Research indicates that trauma can have a lasting impact on children and adolescents as well as an immediate impact. As counselors, it is important to have a good understating of the long- and short-term impact of trauma as well as common risk factors.

Identify common risk factors for experiencing a childhood trauma and then developing trauma- or stressor-related disorders. Include biological and environmental factors such as home, family, school, community environments.

Analyze the long-term impact of childhood PTSD and how the trauma can affect the individual later in life.

Analyze trauma's role as a precipitating factor that contributes to other life challenges during childhood and throughout adulthood. For example, but not limited to, issues related to self-esteem, future relationships, scholastic achievement, substance use, self-harm/suicide, and psychopathology.