- insecure or disorganized attachment patterns in children
- having trouble relying on others for help
- trouble with regulation, behavioral control, cognition, self-concept
- withdrawn or disruptive behavior 

Clinical Manifestations of Prolonged Exposure to Repeated Trauma: Personality Changes in Relatedness/Identity

- difficulty in establishment of the therapeutic alliance
- shame
- presentation of false self to others
- loss of touch with self

Barriers to treatment for children with developmental trauma

- More complex, diffused, and tenacious symptomology (does not fit neatly into DSM-5)
- personality changes in relatedness and identity
- involved further harm to self/others

Santa Clara University

During childhood, individual is exposed to neglect, physical, sexual, or emotional abuse that leaves them vulnerable to developmental problems into adulthood

Childhood Trauma

Parish-Plass, N. (2021). Animal-assisted psychotherapy for developmental trauma through the lens of interpersonal neurobiology of trauma: Creating connection with self and others. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 31(3), 302-325. https://doi.org/10.1037/int0000253

Animal-assisted psychotherapy for developmental trauma through the lens of interpersonal neurobiology of trauma: Creating connection with self and others.

During developmental periods, the brain has high plasticity and is extremely vulnerable to its environment. Hindering environments can lead the child to become susceptible to developmental problems and disorders.

childhood Trauma and the Brain

- Fear/ reluctance to go home
- Low/no self-esteem
- Flinching away from physical touch 
- Poor academic performance in school
- Self-harm
- Suicidal ideation 
- Aggression/tantrums 
- Physical signs of neglect
- Unusual behavior

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