Developmental Trauma and Complex-PTSD

Developmental trauma refers to the repeated and prolonged trauma during early childhood and often involves neglect, abuse, misattunement, and lack of safety in relationship to caregivers and primary attachment figures. Developmental trauma disrupts a child's brain development and ability to self-regulate, form secure attachments, and manage emotions effectively. This can lead to challenges in relationships, behavioral patterns and responses, and overall mental health quality. Developmental trauma impacts a child's and later on life the adult's fundamental sense of safety, self-worth, and self-esteem.

Both developmental trauma and complex-PTSD emerge from repeated and prolonged trauma experienced during the formative years of childhood. They often co-occur and strongly overlap. Developmental trauma focuses more on the specific manifestations of the complex PTSD as it emerged during the critical phases of early childhood development. Complex-PTSD, however can emerge later in life as a result of trauma experienced in relationships.

Developmental trauma can manifest itself as chronic anxiety, low self-esteem, depressive tendencies, shame, self-criticism, persistent self-doubt and rumination, emotional constriction, emotional dysregulation, constant guilt, a sense of emptiness or disconnection, or ADHD and ADD related issues. In the body, this can show up as chronic tension, numbness, GI and various other health related issues, or difficulty feeling grounded. In relationships, it may appear as struggles with trusting others, intimacy, boundaries, or a sense of worth.

Developmental trauma and C-PTSD emerges during early formative years and are fundamentally relational. It lives both in our mind, memory, and the body. The modalities that are most effective to work with developmental trauma and complex-PTSD are trauma and attachment informed psychodynamic and relational psychotherapy, somatic processing, parts work, and mindfulness practices. With the psychodynamic and relational approach, we focus on the root causes of trauma, unconscious patterns and defenses, relational enactments and repair. With somatic processing, we work with how the trauma shows up in the body and nervous system regulation and building safety in the body. It helps with overwhelm, chronic anxiety, dissociation, hyperarousal, and processing and releasing trauma without retraumatization.

Yes. I offer psychotherapy for developmental and childhood trauma and complex-PTSD in my office in Denver as well as virtually. Please contact me or schedule a consultation call to connect.