What To Do When Your Child’s Behavior Changes After a Loss or Trauma

When Children Struggle in Silence

Sometimes, a parent simply knows that something feels off. A once-playful child grows quiet, or a teen who used to laugh easily now seems distant or tense. There may be more tears, more irritability, or a new fear of being alone. You’ve tried reassurance, gentle talks, or extra attention, yet something deeper still lingers.

When a child hurts, parents often carry that pain too. It can feel confusing to watch behaviors change and not understand why. At Creating Space Therapy, we want parents to know that these signs are not failures—they’re invitations. They’re a child’s way of saying, “I need help feeling safe again.”

Beneath the Behavior

Children rarely express grief or trauma through words alone. Instead, they show it. A young child might regress in play or have meltdowns that seem sudden. An older child might complain of stomachaches or struggle to concentrate at school. Teens may pull away, lash out, or work endlessly to appear “fine.”

These behaviors are not defiance. They are the body and brain’s natural attempt to manage overwhelm. When life feels unpredictable, the nervous system protects itself through fight, flight, or freeze responses. Understanding this truth transforms how we see children—not as “acting out,” but as communicating through the only language available to them.

As parents notice changes at home, teachers are often noticing them too. Around this time of year, parent–teacher conferences can bring those quiet concerns into conversation — moments when both home and school realize a child is struggling in ways that go beyond academics. When a teacher says, “They just don’t seem like themselves lately,” it’s not a reflection of your parenting; it’s an invitation to look beneath the surface together.

That’s where therapy can help. Child therapy in Geneva offers a safe space for children to express what’s happening inside — through play, creativity, and gentle connection — before those hidden emotions turn into bigger challenges at home or school.

The Science of Safety

Healing begins when the body feels safe enough to relax. Trauma and loss can leave a child’s nervous system on high alert, constantly scanning for danger. The goal of trauma-informed therapy is to help children and teens gently reset that alarm system.

In therapy, safety is built first through connection. Co-regulation—the process of borrowing calm from another person—teaches a child’s body that it can trust again. Over time, this consistent sense of safety allows the brain to integrate memories and emotions instead of avoiding them.

Our therapists use an approach informed by neuroscience, attachment, and polyvagal theory, so that healing happens not only in the mind but throughout the body.

Sometimes, a child’s quiet withdrawal says what words cannot. Subtle changes in behavior are often the first signs a child is struggling to feel safe.

Creative Pathways to Healing Through Child Therapy in Geneva

Children and teens heal best when therapy feels natural, playful, and creative. Our Child and Teen Therapy Program offers several ways to help them express what words cannot.

• Play Therapy allows children to reenact, imagine, and explore their experiences safely. Through symbolic play—building, drawing, storytelling—children find mastery over what once felt powerless.

• Expressive Arts Therapy gives older children and teens a voice through creativity. Art, journaling, and music become tools for exploring grief, identity, and hope.

• Somatic Therapy helps reconnect body and mind. Simple movement, breathing, and grounding practices teach kids how to recognize and soothe physical sensations linked to stress.

Each of these methods helps children rediscover what safety feels like in their bodies, creating space for new growth.

The Parents’ Role in Healing After a Loss or Trauma

Parents are central to a child’s recovery. In therapy, we help caregivers learn to notice cues, respond with regulation, and offer steady presence rather than perfection. Small shifts—slower breathing, softer tone, patient listening—create profound safety.

Our program integrates parental support sessions that focus on understanding the “why” behind behaviors and strengthening attachment bonds. When parents and children heal together, progress lasts far beyond the therapy room.

When the Community Heals Together

Healing does not happen in isolation. Schools, pediatricians, and families form a child’s world of safety. At Creating Space Therapy, we partner with educators and professionals to create trauma-informed environments where children can learn and connect without fear.

Whether through teacher consultations, professional workshops, or school-based collaboration, our mission is to help every system surrounding a child understand their needs and respond with compassion.

Introducing Emma Rooney, Child and Teen Therapist in Geneva

We are thrilled to welcome Emma Rooney, LPC, to our team at Creating Space Therapy. Emma specializes in helping children and teens process grief and trauma through play, expressive arts, and somatic-informed approaches. Her warm presence and creative methods allow young clients to feel seen, understood, and safe.

Emma believes that healing is possible when children are met exactly where they are—with curiosity, patience, and care. Her sessions invite self-expression, emotional growth, and a sense of empowerment that extends into home and school life.

A Message of Hope and Invitation

Healing after loss or trauma is not about erasing pain; it’s about rediscovering safety, connection, and joy. With the right support, children and teens can build resilience that carries them through the rest of their lives.

If your child or teen is struggling, we invite you to schedule a consultation call with Emma Rooney in our Geneva office to explore how therapy can help your family heal.

Creating Space Therapy offers child and teen trauma and grief therapy in Geneva and Naperville, and online across Illinois.

Call 630.601.3460 to schedule your consultation today.