TRAUMA
Trauma, Development, and Spirituality
Kelsey S. Miller
School of Behavioral Sciences, Liberty University
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Trauma, Development, and Spirituality
Research has shown that the first six years of life are the most fundamental stage of
development. The early years as it is often referred to, individually as toddlerhood and preschool
stages. This is the time when social and emotional skills become developed. Little babies grow
into tiny humans that interact and form relationships with peers and others outside their
immediate family. Being rough and some tears come with this age when boundaries are being
tested and set. However, these young moldable minds are easily subject to abuse or maltreatment
and the repercussions of such. Many have found a way to push through the trauma, claiming
resilience and many times using spirituality as a way to get through.
Trauma Effects
In 2016 the federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) was
reauthorized defining child abuse as either at minimum “(a) any recent act or failure to act on the
part of a parent or caretaker that results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, or sexual
abuse or exploitation; or (b) an act of failure to act that presents an imminent risk of serious harm
(Wong et al., 2020b). Traumatic events can often be hard to detect in a child unless one is a
trained professional or knows what to look for. This can be done through sexual, physical,
emotional, and educational abuse, along with neglect. Common signs of trauma in toddlerhood
ages 1-3 years are difficulty trusting others and regulating emotions (Trauma Signs and
Symptoms, n.d.). In preschool years (3-6) weight fluctuation or extreme anger can result from
trauma (Wong et al., 2020b).
Resilience
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With a child's mind being so young the ability to come back despite the disturbance in the
development has occurred. This could be captured in the word resilient. Being able to adapt well
being faced with tragedy. This skill is both internally and externally based and such skills can be
strengthened. In toddlerhood examples resilience would still play a large role in how the
reactions of future development with others outside of the immediate family. Also, in how the
young child would be able to control their emotions. Weight regulation would come with proper
food monitoring and the anger could be talked about in therapy. With the proper support, the
child is bound to be resilient.
Spirituality
It has been found that spirituality can be used as a buffer and support for trauma and to
overcome adversity. When faced with trauma we often turn to who, but God and find solace in
him. In turn, this becomes a beneficial relationship that in times of need they can trust in their
faith. Dr. Larry Decker believes that through this trauma and spirituality, there becomes a new
inner peace and awareness that was not once there before (Decker, 1993). Through this new
insight came the comfort and trust in their faith.
Conclusion
The first few years of a child's life developmentally set the rest of their life. Life,
however, plagues the potential risk of trauma happening during these years. If that might be the
case, children are shown to be resilient despite the hardships that they might face. Giving
spirituality as additional support can further help healing and support through adulthood.
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References
Decker, L. R. (1993). The role of trauma in spiritual development. Journal of Humanistic
Psychology, 33(4), 33–46. https://doi.org/10.1177/00221678930334004
Trauma signs and symptoms. (n.d.). https://www.ecmhc.org/tutorials/trauma/mod3_1.html
Wong, D. W., Hall, K. R., & Hernandez, L. W. (2020b). Counseling individuals through the
lifespan (2nd ed.). Counseling and Professional Id.
