Generational trauma: Generational trauma is defined as trauma that gets passed down from family members while also influencing the way future generations cope with, view, and handle traumatic events. In other words, it can be thought of as learned behaviors, thought patterns, subtle nuances, and/or ways of being that have been passed down through generations within the same family lineage. These traumas vary in severity and can manifest in many diverse ways depending on each family dynamic and structure. Family history typically plays a significant role in how generational trauma is formed and then passed down.

Developmental attachment trauma: Attachment trauma, an early form of relational trauma, occurs when there is some disruption in the healthy bond formation between a child and his or her primary caregivers. Healthy attachment occurs when the caregiver provides comfort, affection, and basic needs on a regular basis and with consistency. Poor attachment, inappropriate responses to distress, lack of consistent affection, slightly abusive behaviors, and the absence of the caregiver can all cause a traumatic experience for the child.  The consequences of attachment trauma can be far-reaching, because a positive caregiver-child bond helps to establish healthy development, self-confidence, self-regulation, and a pattern for developing other relationships. Trauma associated with this important bond can lead to a wide range of issues from poor social development to serious mental illness.

PTSD: A psychological reaction occurring after either directly or indirectly experiencing a highly stressing event or even a “perceived” highly stressful event.  Such events usually trigger symptoms characterized by depression, anxiety, flashbacks, recurrent nightmares, and avoidance of reminders of the event.

CPTSD:  Most people have heard of post-traumatic stress disorder that afflicts many men and women returning from a war zone. It is characterized by flashbacks, unstable mood, and survivor’s remorse. However, many have never heard of a condition that often develops in childhood and changes the course of the child’s life forever, complex post-traumatic stress disorder.  CPTSD stems from multiple traumatic events that accumulate over time.  The symptoms can be similar to PTSD and recovery can be challenging due to the long duration and number of traumatic events.

Emotional neglect: Emotional neglect is the failure to provide adequate nurturing and affection to a child or the refusal or delay in ensuring that a child receives needed treatment for emotional or behavioral problems.

Emotional abuse: Emotional abuse is a pattern of behavior in which the perpetrator insults, humiliates, and generally instills fear in an individual in order to control them. The individual’s reality may become distorted as they internalize the abuse as their own failings.