As a parent, it’s heartbreaking to see your child struggle, especially when they’re dealing with something as deep and complex as trauma. Trauma can affect teenagers in ways that are often invisible, and it can feel overwhelming trying to figure out how to support them. Whether it’s from a single event, long-term challenges, or unresolved childhood issues, trauma leaves emotional scars that can impact their mental health, relationships, and future.
The good news is that healing is possible. With the right support, tools, and resources, your teenager can begin their journey to recovery. As a parent, you don’t have to navigate this alone, in fact you shouldn’t even try to — you can be the parent that they need while also finding the right support for yourself and your family. Let’s take a closer look at how trauma affects teenagers and the steps you can take to help them heal.
What is Trauma and How Does It Affect Youth?
Trauma is the emotional and psychological response to a single or a number of distressing events. For teenagers, this can include a range of experiences, such as abuse, bullying, the loss of a loved one, or even the stress of issues in the home or at school. What makes trauma so tricky is that it doesn’t always show up in obvious ways. As adults, what we describe as trauma may be very different to how your young person may experience or define trauma for themselves. We have to remember that teenagers are going through a time of considerable change and are trying to navigate many things in their lives, including learning how to process their thoughts, feelings and emotions. They often struggle to understand how they are feeling themselves, let alone being able to express what they’re going through to others!
As parents we need to be on the lookout for the signs! These may include things like:
- Increased anxiety, sadness, or anger
- Difficulty focusing, changes in grades or commitment to school
- Withdrawal from friends, family, or activities they once enjoyed
- Trouble sleeping or nightmares
- Risky behaviours, like substance abuse or self-harm
- Low self-esteem or feelings of hopelessness
As a parent, it’s important to recognise that these behaviours may be signs of something deeper — something that goes beyond typical teenage mood swings. Understanding that trauma might be at the root of their struggles can help you respond with compassion, patience, understanding and care.
How Can You Help Your Teenager Heal from Trauma?
Supporting your teenager through trauma isn’t about fixing everything overnight — in fact it’s not about fixing it at all! For you it’s about being their parent, it’s about being there for them, offering understanding, and connecting them with the resources they need to support their healing and growth. There are some simple things we can all do as parents, to guide our teens through recovery and hopefully experience some post trauma growth:
- Acknowledge What They’re Going Through
The first step is recognising that your teen’s experiences matter. From our experience most young people simply want to be seen, they want to be heard and understood. Let them know you see them, you are there for them and that it’s okay to struggle. Help them by validating that what they are going through must feel hard. Show them you are 100% present for them by truly listening and making yourself available in their time of need.
Even if they don’t open up right away, let them know that you’re there for them whenever they’re ready to talk. Just acknowledging their pain can help them feel less alone and more willing to trust you with their feelings.
- Seek Professional Help
Depending on the extent of the trauma involved, professional support may be crucial. There are many therapists, both clinical and holistic, who specialise in youth trauma recovery and who can help your teen process their emotions, understand their reactions, and develop healthy coping strategies.
Sometimes it may feel tricky to find the right person, however it is perfectly okay to offer a range of support options to your young person and involve them in the process of finding the right trauma informed therapist for them. If you’re unsure where to start, the family GP can be a great option along with beginning to explore what community support groups or programs may be in your local area.
- Encourage Healthy Coping Strategies
Trauma recovery will involve learning how to manage emotions in healthy ways while learning how to safely be a part of their world in which they exist. Encouraging your teen to re-engage in activities that they find joy in, is one step. This could include art, nature, music, social events or sport. Introducing them to activities such as journaling, physical activity, or mindfulness practices can also become incredible tools in helping young people process their feelings, emotions and reactions.
Lastly, it’s also really important to help your young person create a routine that supports emotional well-being — this could include a healthy sleep schedule, balanced meals, rest and taking breaks when needed. Helping young people feel safe, stay connected and feel grounded within themselves and their bodies can go a long way towards easing the pain of trauma..
- Create a Safe and Supportive Environment
Your home, and at this stage in development, their bedrooms, should be places where your teen feels safe and at ease. It’s important that family and home are safe havens for your young person. Young people need a safe place where they feel understood and accepted, no matter what they’re going through and for exactly who they are.
As a parent, it may be really hard, during times that can be extremely stressful, however being patient with your young people as they navigate their hurts, thoughts and emotions is also vital. Trauma may take time to heal and throughout the process, they need us! Remind them that healing takes time and that it’s okay to take things one step at a time. Encourage open communication, and let them know they can come to you whenever they need help, whether it’s for practical support or just someone to talk to, you are there.
- Take Care of Yourself, Too
As a parent, we are very vulnerable to putting our child’s needs before our own. It’s easy to put everyone else first! But remember, you cannot help anyone, including your young person, if you’re not taking care of yourself first. Healing is a family process, and you deserve to stay balanced, strong and supported too!
There are many ways that we can look after ourselves that do not have to be too time consuming or costly and are comfortable to navigate in an already busy world. This could be as simple as a slow beach stroll, a weekly coffee with friends, considering your own nutrition and sleep routines or getting out in nature with your favourite book or journal. You might consider joining a support group for parents or seeking some sort of therapeutic support for yourself.
A nice indulgent massage can go a long way towards regulating your nervous system and calming your mind. Looking after yourself isn’t a luxury, it’s vital for each and every one of us, especially those caring for young people in our lives. Remember, you don’t have to do it all alone — and taking care of your own mental health will make it easier to support your teen.
Why Healing from Trauma Matters for Teenagers
For teenagers, trauma can have long-lasting effects on mental wellbeing, relationships, physical and emotional development and the opportunity to create long and healthy futures. If left untreated, it can lead to more serious issues like depression, anxiety, substance abuse, or difficulty building healthy relationships and pathways to future independence. Early intervention is so important! With the resources they need to heal from trauma, young people can overcome these challenges and build a resilience that will support them throughout the rest of their lives!
Take Action: Book a Mental Health First Aid Course Today
As a parent, you want to do everything you can to help your teenager. One powerful way to make a real difference is by learning Mental Health First Aid. This course teaches you how to recognise when someone — including your teen — is struggling with mental health challenges, how to offer immediate support, and how to connect them with the help they need.
Knowing how to respond in a mental health crisis can make all the difference in your teen’s recovery. Mental Health First Aid can teach you the skills to provide support, encourage them to seek professional help, and make them feel safe as they work through their trauma.
At Heal.Tribe, we offer Mental Health First Aid courses that can give you the confidence and tools to support your teenager, whether they’re dealing with trauma or another mental health challenge.
Book Your Mental Health First Aid Course Now and take the first step in becoming an even stronger support system for your teen.
