What We Mean by Trauma (Beyond the Big Event)
Trauma isn’t only what happened. It’s also what didn’t happen—the safety, attunement, and steady encouragement you needed but didn’t get. Most people picture trauma as a single, catastrophic event: an assault, an accident, a disaster. That kind of shock trauma is real and serious. But it’s not the whole story. There’s another form that hides […]
Why Childhood Complex Trauma Is So Hard to See (And Even Harder to Talk About)
Ever had one of those conversations when someone offers an idea that utterly misses the mark? Someone commented, “You should write about how kids were impacted by the COVID lockdowns,” after reading one of my pieces the other day. And I completely understand their concern. People want to discuss topics they believe are pertinent. But […]
The Core Factors That Make an Experience Traumatic—And How They Apply to Childhood Complex Trauma
Trauma is about how an experience shapes a person’s sense of safety, control, and capacity to comprehend or process an event or situation—it’s not only about what happens. While some experiences could be distressing but not traumatic, others leave long-lasting scars impacting a person’s emotional, mental, and physical well-being for years. What therefore distinguishes a […]
ACEs & CCT: More Common Than We Think
Two-thirds of adults report at least one ACE. Here’s why that matters—and why the real number may be even higher. When most people consider childhood trauma, they picture something dramatic—abuse, a catastrophic accident, or some type of life-shattering incident. Trauma does not, however, always show up that way. Sometimes it’s subtle and sneaky, like growing […]
Introduction to Childhood Complex Trauma and Recovery
Childhood complex trauma is the repeated or prolonged exposure to stressful or damaging events in childhood, usually within relationships that ought to have been protective. A child’s emotional, physical, and spiritual development can be profoundly shaped by these events, therefore forming patterns that last well into adulthood. The first step in changing its effects and […]
Adverse Childhood Experiences vs. Childhood Complex Trauma: What’s the Difference?
If you’ve spent any time investigating the subjects of childhood trauma or adversity, you’ve most likely come across the terms Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and childhood complex trauma. Usually discussed together, they seem to be nearly interchangeable. The fact is, however, they’re different. Though the difference is small, understanding it is absolutely vital. Imagine ACEs […]
Why Childhood Complex Trauma is More Common Than You Think
When you hear the word “trauma,” what do you think of first? For many of us, it’s the major, clear-cut stuff—physical violence, auto accidents, or natural disasters. Trauma, however, is not always clearly obvious or dramatic. Actually, a lot of trauma is subtle and creeps into our daily lives in ways we might not even […]
What Are Adverse Childhood Experiences?
While some difficult childhood events leave long-lasting scars, not every one of them do. ACEs, short for adverse childhood experiences, are among these. These are the situations or circumstances that could undermine the foundation of your early years, sometimes in ways that follow you long beyond childhood. Understanding ACEs helps us to make sense of […]
What is Childhood Complex Trauma? A Beginner’s Guide
When we talk about trauma, we likely picture big, dramatic events—things like car accidents, natural disasters, or violent attacks. Trauma, however, takes many different forms and sizes; not all of it is as clear-cut as you would believe. Particularly in childhood, some of the most impactful trauma occurs silently over time. It’s known as childhood […]
What Is Trauma? A Basic Breakdown of a Complex Concept
Everybody’s gone through difficult circumstances—times when life seemed like too much to manage. Perhaps it was a terrible breakup, a terrifying accident, or a result of total neglect when you most needed support. We sometimes move past these events and carry on. But other times something changes within us. This is when we’re venturing into […]