Child Stress and PTSD Programs
617-855-2804
Specialized care for childhood trauma
If your child experiences a traumatic event, the resulting stress can put them at risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Your child may withdraw or appear anxious and fearful.
Our child stress and PTSD programs across Mass General Brigham provide trauma-focused care for children in a range of settings. Using evidence-based therapies, our teams work with children and families to process trauma, build coping skills, and support recovery.
Part of Mental Health and Psychiatric Services
Experts in childhood trauma
Trauma can affect children differently than adults. Signs of stress or PTSD in youths include:
- Acting helpless, hopeless, or withdrawn
- Angry, irritable outbursts
- Avoiding anything associated with the trauma
- Intense feelings of fear or sadness
- Looking for threats (hypervigilance) or startling easily
- Nightmares or sleep issues
- Reliving the event in thoughts or while playing
- Restlessness or fidgeting
- Trouble paying attention or staying organized
Our full range of PTSD treatments for children and teens include:
- Trauma-focused psychotherapy
- Dedicated DBT programs
- Family education and involvement
- Individual, group, and family therapy
- Medications, when appropriate
- Residential care, inpatient treatment, or partial hospital programs (PHP)
3East DBT for Adolescents and Young Adults provides intensive therapy sessions for teens and young adults with severe PTSD or other conditions. Using a combination of DBT and PE, this approach helps patients safely process painful memories and emotions.
Available programs include:
- Outpatient DBT for teens with PTSD and high-risk behaviors
- Adolescent partial hospital programs (PHP)
- Intensive residential programs for teens at risk of self-harm
- Short-term residential assessment programs
We offer all types of talk therapy (psychotherapy) to help children and teens with PTSD:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps your child change unhelpful thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to reduce fears or worries.
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) helps your child change behaviors and cope with emotional distress through mindfulness, emotion regulation, and other skills.
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy helps your child reprocess traumatic memories while they engage in eye movements.
- Prolonged exposure (PE) therapy helps your child overcome trauma triggers by safely exploring (instead of avoiding) them.
- DBT+PE combines DBT and PE therapy.
When PTSD interferes with a teen’s ability to attend or succeed in school, the Arlington School at McLean Hospital may be an option. This fully accredited, nationally recognized college-preparatory high school provides strong academic and mental health support for students whose behavioral health conditions affect learning.
The Arlington School may support teens with:
- PTSD, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, or related diagnoses
- Complex learning needs
- Frequent school absences related to mental health symptoms
Related conditions and treatments
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
- Major Depression
- Complex PTSD Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment
- Anxiety Disorders (Child)
- Adjustment Disorders in Children
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- PTSD Treatment
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- PTSD Support
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Our specialists
617-855-2804
Contact the Child Stress and PTSD Program
617-855-2804
International Patient Services
Contact information for international patients