Complex trauma is a phrase that was coined by Dr. Judith Herman in the early 90s book, “Trauma and Recovery.” The treatment field as a whole has only recently started to understand the impact and distinction of early trauma from our classic understanding of trauma. Our team at Family First is one of the only centers in the country that receives intensive on-going training and consultation on how to treat individuals with complex trauma.
Complex trauma is an umbrella term to describe any event, series of events, situation or dynamic that impacted your child’s development negatively and the cascading effects that those experiences have on mental and physical health. Complex trauma can result from many things, including experiences as extreme as abuse and neglect, and as far reaching and subtle as historical trauma in the family and disruptions in the pregnancy and birth process. These early experiences create dysregulation in a young child’s nervous system, creating an unstable foundation for their developing personality to be built upon. The impact of these experiences often does not become apparent until adolescence and can be very confusing for the teenager experiencing it, as well as the caregivers who are responsible for supporting them.
of teens report at least 1 traumatic event by 18 years old
of teens report 4 or more traumatic events
We recognize that there are a lot of feelings, factors, and emotions that go into the process of selecting a quality program for your son. We offer a safe, supportive, caring, and nurturing environment staffed by dedicated professionals who are committed to helping your son and your family get on a sustainable path towards healing. We encourage you to speak with one of our trained professionals who can assist you in making the next right move for your son.
