childhood trauma

Childhood trauma is the emotional and physiological impact of overwhelming or frightening experiences that occur before age 18. In therapy it is also called developmental trauma or adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and can arise from abuse, neglect, loss, household instability, medical procedures, or community violence.

Early adversity can shape attachment, stress regulation, and core beliefs, influencing mood, attention, memory, and the body. Patterns may include anxiety, depression, dissociation, hypervigilance, somatic pain, shame, and relational difficulties, especially when harm is chronic or interpersonal (complex trauma). Trauma-informed therapy focuses on safety, stabilization, and processing, using approaches such as EMDR, somatic therapies, and play therapy to support integration and reconnection.