Helping Teens Heal From Trauma

Multiracial family hugging at beach

Aired Tuesday, April 25, 2023

Watch Below

Trauma among teens is more common than you might believe. By the age of sixteen, approximately one-quarter (25%) of children and adolescents have experienced at least one traumatic event. As a caring adult, you have an important role to play in aiding them as they heal.

The effects of trauma can be debilitating, making it difficult for teens to cope with life’s daily struggles. Adults can help by providing a safe, supportive environment and access to useful resources. With your help, teens can begin to heal from the trauma they have experienced and move forward in life.

Deborah Vinall, LMFT, Psy-D, defines trauma and discusses its impact on long-term wellness. She will also cover the signs of trauma in teens, effective treatment approaches, and practical strategies that caring adults can use to encourage teen mental wellness.

This program is supported by

George Harrington Trust

Jane B. Cook 1992 Charitable Trust

Rebecca Pomroy Foundation 

Bennett Family Foundation 

Thomas Anthony Pappas Charitable Foundation 

John Donnelly Trust 

Massachusetts Department of Public Health Suicide Prevention Program

Presenters

Deborah Vinall Head Shot

Deborah Vinall, PSY-D, LMFT

Deborah Vinall is a Doctor of Psychology, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and a certified EMDR and Brainspotting practitioner. She specializes in helping individuals heal from traumatic life experiences and painful relationship dynamics. Deborah is the author of Gaslighting: A Step-by-Step Recovery Guide to Heal from Emotional Abuse and Build Healthy Relationships, and the Trauma Recovery Workbook for Teens. She was awarded the Sandra Wilson Memorial Grant from the EMDR Research Foundation for her research on the impacts and treatment response of survivors of mass shootings across the USA.

Valerie-Cordero

Valerie Cordero, PhD, Moderator

Valerie Cordero PhD, Co-Executive Director, joined the FFDA staff in 2010. Before assuming her role as Co-Executive Director primarily responsible for fundraising and marketing, she held positions in programs and development. Now based in FFDA’s Nashville office, Valerie utilizes her personal knowledge of how mood disorders affect families in dialogues with donors, partners, and the general public. Valerie has lent her voice to national discussions of mood disorders and been featured on major media outlets such as Reader’s Digest, Better Homes & Gardens, and New York Magazine’s vertical The Cut. She received her BA from Spelman College and earned her Masters and PhD in Ethnomusicology from the University of California at Los Angeles.