Treating Infants and Young Children Impacted by Trauma: Interventions that Promote Healthy Development

Infants and young children are highly susceptible to multiple types of trauma, including neglect and sexual, physical, and emotional abuse. Some believe that young children are not impacted by trauma and that, if they are, they will simply
grow out of it.

However, continuing research clearly shows that trauma can alter young children’s neurophysiological growth and set them on an unhealthy life trajectory rife with developmental, behavioral, social, emotional, linguistic, and cognitive issues that can last into adulthood. Trauma can even impact cellular aging and genetic expression that result in physical health problems and shorter life expectancies.

Distinguished clinical and developmental psychologist Joy Osofsky and her coauthors distill the vast literature on childhood trauma in this concise guide that reviews what effects these traumatic experiences can have and which treatments are best suited for addressing them. They provide a detailed framework for selecting the most appropriate intervention based on specific criteria.

Vivid case examples teach clinicians how to apply these treatments in real scenarios and support parents and caregivers as key attachment figures and sources of security in a child’s life.