Teen counseling has been on the rise in Katy, Texas and in the Houston area. Counselors are seeing more teens for teen depression and teen anxiety than before. Along with teen depression and teen anxiety, trauma therapy for teens in Katy, Texas and the Houston area is on the rise.
What is Trauma?
Physical trauma to the body can be debilitating. Teen athletes playing sports are at risk of these physical traumas. A sprained ankle or a knee injury can keep the teen athlete out of the game for some time. Often, these physical traumas need medical care and physical therapy. Receiving this level of care helps the teen athlete recover strength and mobility to the injured area. There are times that after they recover from the physical trauma, they return stronger than before the trauma.
Emotional trauma can be debilitating causing serious emotional, psychological, and physical distress (injury). Emotional trauma is the result of a teen experiencing an overwhelming life experience often related to their safety. These overwhelming life experiences create tremendous stress on the teen's emotional system. This tremendous stress leaves the teen with a lack of security that the world around them is a safe place to be. Emotional trauma can also create memories that will not go away causing deep distress. These memories often invade their dreams preventing the teen from getting adequate sleep needed for a healthy mind and body. Trauma impacts a teen's ability to function in daily activities as they normally would before the trauma.
Traumatic Events
What Makes an Emotionally Traumatic Event, Traumatic
Emotional trauma can come from a variety of sources. Also, what one may experience as traumatic, another may not. There are many factors that result in whether one experiences an event as traumatic. Among these are:
A teen's own life experience and how they view the world
A teen's personal resiliency to stressful events
The safety of the environment the teen lives in
The number of external resources the teen has in their environment
To experience trauma, a teen does not need to physically have the trauma happen to them. Teen trauma can also be due to witnessing a traumatic event. Trauma can come from experiencing a one-time life event, many events, or an ongoing stressor. Below are some examples for each category.
Onetime Traumatic Event
Some examples of teen trauma stemming from a one time event include but are not limited to:
A death of a close family member or other loved one
An accident such as a car accident, serious sporting injury for a teen athlete, etc.
A violent attack or witnessing a violent attack
A natural disaster such as a hurricane, tornado, earthquake, etc.
Multiple Traumatic Events
Some examples of teen trauma stemming from multiple traumatic events include but are not limited to:
Exposure to domestic violence
Fighting an ongoing physical illness
Experiencing on going child abuse
Growing up in a neighborhood with gang violence
Ongoing, Persistent Stressors
This category of trauma can often go unnoticed or unrecognized the adults in the teen's life. This type of teen trauma can take a subtler approach and may not be as clear. This may be due to the adult's lens with which they look through to gauge whether an event may be traumatic for the teen or not. This type of teen trauma can be as impactful and disruptive for the teen as other forms of teen trauma. Some of these ongoing stressors include but are not limited to:
Ongoing bullying at school and/or cyber bullying
Divorce of and separation from a parents
Moving to a new school where the teen does not have friends
Non-life threatening injury
Death of a pet
Loss of an important or significant relationship
Why are Teens are Sometimes Reluctance to Disclose Traumatic Events?
We would think that teens who have experience a traumatic event would tell their parents. While some teens feel comfortable coming forward and telling their parents, other teens do not. There are several reasons for this and the below are some of those reasons:
The teen may have been threatened that if they tell someone they, or someone they love, will get hurt.
The teen may feel embarrassed about the event that happened to them.
They may feel that if they had chosen to do things differently, they could have prevented it from happening. As a result, teens may not want to tell their parents out of fear their parents may be disappointed in them.
Some teens are also concerned that if their parents know, it may add stress to their lives.
Some teens also feel that there is nothing that can be done and that their parents will not be able to help.
Signs and Symptoms of Teen Trauma
As parents, we want to be able to help our teens. Yet, it is sometimes difficult to differentiate between normal teen angst and something more serious. Some signs and symptoms of teen trauma to be aware of are:
A teen may AVOID people, places, or conversations that may remind them of the traumatic event.
A teen may ISOLATE themselves away from family or friends.
A teen may become HYPER-VIGILANT constantly looking for danger in the environment.
A teen may experience NIGHTMARES about the traumatic event or themes related to the trauma.
A teen may have difficulty SLEEPING either getting to sleep or staying asleep.
A teen may become more IRRITABLE or ANGRY without clear cause or reason.
Your teen may become more HOPELESS about their future.
Your teen may become DEPRESSED or ANXIOUS that is lasting and ongoing.
You notice your teen appears NUMB to emotions.
Healing from Trauma
If a teen has experienced a traumatic event, it is something that generally doesn't go away on its own. Symptoms of teen trauma left untreated can have lasting impact on the teen. If you are seeing signs and symptoms of trauma in your teen, it may be time to reach out to a therapist. At Katy Teen & Family Counseling we offer the following trauma therapy for those living in the Katy and Houston area:
EMDR for Trauma Therapy & PTSD Treatment
Neurofeedback for Trauma Therapy & PTSD Treatment
EMDR for Trauma Therapy & PTSD Treatment
Trauma Focused - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
At Katy Teen & Family Counseling, our caring therapists have the expertise to help your teen. We provide trauma counseling approaches backed by research and that are shown to be effective. Start the healing process today and reach out to Katy Teen & Family Counseling. It's as easy as following these three simple steps:
1. Contact Katy Teen & Family Counseling.
2. Talk with one of our teen trauma therapy experts.
3. Begin the journey in healing from teen trauma and find the happiness you deserve!
Trauma, PTSD, & Other Services Offered at Katy Teen & Family Counseling
In addition to trauma therapy for teens, we also provide the following teen counseling & family therapy services:
Neurofeedback Therapy for Teen Depression
Neurofeedback Therapy for Teen Anxiety
Neurofeedback Therapy for Teen ADHD
EMDR for Teen Depression
EMDR for Teen Anxiety
EMDR for Performance Anxiety
How to Begin Teen Therapy or Family Counseling
To begin teen therapy or family counseling, simply contact Katy Teen & Family Counseling through our website or by calling 346-202-4662. Our Owner and Lead Clinician answers each phone call to help match you with the right therapist for you teen and family.
About the Author
Jason Drake is a Licensed Clinical Worker. He is a Specialist in Teen Therapy & Family Counseling. He has provided therapy to teens and families since 2003. Through his expertise, he helps teens who struggle with depression, anxiety, trauma, ADHD/ADD, and PTSD. He works with talented teen athletes who have experience mental blocks. Gifted students have unique challenges that Jason understands well. Jason uses CBT, EMDR, Neurofeedback, FFT, and Motivational Interviewing. We only work with teens and families which allows us to focus on what teens and families of today need. Resolving the struggles of today can assure a more successful tomorrow. Proudly serving Katy, Tx and Houston.
