By Rajnim Hussain
Prevention is better than a cure. With the right resources and support, children affected by ACEs can gain confidence and learn to manage their emotions - helping them through traumatic childhood experiences and building a better future.
Therapeutic approaches to tackling ACEs
Tackling ACEs alone is challenging for both the child and their loved ones - but support is available. This includes therapy for children and support for parents and schools to help understand ACEs and respond to a child’s needs.
Prioritising mental health is essential for living a fuller life. Therapy plays a vital role in helping children process trauma, reduce symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD, and support long-term emotional well-being.
Trauma Interventions
Trauma Interventions can support a child’s physical and emotional well-being. Some approaches can help a child build resilience and reduce chronic stress.
Theraplay
Theraplay is used to improve the bond between a child and their parent/carer. It works by guiding a parent and child through games and activities, often building a stronger relationship between them.
School Support Systems for Children Experiencing ACEs
Studies show that children with higher levels of emotional, behavioural, social and mental well-being have a higher chance of achieving academic success.
Schools have a support system in place to help children who experience ACEs. These include:
- Programs for teachers and parents – these programs help teachers and parents learn about ACEs, including signs of distress and trauma. They also provide strategies to help children regulate their emotions, build confidence and feel safe.
- Support systems – Schools have counsellors, social workers and support staff to help children who struggle with their mental health. This support is essential for children who struggle with ACEs, as it helps them improve their mental health, build confidence and improve their academic performance.
https://www.acamh.org/app/uploads/2022/11/2-ACAMH-ACES-in-Schools-John-Ivens-final.pdf
Somatic Strategies for addressing ACEs
Somatic therapy is a form of therapy which involves body movement exercises. It can support children who experience ACEs by helping them connect with their mind and body. This can help with
- Releasing stress and trauma in their body
- Regulating their nervous system
- Reducing anxiety and depression
This form of therapy promotes both mental and physical well-being, allowing children affected by ACEs to feel more confident and empowered.
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/what-is-somatic-therapy-202307072951
Attachment-based therapy to tackle ACEs
Children form bonds with their parents and caregivers at an early age. This allows them to feel secure, safe and supported. When these bonds are weak, children may struggle to trust in relationships. This can impact the way they respond to emotions and conflict.
Attachment-based therapy aims to help a child who has experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences build a safe and supportive therapeutic relationship with the therapist to:
- Improve communication and talk openly about any issues/feelings.
- Build trust and have a sense of safety
- Learn to regulate emotions
This helps a child improve their mental well-being, develop positive coping skills, and build healthier relationships.
https://www.attachmentproject.com/psychology/attachment-based-therapy/
Imagery and Narrative Rescripting Techniques
Many children experience distressing situations that can lead to Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Imagery and Narrative Rescripting Techniques are types of therapy that helpwell-being, develop positive coping skills, and help children process and recover from traumatic memories. The techniques used include
are types of therapy that help
These techniques help children develop a sense of control and reduce emotional intensity caused by traumatic experiences.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
Adverse Childhood Experiences can change the way a child views the world. This may cause children to lose their sense of identity and voice in the world. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an important form of therapy that helps them change unhelpful thought patterns into positive ways of thinking. It also reduces
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD
This form of therapy supports children who experience ACEs to regain their identity and find better coping strategies.
https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/treatments/cognitive-behavioral-therapy
Emotion-Focused therapy for ACEs
Emotion-focused therapy helps children who experience ACEs recover from trauma, relationship issues and anxiety. This form of therapy works on managing difficult emotions and improving a child’s self-esteem and promoting a healthy lifestyle.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17985528/
Modes and Schema-Based Trauma Work for ACEs
Traumatic experiences affect the child’s life negatively. This may impact their mood, self-esteem and behaviours. Schema Trauma therapy focuses on helping children work with a therapist to explore traumatic experiences and coping styles to manage distress. This type of therapy aims to focus on the following:
- Negative thought patterns caused by neglect and traumatic events.
- Understanding certain experiences, such as trauma and unhealthy behaviours from parents/caregivers.
- Build healthy coping skills to replace the negative experiences. These could include meditation, journaling or other positive strategies.
This helps children who experience ACEs build resilience, improve self-esteem and regulate their emotions to help them better understand how to manage a difficult situation.
https://tidesmentalhealth.com/what-is-schema-therapy-for-trauma/
Building Resilience, Self-Regulation and Coping Strategies
The negative effects of ACEs can impact the way children manage life’s challenges. Without support, they could struggle to cope with difficult situations. Guidance and support are needed early to help them build the confidence they need to handle life challenges. The support to help a child would is experience ACEs includes
- Therapy – a therapist can support a child to improve their mental health and recover from trauma.
- Programs or activities – These programs help children build confidence, coping strategies and resilience through play.
- Parental programs – can provide classes to help parents support their child and create a loving environment.
- School program - Working with schools can help teachers learn about ACEs so they can provide support to help children succeed academically.
https://phwwhocc.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/PHW-WHO-ACEs-Handbook-Eng-18_09_23.pdf
ACEs, Trauma-Informed Systems, and Family Interventions
Trauma-informed systems are services or organisations (schools, healthcare) which are used to support children, parents or caregivers. These services understand the impact ACEs can have on a child. They would help them reduce the effects of ACEs, though
- Therapy
- Activities
- Additional academic support
The support and guidance can help a child feel empowered
Building a strong foundation for a family is also vital in supporting children who experience ACEs. Family programs work with both the family and the child to improve communication and strengthen relationships. These programs can improve
- Relationship between parents and child
- Communication
- Resolving conflicts
- Supporting parents
https://www.acesaware.org/resources/resources-by-topic/trauma-informed-systems
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
It is possible to prevent Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) before they have long-term effects on a child’s development. Early intervention and support are vital to overcome trauma, improve mental well-being, and build resilience.
