
What is Complex PTSD (CPTSD)?
Complex PTSD (CPTSD) differs from traditional PTSD in a few key ways. CPTSD mirrors several of the traditional symptoms of PTSD with additional symptoms such as:
- difficulty controlling your emotions
- feeling very angry or distrustful of the world
- constant feelings of emptiness or hopelessness
- feeling as if you are permanently damaged or worthless
- feeling as if you are completely different from other people
- feeling like nobody can understand what happened to you
- avoiding friendships and relationships, or finding them very difficult
- often experiencing dissociative symptoms such as depersonalization or derealization
- physical symptoms, such as headaches, dizziness, chest pains, and stomach aches
- regular suicidal feelings
It can be challenging for caregivers to navigate complex PTSD in children. We have gathered information on seven treatment strategies for children dealing with CPTSD.
7 Treatment Strategies for Complex PTSD in Children
Here are helpful resources to guide children into healing.
1. Professional Therapy
It’s important to seek professional help for children who display symptoms of PTSD or CPTSD. You don’t have to go through this alone.
The National Center for Child Traumatic Stress (NCCTSN) provides resources and information on trauma-focused therapy for children.
Some of the therapies recommended for children with childhood trauma include:
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is designed to address the mental health needs of children who experience early childhood trauma. This treatment model is especially helpful for children who exhibit traits of PTSD.
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy combines play therapy and behavioral therapy. In this model, the adult is taught new skills on how to engage with children with emotional and behavioral issues.
Child Parent Psychotherapy
Child Parent Psychotherapy is a treatment model intended to strengthen the relationship between the child and caregiver. This caregiver relationship is considered the primary source of safety for the child.
Working with a professional therapist can help caregivers learn supportive skills and strategies. Professional therapists can also make recommendations for additional support, such as a Pediatric Psychiatrist to consider medication management.
2. Medication
Adolescents experiencing symptoms of PTSD and CPTSD may benefit from medication as additional support.
Medications used to treat symptoms of anxiety and depression can be helpful tools for children with PTSD and CPTSD.
While medication alone has its limitations, it can still be a supportive therapeutic tool. Medication can assist children in increasing their tolerance levels to participate in therapeutic interventions and treatments.
Additionally, medication can be an effective support when coupled with general wellness strategies and a healthy lifestyle.
3. Healthy Lifestyle
Healthy lifestyle habits can have a positive impact on children’s resilience. Adequate sleep, proper nutrition, and regular physical activity can help elevate their mood.
Cosmic Kids Yoga provides yoga and mindfulness resources for children of all ages.
Engaging in healthy lifestyle choices not only benefits the child but also the caregiver. It is important to create a supportive environment that promotes such habits.
4. Supportive Environment
My belief is that a supportive environment is key to assisting children with PTSD and CPTSD. My child needed to feel safe and supported before they were ready to disclose their trauma.
While our home is often busy and noisy, it takes extra effort to make it a supportive environment for all our children.
In our home, a supportive environment is one where all voices are valued. While the parents make the final decisions, it is important to us to provide our children with options and hold space for their voices to be heard.
We model problem-solving and relationship repair. Don’t pretend to be all-knowing or perfect. We make mistakes, and we own them. Most importantly, we keep trying to support one another and provide a safe place for one another.
When a supportive environment is provided at home, children can also learn and practice new skills to support their healing and development.
5. Skill Development
We have found Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) to be a useful treatment approach that focuses on developing skills.
DBT has helped both us and our child learn techniques for managing stress and increasing coping skills.
Additionally, we have found other skills, like mindfulness and self-care, to be valuable resources for both caregivers and children.
We make time to do activities we enjoy, such as arts and crafts, as a way to promote self-care and mindfulness.
The American Art Therapy Association (AATA) gives parents information on finding a qualified art therapist and the benefits of art therapy for children.
While modeling and increasing skills can promote healing, it is also important for children to find safety in environmental predictability.
6. Routine and Structure
Children who have experienced trauma often find comfort in the predictability of routine and structure.
Caregivers can promote a sense of safety by setting clear expectations and communicating any changes to the child’s schedule.
Parents or caregivers play a crucial role in promoting healing for children with PTSD. However, it is important to remember that we are people with our own needs as well.
While it may be easy to identify ways to help our children, seeking help for ourselves can be a struggle.
7. Parental or Caregiver Support
I am naturally inclined to help others. As an adult adoptee, becoming a foster parent was always my dream.
It felt like the right thing to do to provide a loving home for children from difficult backgrounds. However, seeking help for myself is not something that comes naturally to me.
Through helping a child heal, I have realized that it’s important for me to seek support as well. If I expect my child to utilize resources and services, I need to lead by example and show vulnerability and openness to treatment.
Caregivers have their own needs, and it’s crucial to ensure that they have access to the support they require.
What Happens If PTSD Goes Untreated?
It’s important to note that PTSD and complex PTSD in children do not simply go away over time, nor do they disappear with a change in location.
If left untreated, the symptoms of these conditions can become even more severe. This is especially concerning for children, as they may develop unhealthy ways of coping with difficult emotions or unprocessed trauma.
These maladaptive coping mechanisms could put the child at risk for unhealthy relationships or self-harm. Seeking treatment for PTSD and CPTSD is crucial for preventing these negative outcomes.
What Parents, Teachers, and Caregivers Can Do
Assisting a child with CPTSD is challenging, but recovery is achievable with support and treatment.
Show compassion to both your child and yourself, and believe that healing is possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
More Posts To Help You Guide Children With PTSD and CPTSD:
How to Recognize Complex PTSD Fatigue in Children
7 Misunderstandings about PTSD in Children: What Parents Need to Know
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