Experiencing trauma doesn’t always end when the event is over. Its effects often linger and can sometimes go unnoticed. Trauma can manifest as physical discomfort, emotional challenges, and behavioral changes. Young clients, in particular, may struggle to recognize these effects, especially if they’ve been dealing with trauma on their own.
The Trauma Symptoms Checklist helps clients notice symptoms of trauma in their daily lives. It lists simple phrases that describe emotions, body sensations, and behaviors linked to trauma so that clients can reflect on how they’re feeling. There are also additional spaces to write down the top three symptoms they experience often.
Answering this checklist helps kids and teens gain a better understanding of how trauma affects their thoughts and actions so they can seek appropriate support when needed. They may pair it with the PTSD Triggers Worksheet to start developing an action plan.
Caregivers can suggest keeping a daily or weekly journal of their thoughts and feelings, which can be shared with a therapist for extra support.
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Want more resources like this? Check out our full catalog of trauma worksheets and handouts.
References:
- Dyregrov, A., & Yule, W. (2005). A review of PTSD in children. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 11(4), 176-184. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-3588.2005.00384.x
- Hawkins, S. S., & Radcliffe, J. (2005). Current measures of PTSD for children and adolescents. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 31(4), 420-430. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsj039
- Lofthouse, K., Beeson, E., Dalgleish, T., Danese, A., Hodgekins, J., Mahoney‐Davies, G., Smith, P., Stallard, P., Wilson, J., & Meiser‐Stedman, R. (2023). Characteristics of complex posttraumatic stress disorder in young people with following multiple trauma exposure. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 65(6), 822-831. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13918
- Peters, W., Rice, S., Alvarez‐Jimenez, M., Hetrick, S. E., Halpin, E., Kamitsis, I., Santesteban‐Echarri, O., & Bendall, S. (2022). Relative efficacy of psychological interventions following interpersonal trauma on anxiety, depression, substance use, and PTSD symptoms in young people: A meta‐analysis. Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 16(11), 1175-1184. https://doi.org/10.1111/eip.13265
