Child Psychologist for Trauma & PTSD on the Central Coast | Kincumber, Gosford, Erina, Terrigal & Surrounding Areas
Trauma in childhood can be quiet and invisible, or it can be unmistakable. Either way, it deserves to be taken seriously, and met with care that truly understands how trauma lives in a child's body and nervous system.
At my Kincumber practice, I provide specialist trauma-informed therapy for children and adolescents on the Central Coast, including families from Gosford, Terrigal, Avoca Beach, Copacabana, Erina, Green Point and surrounding communities.
What trauma looks like in children
Childhood trauma doesn't always follow a single dramatic event. For many children, trauma is cumulative, built up through repeated experiences of feeling unsafe, unseen, or overwhelmed. This is sometimes called complex trauma or developmental trauma, and its effects can be wide-reaching.
Signs that a child may be carrying trauma include:
Hypervigilance, or always seeming on edge or easily startled
Emotional dysregulation or intense, unpredictable reactions
Nightmares, flashbacks, or intrusive memories
Withdrawal, numbness, or disconnection
Physical symptoms like headaches, stomachaches, or fatigue
Regression to younger behaviours
Difficulty trusting adults or forming relationships
The connection between trauma and neurodivergence
Emerging research suggests that complex trauma can shape a child's developing nervous system in ways that overlap significantly with ADHD and autism. Sensory sensitivities, attention difficulties, and social challenges can all be trauma responses, not simply neurodevelopmental differences.
This is why thorough assessment matters, and why my trauma-informed approach always considers the whole child and their full history.
Supporting children with trauma
Some evidence-based, trauma-specific approaches that work gently with the nervous system include:
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT)
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing)
Somatic and body-based approaches
Play therapy and expressive therapies for younger children
Parent and caregiver support and psychoeducation
Serving families across the Central Coast
My Kincumber practice is here for families travelling from across the region, including:
Gosford · Terrigal · Avoca Beach · Copacabana · Erina · Wamberal · Green Point · Narara · Wyoming · Point Clare · Saratoga · Davistown · Empire Bay · Bensville · Killcare · Umina Beach · Woy Woy · Ettalong Beach
Reach out when you're ready
If you're concerned that your child may be carrying the weight of trauma, please know that support is available close to home. Contact my Kincumber practice to talk through your concerns and find out how I can help.
