“Trauma is not just what happens within the walls of a home. It can occur in schools, places of worship, and any other environment where power dynamics are exploited and individuals are subjected to harm and control.”
– Judith Herman, MD
Childhood trauma is a concept that has traditionally been understood in the context of the abuse and neglect perpetrated by primary caregivers.
However, this narrow definition, in my personal and professional opinions, often fails to capture the full spectrum of traumatic experiences that can profoundly impact an individual’s mental health and well-being.
As a therapist specializing in childhood trauma recovery, I’ve encountered many individuals whose traumatic experiences were not recognized because their abusers were siblings or members of their community, and their caregivers did nothing to intervene.
These folks wouldn’t see themselves and their experiences in “traditional definitions” of childhood trauma so, to address this gap and because my own understanding of trauma has deepened over time, I’ve developed what I hope is a more inclusive definition of relational trauma:
“Relational trauma is the kind of trauma that results over the course of time in the context of a power-imbalanced and dysfunctional relationship (usually between a child and caregiver but also between a child/adolescent and systems/communities) that results in a host of complex and lingering biopsychosocial impacts for the individual who subjectively endured the trauma and was overwhelmed by the experience.”
– Annie Wright, LMFT
Why we need to expand the scope of relational trauma experiences.
I’ve said this dozens of times before. But in my clinical experience and in my lived experience, I’ve found that many individuals struggle to see themselves in the classic definitions of childhood trauma.
Often, this is because the abusers were not their parents. Rather, they were siblings, teachers, or community leaders, and their parents failed to protect them.
This broader understanding of relational trauma is crucial. It validates the experiences of those who endured abuse in less recognized contexts.
What are some of these less recognized contexts?
Relational trauma experiences beyond caregivers.
Examples of non-caregiver relational trauma might include:
1) Boarding school teacher trauma.
“The experience of being sent away to boarding school can be deeply traumatic for many children. The lack of parental warmth and the harsh disciplinary regimes often found in these institutions can lead to long-term emotional and psychological difficulties.”
– McGuffin, D. (2012). The Impact of Boarding School on Attachment and Later Relationships.
