Adverse Childhood Experiences, Trauma, and How Somatic Therapy Supports Healing
What Are Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)?
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) refer to traumatic events that occur before the age of 18, such as abuse, neglect, or household dysfunction. These early disruptions to safety and emotional development can have lifelong effects on physical health, emotional regulation, and interpersonal relationships. The original ACE Study found a strong correlation between the number of ACEs and the risk of mental health issues, substance use disorders, chronic illness, and even early death (Felitti et al., 1998).
Understanding your ACE score can be a powerful first step in recognizing how past trauma may still be shaping your present.
How Trauma Lives in the Body
While traditional talk therapy helps process traumatic experiences on a cognitive level, trauma also gets “stuck” in the body. This is why survivors often experience chronic tension, dissociation, panic, or emotional numbness, long after the danger has passed.
The nervous system, especially the fight-flight-freeze response, is deeply impacted by childhood trauma. Without proper regulation, individuals may remain in a heightened state of alertness or shut down emotionally, both of which can affect daily functioning and relationships.
The Power of Somatic Therapy for Trauma Recovery
Somatic therapy offers a body-based approach to healing trauma. Rather than focusing solely on verbal processing, somatic modalities incorporate breathwork, movement, sensation tracking, and grounding exercises to help clients regulate their nervous systems and reconnect with their bodies.
In our latest podcast episode, therapist Natalie Reina explains how somatic practices help clients feel safe in their bodies again, reduce reactivity, and build resilience. Grounding techniques, such as orienting to the environment or deep belly breathing, may seem simple, but they can be profoundly effective in calming trauma responses and building emotional regulation skills.
Why a Holistic Approach to Mental Health Matters
True healing requires integration of mind and body. A trauma-informed therapist may combine cognitive approaches like CBT or narrative therapy with somatic techniques, mindfulness, and psychoeducation. This holistic framework recognizes that trauma is not just a story we tell, it's an experience we hold in our nervous system.
For clients with a history of ACEs, particularly those navigating abusive relationships or long-term emotional wounding, combining these modalities can lead to deeper breakthroughs and more sustainable healing.
Final Thoughts: Healing Is Possible
If you’ve experienced adverse childhood experiences, you’re not alone, and you’re not broken. Healing is absolutely possible. Somatic therapy, especially when paired with compassionate therapeutic support, can help you release old survival patterns, build self-trust, and reconnect with your sense of safety and agency.
To hear more about how somatic therapy works in real life and how ACEs continue to affect adult relationships and emotions, tune in to the latest episode of boy meets therapy featuring Natalie Reina.
Where to Take the ACE Quiz Online
If you’re curious about your ACE score, there are several free and reputable online tools you can use:
Trauma Informed Oregon ACE Score Calculator:
This tool not only helps you calculate your ACE score but also includes questions about resilience factors to offer a more balanced picture of your experiences.QxMD ACE Calculator:
A medical-style version of the standard 10-question ACE quiz, ideal for those seeking a clinically oriented screening tool.TraumaDissociation.com ACE Quiz:
A simple, interactive quiz that provides immediate scoring and explanations, perfect for those new to trauma-informed concepts.
* While the ACE quiz is a valuable self-awareness tool, it’s important to remember that it does not diagnose trauma or mental health disorders. Your score is just a starting point for reflection and possible healing with the support of a licensed mental health professional.
Reference:
Felitti, V. J., Anda, R. F., Nordenberg, D., Williamson, D. F., Spitz, A. M., Edwards, V., Koss, M. P., & Marks, J. S. (1998). Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults: The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 14(4), 245–258. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0749-3797(98)00017-8
