Although I much prefer writing about positive coping skills and beneficial ways to treat childhood trauma, sometimes we must face the brutal facts about issues like domestic violence. Children who grow up in domestic violence are more likely to commit suicide, abuse drugs, and alcohol, and even become an abuser themselves.
These kids can also suffer from PTSD and all that this entails. Depending on the length of exposure to domestic violence, it may take years for a child to heal from this trauma, especially if he or she also was abused.
One of the biggest challenges I think when working with children is gaining trust. This, of course, is what any child therapist would tell you. I also think a child who has been exposed to prolonged domestic violence should be exposed to many types of positive healing coping strategies, many of which I have written about in my other blog pieces. Some of these include play, reading, nature, and sports. Teaching a “broken” child to smile and laugh again is essential to healing. Let us show these precious youth how much we care by supporting organizations that provide safety and healing for domestic