Trauma Across the Lifespan: Recognizing Traumatic Stress at Every Age

Youth are exposed to potentially traumatic experiences (PTEs) such as physical and sexual abuse, neglect, community and domestic violence, motor vehicle accidents, and natural disasters, at alarming rates. Children’s responses to PTEs vary widely, but a wide range of negative developmental and psychiatric outcomes can occur when symptomatic children are not identified. Early identification is essential to support children’s recovery from upsetting experiences.

In this learning session, we will use interactive strategies (e.g., word clouds, live audience polling, case vignettes) to engage participants in a review of common traumatic stress reactions for children of different ages, from infancy to young adulthood. Participants will gain skills that will increase their ability to identify children experiencing traumatic stress reactions. Identification is the first step to connecting symptomatic children to needed support.