Being withdrawn, flying off the handle at the smallest inconvenience, and losing motivation are probably all things you’ve seen in your teen. But when are they signs that something deeper is going on?
Living with trauma isn’t always obvious. Sometimes, it silences your son or daughter. Other times, it causes them to bottle up their emotions until they burst out. A trauma assessment can help identify what your teen is having trouble putting into words.
What is a trauma assessment?
Trauma assessments are tools used by mental health professionals to understand how someone’s lived experiences affect their emotions, behaviors, and well-being. Just because something traumatic happened to your teen doesn’t guarantee that they’ll have serious effects, but their mental health is at risk. On the other hand, you might not even know that a traumatic event has been affecting them until they’re assessed.
Professionals who use trauma assessments aren’t just focused on trying to diagnose your teen. Instead, they’re looking at the full picture to find out how to help your teen improve their well-being. For teens, assessments are developmentally appropriate, which means they use clear, age-appropriate language and give them space to talk when they’re ready, not when they’re forced to.
A toolbox full of tools
There are several different methods that mental health professionals use to evaluate trauma, including observations, interviews, and screening tools. Each of these tools will help them understand what is affecting your teen by looking at their:
- Changes in mood
- Personal relationships
- School performance
- Physical symptoms
- Coping strategies
It’s worth it to take a deeper look
Intense anger or sadness, reckless behavior, and even staying glued to their computer might all seem like normal teen behavior, but it could be a sign of something more worrying. When these behaviors cause your child to fall behind in school, lose touch with their friends or family, and give up on the things they deeply enjoy, there’s a good chance they’re struggling with their mental health.
If you never look into it, neither you nor your teen may know what’s actually going on. They likely don’t have the language to communicate how they feel or might be too embarrassed, ashamed, or guilty to ever bring it up to you. Your teen doesn’t need to be “fixed.” They just need a helping hand. A trauma assessment can be the first step in getting them the support they need.
Signs your teen might be dealing with trauma
Every person who lives with trauma will have a different experience. They’ll react differently to the initial event(s) and have side effects that are uniquely their own. However, there are some signs that might point to it being time for your teen to have a trauma assessment:
- Emotional withdrawal or feeling “numb”
- Sudden mood swings or intense irritability
- Trouble sleeping or frequent nightmares
- Avoiding certain places, people, or conversations
- Drop in grades or loss of interest in school
- Changes in eating habits or appearance
- Risky behaviors like substance use or self-harm
- Difficulty trusting others or forming close relationships
You might notice only one or two of these. Or you might just feel like something’s off, even if you can’t explain why. Trust your instinct. A trauma assessment doesn’t require all the answers. It’s just a way to start asking the right questions.
Teachers might notice first
School might be one of the first obvious places where your teen starts struggling. Teachers, guidance counselors, or even administration might reach out to you about issues they’re seeing. Dropping grades, picking fights, skipping class, or even frequent reports of headaches/stomachaches can all be signs that something is going on. Take these concerns seriously and open up the conversation with your teen from a respectful, compassionate place.
How professionals assess trauma in teens
Licensed mental health professionals use a combination of tools and approaches to look at how past experiences are affecting your teen today.
Clinical interviews
A structured or semi-structured conversation a clinician and your teen can explore their emotional world, behaviors, relationships, and experiences. The clinician will make progress toward understanding and/or uncovering any stress, loss, or trauma that your child might be dealing with. They’ll pace interviews so that teens can ease into the conversation and feel secure rather than hurrying, which can make them feel unsafe.
Parents and caregivers might also be interviewed. Trauma can affect what someone remembers about an event or even stem from something your teen thinks wouldn’t affect them. Having a better understanding of how they’re reacting or behaving can give the clinician more insight into what your teen might be struggling with.
Standardized screening tools
Brief validated questionnaires can help document adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and measure different symptoms, like anxiety, avoidance, hyperarousal, and emotional distress. Screening tools might be used at different points during assessment and treatment to track your teen’s symptoms over time. There are several standardized screening tools, including:
- Acute Stress Checklist for Children (ASC-Kids)
- Acute Stress Disorder Scale (ASDS)
- Child and Adolescent Trauma Screen (CATS)
- Child PTSD Symptom Scale (CPSS) for DSM-5
- Child Stress Disorders Checklist (CSDS)
- Child Trauma Screening Questionnaire (CTSQ)
- Pediatric ACEs Related Life-events Screener (PEARLS)
- PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5)
Many of these screening tools are given to teens to complete on paper or a computer/tablet to self-report. And, like clinical interviews, parents and caregivers may be asked to complete parent/caregiver versions of the same tools for additional insight.
Behavioral observations
As thorough as interviews and screening tools are, they don’t always capture the full picture. Mental health professionals also rely on and make notes about behavioral observations they make about your teen. Many people are not completely reliable to self-report every symptom (or symptom severity) and can be guarded during clinical interviews.
Psychological evaluations
Trauma doesn’t always occur by itself. Your teen’s entire physical and mental health will affect how they react to trauma and what they might deal with long term. When trauma exists alongside other co-occurring conditions, like ADHD, depression, or substance use, a full psychological evaluation can help determine the right type of support for your teen. Sometimes, trauma symptoms alone can be complex enough for a clinician to suggest a psychological evaluation.
What happens after an assessment?
Mental health professionals will review the assessment results and talk with you (and your teen, when appropriate) about what they’ve observed. If trauma-related symptoms are present, they’ll work with you to develop a treatment plan tailored to your teen’s needs.
This may include:
- Individual therapy focused on trauma (like EMDR or trauma-focused CBT)
- Family therapy to support healing within relationships
- Skills-based support for emotional regulation, anxiety, or stress
- Academic or behavioral accommodations if trauma is affecting school performance
- Referrals for further evaluation or treatment if co-occurring conditions like depression, ADHD, or substance use are also involved
You’ll also gain a better understanding of your teen’s mental health. If they do need treatment, it’s an opportunity for them to start learning more about themselves and moving forward so they can enjoy life to the fullest.
Take the first step toward healing
You don’t need all the answers to reach out for support; you just need a starting point. At Family First, we specialize in teen PTSD treatment and helping them explore their mental health beneath the surface and build a path toward healing. Our trauma assessments are compassionate, collaborative, and designed specifically for adolescents.
Reach out to our team online or talk to us at 888.904.5947 to find out if a trauma assessment is the right first step.