Trauma Clinic

Welcome to the Trauma Clinic within the University of Maryland Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. We specialize in evidence-based treatment for youth (ages 6–17), who have experienced trauma, such as:

  • family and community violence
  • sexual and physical abuse
  • life-threatening events
  • grief and loss
  • teen dating violence

We’re Here to Help: Call 410-328-6018

When young people have experienced trauma, it can be frightening. As part of the healing process, they need to be able to talk in a safe place about what happened. At the University of Maryland, we provide a safe and private place for your youth to talk with professionals who can help them move forward after overwhelming events.

The Value We Bring to Our Community

Families in our community deserve access to effective support for trauma. We are proud to offer:

  • Years of experience in pediatric trauma and treatments.
  • Evidence-based treatment including individual and family therapy, behavioral interventions, and medication management.
  • Accessible care in person with minimal wait times.
  • Ongoing support for caregivers, families, and schools to help nurture strong relationships and a circle of support.
  • Community collaboration with schools, pediatricians, and specialists to provide coordinated care.

Multidisciplinary Trauma Treatment Team

The Trauma Clinic features a highly specialized multidisciplinary team experienced in addressing the unique challenges faced by children who have experienced trauma. Our staff includes child psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed social workers, and licensed professional counselors.

As part of a large teaching hospital, we also have trainees including resident physicians, medical students, psychology interns and externs, and social work interns. The team meets weekly and collaborates to provide comprehensive treatment for children and their families. 

Sarah M. Edwards, DO
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Services Program Director, Medical Director

Kathleen M. Connors, MSW, LCSW–C
Trauma Clinic Consultant

Affiliates of National Network

We are honored to be a grantee and member of The National Child Traumatic Stress Network. This network focuses on raising the standard of care and improving access to services for traumatized children and their families throughout the United States.

As affiliates of this network, we are committed to offering you care locally in Baltimore that is among the best in the nation.

Does Your Child or Teen Need Trauma Treatment? Here’s What to Look For

The adolescent and teenage years can be stressful. But traumatic stress is more than everyday stress. It gets in the way of meeting your goals and participating in the life you want for yourself.

If something overwhelming or frightening happened to your child or teen, and if you’re noticing a change in their behavior, please reach out for help.

Trauma treatment is needed if you’re noticing these symptoms for more than a month after the traumatic event:

  • Avoidance
  • Withdrawal
  • Not wanting to do things that you like doing
  • Feeling frightened and overwhelmed
  • Having difficulty concentrating
  • Having nightmares and flashbacks about frightening or traumatic events
  • Changes in the way you feel and act
  • Feeling irritable
  • Easily stressed or reactive
  • Jumpy; easily startled

If your child or teen shows several of these behaviors, and they impact daily life at school and/or home, an evaluation can provide clarity and direction for appropriate trauma treatment. We’re here to help you.

Ready to Take the First Step?

Getting support for your child or teen shouldn’t be stressful or overwhelming. At the University of Maryland, we’ll walk beside you every step of the way.

When you call for an appointment, our referral specialist will ask several questions regarding your child’s age, symptoms, and current concerns to match you with a clinician for a full assessment. Following the evaluation, a member of our treatment team will discuss treatment recommendations and suggested next steps.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment or consultation, call the Outpatient Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic at 410-328-6018.

Learn about our other outpatient services.

Healing Is Possible

If your family has experienced trauma, then you’ve been through something really hard. Our team is here to help. Because we care about the whole person, we work closely with medical providers and families to support your child or teen’s healing and recovery.

Trauma FAQs

A helpful framework for understanding trauma is “The 3 E’s“:

  1. Event: Did a dangerous, frightening, overwhelming event occur?
  2. Experience: How did you experience the event?
  3. Effects: Has your behavior been different for more than a month after the event?

Learn more about Child Trauma and Age-Related Reactions to a Traumatic Event.

A trauma disorder is when you have a problem with memories about frightening or overwhelming events that have happened. These memories stay prominent and get in the way of everyday life. To heal from a trauma disorder, we need to recover in body and mind. We need to learn how to regulate our bodies and relax. We also need to learn how to manage upsetting memories about the event so that they don’t get in the way of our daily life.

Trauma screening is an efficient, effective way to identify youth who may need help with traumatic stress and who may not volunteer information about their trauma unless directly asked. We can screen your youth for trauma to help determine if they might need treatment.

It’s natural to not want to talk about or think about the traumatic event that happened. But one of the best ways to move forward is to talk with people you trust, including a therapist, so you can heal. We provide a safe place for you, and we help you move forward after frightening or overwhelming experiences.

A main symptom of trauma is avoiding things that would be triggering. So, an individual might withdraw more, which can get in the way of academics and extracurricular success. If your child or teen is continuing to withdraw for more than a month after the traumatic event, please contact us for an evaluation.

Teen dating violence is a type of violence that occurs between two people in a romantic relationship. The violence can be sexual, physical, or emotional. It can occur in person or electronically by texting or posting threatening messages or images on social media. You can learn more from these PDFs for teens and for parents.

If you’re a teen, avoid using drugs or alcohol at parties. These substances can put you in a situation that increases your risk for sexual assault. Also, be cautious about how you use your cell phone and social media. Often, sexual predators use online platforms to connect with teens.

If you’re a parent, talk with your teen about how to stay safe. Be available to them, and ask them questions about what their relationships look like. Also, model for them in healthy ways how to be open and talk about relationships that go wrong. When your child does disclose something, be nonjudgmental and supportive. You can refer them to a mental health provider who can provide professional support and resources.

You can learn more from these PDFs for teens and for parents.