Potential harm in trauma-focused therapy for children

What is it about?

Two in three children are exposed to trauma in childhood. Trauma-focused therapy is recommended for those who experience significant mental health symptoms following trauma. Although often effective, trauma-focused therapy can be distressing and cause potential harm. This paper provides a review of risks and recommendations for practitioners working with traumatized children.

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Photo by Carolina on Unsplash

Photo by Carolina on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The possibility of harm resulting from trauma-focused therapy for children has been widely ignored by mental health practitioners despite its potential conflict with our ethical obligations. This study raises awareness regarding the potential risks and provides recommendations which can assist practitioners in upholding our ethical principles.

Perspectives

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We hope that this article will be useful for mental health practitioners working with traumatized children and will encourage active reflection when using “first line” treatments. Most of all, we hope that this work sparks more discussion of potential ethical dilemmas among practitioners assisting vulnerable youth.

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