The Long-Term Impacts of Childhood Trauma From Therapeutic Schools Explored by a Trauma-Informed Practice in San Diego, CA

Therapeutic boarding schools and residential treatment centers (RTCs) for troubled teens might seem like a good idea… Until you realize these institutes, which claim to provide 24/7 care for severe issues, are leaving the next generation thoroughly traumatized. At A New View of You, I’ve worked with many clients in the San Diego, California, region whose struggles in adulthood are rooted in these experiences. Trauma in those early years can shape how a person thinks, feels, and responds to the world. If you hope to ever heal these wounds, you must first understand where they came from and why.

How Childhood Trauma Affects Development

The troubled teen industry is just one example of childhood trauma. Any type of abuse, neglect, witnessing violence, medical trauma, or even growing up in a chaotic or unsafe environment has potential to cause trauma. Even preverbal experiences can leave a mark. These early stressors affect emotional regulation, attachment, and a person’s sense of safety—often in ways that go unnoticed for decades. Then comes struggles with:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Disconnection
• Relationship Difficulties
• Low Self-Worth

The worst part is that some may never recognize the connection between their current challenges and their past.

Rewriting the Story Through ITR Therapy

The Instinctual Trauma Response® (ITR) method was developed for the express purpose of helping people safely process these experiences. This holistic, structured approach integrates narrative, art, and somatic techniques to reduce the emotional weight of trauma. With the guidance of a trained trauma therapist, you can separate who you are today from the pain of your past. Turn to A New View of You in San Diego! Reach out today to explore how trauma therapy will give you the strength to move forward.