BasePoint Academy:
Teen Trauma Treatment
Evidence Based Trauma Treatment Program for Dallas Area Teens
What is Teen Trauma Treatment
The word trauma can be used to describe both an event that is traumatic and the after-effects of experiencing a traumatic event. Trauma can often have devastating and prolonged effects; whether the trauma was caused by an accident, by the loss of a loved one, abuse/neglect, chronic bullying, or other interpersonal adverse events. At BasePoint Academy, we recognize that parents sometimes need assistance in helping their teen cope and heal from the trauma. In fact, research shows a connection between childhood stress, trauma, and health often linking these adverse traumatic and childhood events to increased risk of chronic health conditions and risky health behaviors later in life. Watching your child suffer from any trauma is not easy and you might feel helpless, worried, or alone. Whatever your situation, the treatment programs at BasePoint Academy can help your teen work through traumatic events with help from family members and a whole support system of qualified and caring professionals. At BasePoint Academy we believe that when trauma is addressed early in adolescence, the long-term effects of trauma can be reduced to avoid risk later in life.
Learn the facts about Teen Trauma
Knowing the signs and symptoms of teen trauma is vital. Early treatment intervention can help teens avoid experiencing the effects of the trauma throughout their lifetime. It’s also important to learn the facts and statistics surrounding mental health and/or substance use that can be triggered from a traumatic event.
- 61% of teens between the ages 13 to 17 have experienced at least one traumatic event in their lifetime
- 19% of teens between the ages 13 to 17 have experienced at least three traumatic events
- Teens who have experienced any form of trauma are 15 times more likely to attempt suicide
- Teens who have experienced trauma are 4 times more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol
Common Causes of Teen Trauma
Causes of trauma can vary from a one-time or short-term traumatic event to an invasive and interpersonal event. A traumatic event is physically or emotionally harmful and can have a lasting and adverse impact. Trauma reactions may persist long after the event and the intensity of physical and emotional responses can be overwhelming. Trauma experienced by teens may occur from the following events:
- Car accidents
- Natural disaster
- Violent act
- Witness to a horrific accident
- Abuse/neglect
- Loss of a parent
- Domestic violence
- Sexual assault
- Chronic bullying
- Parent conflict
- Parent abandonment
- Experiencing or witnessing physical violence
- Emotional distress caused by changes in the family dynamic, environment, or other unexpected events
Common Warning Signs Your Teen Has Experienced Trauma
- Anxiety and worry
- Trepidation and fear
- Angry outbursts and uncontrollable rage
- Avoiding people, places, and anything else associated with a traumatic event
- Extensive or paralyzing grief
- Feelings of nothingness and numbness
- Changes in sleep patterns and habits
- Struggles with depression
- Marked shift in the relationship with parents and peers
- Increased involvement in risky behaviors
- Development of negative self esteem or self-image
- Struggles to identify the difference in feeling safe and being safe
Panic Attacks Caused by Teen Trauma
- Tightening of chest
- Rapid, pounding heart
- Shortness of breath
- Stomach pain or cramping
- Nausea
- Loss of balance
- Shaking or trembling
- Hot flashes or chills
- Feeling faint, lightheaded, or dizzy
The symptoms of a panic attack typically dissipate soon after the attack has ended, but most people live with the fear of having another attack, which can be crippling on an emotional and physical level. This fear can make it very difficult for the healing process to begin and often leads to more emotional obstacles.
Treating Trauma in Teens
For a teen to begin the healing process, it’s important to take the first step by asking for help. At BasePoint Academy, our experienced clinicians will work together to create a plan to manage the short-term and long-term trauma effects. A treatment program at BasePoint Academy is designed uniquely for each teen and the traumatic events they experienced. BasePoint Academy is proud to offer a variety of treatment options and a team equipped to handle the intense impact trauma has on a teen’s overall well-being.Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical behavioral therapy teaches teens how to regulate their emotions and how to be mindful of what can cause emotion dysregulation or panic. DBT aims to help teens manage painful emotions that might be associated with their trauma and learn to minimize the impact their unwanted feelings have on their overall well-being by implementing distress tolerance, mindful awareness, and emotional regulation skills and techniques. These are skills that our team at BasePoint Academy encourages and teaches teens to utilize consistently to strengthen the effectiveness of healthy coping throughout the course of our treatment program.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioral therapy teaches teens to identify negative thoughts and emotions that trigger stress, anxiety, and unhealthy coping. These cognitive distortions, or unhealthy thinking, tend to control how teens respond to situations which often lead to avoidant behaviors prolonging the healing process. By identifying these negative thoughts and emotions, teens learn to develop a more balanced, beneficial way of thinking which enables teens to process their trauma in a safe and controlled manner. As teens are educated throughout treatment about common trauma responses, teens are empowered to manage their stress and anxiety by building resiliency and establishing lasting change.Trauma-Informed Care
Trauma impacts an individual’s ability to cope, trust, and form healthy relationships and can impair new learning and concentration. A teen’s ability to self-sooth or maintain emotion regulation is often disrupted after experiencing a traumatic event which can lead to prolonged difficulty identifying what is safe versus unsafe. At BasePoint Academy, we create a trauma-informed environment using the following five principles:- Safety: creating treatment areas that are calm and comfortable
- Choice: providing teens individualized treatment plan options
- Empowerment: noticing capabilities and strengths in every teen
- Collaboration: making treatment decisions together with the teen and their family
- Trustworthiness: providing understandable and consistent information
Additional Trauma Treatment Methods
There usually isn’t just one solution when it comes to helping a teen recover after experiencing a traumatic event. At BasePoint Academy, we employ multiple therapeutic disciplines and clinical treatment options. The right treatment program for your teen could include the following:- Art therapy
- Mindfulness
- Medication Management
- Family Therapy
- Wellness
- Group Therapy
- Journaling
- Experiential Therapy
- Solution-Focused
- Safety: creating treatment areas that are calm and comfortable
- Choice: providing teens individualized treatment plan options
- Empowerment: noticing capabilities and strengths in every teen
- Collaboration: making treatment decisions together with the teen and their family
- Trustworthiness: providing understandable and consistent information
