When we think of trauma, we often imagine a single event - a car accident, a natural disaster, or a sudden loss.

But for many children and adolescents, trauma isn’t just one moment. It’s ongoing, chronic, and often rooted in their earliest relationships. This type of trauma is called developmental trauma, and it can have a lasting impact on how young people think, feel, behave, and connect with others.

At Atlanta Wellness Collective, we support children, teens, and families who have experienced complex and developmental trauma. One of the evidence-based models many of our clinicians use in this work is the ARC model, which stands for Attachment, Regulation, and Competency. In this blog post, we’re sharing an overview of the ARC framework and how it supports healing and growth.

What Is Developmental Trauma?

Developmental trauma refers to exposure to chronic or multiple forms of interpersonal trauma, such as abuse, neglect, separation, or disrupted caregiving, during a child’s early years of development. These experiences can interfere with brain development, emotional regulation, attachment, and the ability to feel safe in the world.

Unlike single-incident trauma, developmental trauma often occurs in the context of relationships. This is why healing must also happen through safe, supportive, and consistent relationships.

The ARC Model: A Framework for Healing

The ARC model was developed by Kristine Kinniburgh and Margaret Blaustein to support children and adolescents who have experienced complex trauma. Rather than focusing only on symptoms or diagnoses, ARC provides a flexible, phase-based approach that helps young people build the core capacities they need to thrive.

The model is organized around three key building blocks:

1. Attachment

Healthy relationships are the foundation of healing. Many children with developmental trauma have experienced disrupted or unsafe attachments, making it difficult to trust others or form meaningful connections. In this phase of treatment, the focus is on:

Building safe, predictable, and attuned relationships with caregivers and counselors
Understanding the child’s unique relational history and needs
Strengthening the caregiving system (such as supporting parents, foster families, or teachers)

When children experience consistent and responsive care, they begin to develop a new internal model of what safe relationships look like, and that changes everything.

2. Regulation

Children who have experienced trauma often struggle with managing their emotions, behaviors, and bodily responses. The regulation component of ARC focuses on helping children:

Recognize and name their emotions
Understand their internal cues (like feeling tense, panicked, or numb)
Develop strategies to calm, soothe, or energize themselves in healthy ways

By strengthening self-regulation skills, kids and teens become more equipped to manage stress and navigate daily challenges without becoming overwhelmed or shutting down.

3. Competency

The final domain in the ARC model centers on helping children rebuild a sense of control, agency, and identity. This stage is about supporting kids and teens as they:

Develop problem-solving and decision-making skills
Build self-esteem and confidence
Explore their values, interests, and goals

When children feel competent and capable, they can begin to rewrite the narrative of who they are, not as victims of their circumstances, but as resilient individuals with strengths, hope, and potential.

Why We Use ARC at Atlanta Wellness Collective

ARC is not a one-size-fits-all approach... It’s adaptable and trauma-informed, which makes it especially effective for working with children from diverse backgrounds and experiences. It also recognizes the essential role of parents in the healing process and provides tools for strengthening the support systems around the child.

Our providers use the ARC framework in individual and family therapy, often alongside other evidence-based approaches like play therapy, EMDR, DBT, or cognitive-behavioral techniques. We believe that when kids are given the tools to understand their story, regulate their emotions, and build safe relationships, they can heal and even flourish.

Healing from developmental trauma is not about “fixing” a child. It’s about understanding what they’ve been through, holding space for their story, and helping them build the skills they need to feel safe, seen, and strong.

If you’re a parent, caregiver, or professional supporting a child who has experienced trauma, you’re not alone. The ARC model reminds us that healing happens in relationships, and we’re here to walk alongside you.

Want to learn more about trauma-informed therapy for children and teens? Contact our team at Atlanta Wellness Collective to schedule a consultation or connect with one of our experienced mental health providers.

Here at Atlanta Wellness Collective, we want to help. For support, contact us or schedule an appointment online.

This blog post was written by Katherine Yates.

This blog is not intended to substitute professional therapeutic advice. Talk with your healthcare provider about your health concerns and before starting or stopping therapies. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct professional advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

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