SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — A father and stepmother are facing several felony charges after they reportedly locked two children in rooms, and physically abused and humiliated them as punishment.
Kristen Floyd, a licensed clinical mental health counselor, said there is a variety of trauma children can experience in abusive households, especially when the abuser is a parent.
Floyd said trauma can follow children for years and often surfaces in unexpected ways.
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“Our body keeps the score on some of those traumas,” Floyd said.
Floyd explained that the long-term effects don’t stop in childhood.
“Trauma doesn’t always come out in the way of an emotional response. It can come out in a physical response,” Floyd said.
Floyd said caregivers should watch for common warning signs that a child may be experiencing abuse or torture.
She said the physical signs can include frequent bruising, and behavioral changes can be red flags, like isolation, accidents like bedwetting, or sudden shifts in mood or social interactions.
“When something feels wrong, if you see something, say something,” Floyd said.
Experts add that reporting concerns more than once is acceptable and sometimes necessary to ensure children’s safety.
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