Over the last 13 years as a trauma therapist, my clients have surfaced this question. “Was it childhood trauma if I was privileged?”
There’s a bifurcated thought many of us hold. That if we had food, a roof over our heads, toys and clothes, that our experiences – painful as they may have been – don’t “count” as childhood trauma because materially we had what we needed.
I personally and professionally believe it’s critical that we debunk this myth. We must unpack why and how many of us hold this belief. And understand why holding a more flexible view on childhood trauma existing against the landscape of a privileged past is so important.
Moving beyond the “historical view” of childhood trauma.
Historically, the recognition of childhood trauma has predominantly focused on physical abuse and violence.
This narrow perspective can be traced back to early research and societal understandings. This placed emphasis (understandably) on visible, tangible forms of harm and poor adult outcomes (mentally and socially) because of these experiences.
Research and social studies have historically centered physical abuse toward children—and of course, this focus makes sense. Until relatively recently, researchers and clinicians often overlooked the psychological and emotional aspects of trauma. This was likely due to the difficulty of quantifying non-physical abuse. Also, the relatively early stage of this second wave of traumatology work.
The recent evolution of trauma-informed care.
But, increasingly (thank goodness!), studies have shown something different. Exposure to childhood trauma beyond physical abuse is also associated with adult psychiatric disorders. It is also associated with poor biopsychosocial outcomes, highlighting the long-term consequences of such experiences and validating them.
The recent evolution of trauma-informed care reflects a growing understanding of the broad spectrum of childhood trauma. And, in my opinion, it is much-needed. We must start recognizing that trauma can stem from a variety of sources, not just limited to physical violence.
In the last few years, understanding of and dialogue about childhood trauma now accepts that emotional abuse, neglect, and exposure to household dysfunction, all of which have profound effects on physical, emotional, developmental, and behavioral health across the lifespan.
