According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, otherwise known as SAMHSA, more than two thirds of children reported at least one traumatic event by age 16. If you are an adult who experienced a trauma in childhood, or if you are a child who has recently undergone a traumatic event, you are not alone. These experiences are common to so many individuals and families.
Childhood trauma can have lasting impacts on an individual’s ability to feel safe in the world. At the Trauma Therapist Network, we know that people can heal from childhood trauma at any age, no matter how long ago the event may have happened. Below are resources for those who have experienced trauma in childhood, along with resources for adults who support traumatized children. This is not a comprehensive list of resources for childhood trauma. This list is continuously updated. If you would like to submit a suggestion to be added to the list, please use our contact form on the home page.
Updated: 8/1/2021
Organizations offering direct services to survivors and their loved ones:
Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: This is a 24-hour hotline with resources to aid in every child abuse situation.
Hotline: 800-422-4453
Textline: 800-422-4453
Chatline: National Live Chat Portal
Information/ Advocacy Websites:
Child Trauma Academy: offers free online courses about childhood trauma.
Child Witness to Violence Project: The Child Witness to Violence Project (CWVP) is a counseling, advocacy, and outreach project that focuses on young children who are the hidden victims of domestic and community violence, and other trauma-related events.
Kids Mental Health Info.com Child Trauma Information and Resources: This website was created to help parents and caregivers understand their child’s mental health challenges.
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network : The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) is administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and is coordinated by the UCLA-Duke University National Center for Child Traumatic Stress (NCCTS). This website offers assistance with seeking mental health guidance and referrals, offers assistance for finding help for abused, neglected, or sexually abused children, and has a plethora of resources available for furthering one’s understanding of childhood trauma.
Podcasts
Trauma Chat Episode 2: In this episode of the Trauma Chat Podcast, Laura Reagan, LCSW-C, offers an explanation to the question: “What is trauma?”
Trauma Chat Episode 3: In this episode of the Trauma Chat Podcast, Laura Reagan, LCSW-C,discusses ways that trauma can show up in our lives.
Therapy Chat Episode 19: In this episode of the Therapy Chat Podcast, Laura Reagan, LCSW-C discusses what she calls, “The Epidemic of Childhood Trauma.” She offers resources for learning more about this public health issue which affects so many Americans.
Therapy Chat Episode 244: In this episode of the Therapy Chat Podcast, Laura Reagan, LCSW-C sat down with Sharon Martin, LCSW: a licensed therapist, counselor, and mental health and wellness writer based in San Jose, CA. They discuss surprising sources of childhood trauma.
**Have another resource you think should be added to the above list? Please use our contact form on the home page to submit your suggestions. Thanks!
