Understanding Trauma and Traumatic Grief in Children

Children who experience trauma or traumatic grief often carry the effects in ways that aren’t immediately obvious, but have a lasting impact.

What is trauma & traumatic grief?

Trauma can include experiences such as abuse, neglect, accidents, invasive medical procedures, violence, or witnessing frightening events. Traumatic grief occurs when a child loses someone important in a sudden, overwhelming, or distressing way, making it difficult to process both the loss and the trauma connected to it.

Because children’s brains and nervous systems are still developing, trauma can significantly impact emotional regulation, behaviour, relationships, learning, sleep, and overall development. Some children may become more anxious, withdrawn, irritable, or emotionally reactive, while others may show regression, difficulty concentrating, aggression, or physical complaints such as headaches or stomach aches. More broadly, trauma can also affect a child’s sense of safety and trust in the world around them.

How do you treat trauma & traumatic grief in children?

The good news is that children can be incredibly resilient, especially when they receive early, evidence-based support. Research consistently shows that trauma-informed therapy can help children process difficult experiences, reduce symptoms of anxiety and post-traumatic stress, strengthen emotional regulation, and rebuild a sense of safety and connection.

One of the most well-supported approaches for childhood trauma is Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT). TF-CBT helps children and caregivers understand trauma responses, build coping skills, process difficult memories safely, and strengthen caregiver-child attachment and communication. Multiple randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses have found TF-CBT to be highly effective in reducing PTSD symptoms, depression, behavioural difficulties, and emotional distress in children and adolescents (Wang et al., 2022). At LittleKind Psychology, we offer trauma-informed therapy with clinicians who are certified in TF-CBT and experienced in helping children and adolescents process difficult experiences and build coping skills.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is another evidence-based treatment that can be highly effective for children and teens experiencing trauma symptoms. EMDR helps the brain process distressing memories in a way that reduces emotional intensity and supports adaptive healing. Research suggests that both TF-CBT and EMDR are effective treatments for pediatric trauma, with significant improvements in post-traumatic stress symptoms and emotional functioning (Lewey et al., 2018). At LittleKind Psychology, our team of child psychologists have advanced training in the use of EMDR with children to help kids and teens process distressing experiences and reduce trauma-related symptoms in a safe, supportive environment.

For younger children especially, play therapy and play-based activities can also be an important part of trauma treatment. Children often communicate experiences and emotions through play before they can fully express them verbally. Trauma-informed play therapy creates opportunities for children to process experiences safely, build emotional awareness, and regain a sense of control and security. Emerging research supports the use of play-based interventions as part of comprehensive trauma treatment for children, especially the use of SandPlay (Alkærsig et al., 2026). Our team of child psychologists at LittleKind Psychology thoughtfully integrate play therapy into evidence-based trauma treatment to support healing, connection, and resilience in children and teens.

Final thoughts

Healing from trauma and traumatic grief is possible, and children do not have to navigate these experiences alone. At LittleKind Psychology, our team of child psychologists provide compassionate, evidence-based support for children, teens, and families navigating trauma, loss, anxiety, and emotional challenges. If you are concerned about your child’s well-being, we invite you to reach out to learn how we can help support your family.

Citations

Wang, Weiwei & Chen, Keyu & Zhang, Huiping. (2022). Effectiveness of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Among Maltreated Children: A Meta-Analysis. Research on Social Work Practice. 33.

Lewey JH, Smith CL, Burcham B, Saunders NL, Elfallal D, O'Toole SK. Comparing the Effectiveness of EMDR and TF-CBT for Children and Adolescents: a Meta-Analysis. J Child Adolesc Trauma. 2018 Jun 11;11(4):457-472.

Mette Alkærsig, Trine Banzon, Jesse Roest, Ask Elklit, Anni Ravn Stein, Maria Louison Vang, Sille Schandorph Løkkegaard. (2026). Psychological treatments for young children suffering from trauma-related symptomatology: Systematic review and partial meta-analyses of the current evidence-base for 12 methods. Clinical Psychology Review. 2026. 125 (4).