I wondered this too. Despite my family going through very difficult experiences (what some call “big T’s”), we never financially struggled, I always had food on the table, clothes on my back, and got to go college, so it felt difficult to accept I needed trauma therapy.

But trauma isn’t always obvious.

Through my training, I’ve learned about covert trauma, a form of developmental trauma, which is more about what did not happen for/to you (neglect), as opposed to what did. This type of trauma is more difficult to identify, but still significant to your development.

Every child has the right to feel valuable, to be vulnerable and imperfect, to have needs and wants, to be spontaneous, and to experience secure attachment. However, not all of us had caregivers who could provide these essential experiences.

Some grew up with caregivers who were emotionally distant. Others were raised in environments that were consistently stressful—even if their basic physical needs were met.

When these early emotional needs go unmet, the impact follows us into adulthood. Unmet childhood needs later show up as anxiety, impulsivity, addiction, or emotional numbness. They can also appear as depression, disconnection, or a persistent sense that something is missing.