child abuse

Child abuse is the maltreatment of a minor through physical, sexual, or emotional harm, neglect, or exploitation. It can occur within families, institutions, or online, and includes exposure to domestic violence and coercive control.

In therapy, it is understood as developmental or complex trauma that disrupts attachment, stress responses, and identity formation. Common effects include shame, dissociation, hypervigilance, somatic symptoms, and difficulties with trust and boundaries. Patterns often involve secrecy, grooming, parentification, and chronic power imbalances, and are described in adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) research.