ACEs: Adverse Childhood Experiences
If you have been to a therapy session before, you might have been asked to describe your childhood or asked about any significant events that occurred during your childhood. There is a reason for this. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) shape our emotional, physical and relational health, and set up the framework for how we see the world as we age into adulthood. While they are significant and important to recognise, it is possible to heal from them and move forward.
Unfortunately, ACEs are not uncommon. One study found that in over 400 000 children studied under the age of 18, 58% of children experienced one or more ACEs (Madigan et al., 2025). The same study found that:
– 22% had 1 ACE
– 13% had 2 ACEs
– 8% had 3 ACEs
– 15% had 4 or more ACEs
ACEs are often chronic exposure to the abuse (emotional, physical, sexual), neglect (emotional or physical), and household challenges (parental mental illness, substance use, domestic violence, separation, incarceration).
Talking about ACEs in therapy helps to facilitate discussion as early stress affects the developing brain and nervous system. This can have an impact on an adult’s ability to regulate, self-soothe, communicate, and take care of themselves. Not all adults with ACEs experience adverse outcomes, however many adults with ACEs are impacted.
This can show up as:
– Anxiety and depression
– Difficulty with emotional regulation
– Relationship and attachment challenges
– Increased physical health concerns
When discussing ACEs, it is also important to highlight protective factors. These factors help to buffer the impact of ACEs. These can range from safe and supportive relationships with peers, friends and family, to external mental health resources, deepening connection with culture and community, and increasing self-compassion and personal coping skills. Therapy can help an individual understand certain aspects and patterns shaped by early experiences. It can also help to build regulation skills, and process unresolved emotions.
Points to remember:
1. ACEs are common and can have significant impacts on emotional regulation, relationships, and physical health across a lifespan.
2. Research shows that chronic stress in childhood can shape how the nervous system responds to threats.
3. This can influence patterns of anxiety, depression, or disconnection in adulthood.
4. Therapy helps us to understand current struggles with compassion rather than self-blame.
5. Therapy can also help us increase emotional awareness, and help us develop coping skills that promote resilience.
6. Although ACEs can increase vulnerability, healing is possible especially when we have access to supportive relationships and therapeutic care. All it takes is one positive relationship to make a difference.
If you don’t have a therapist you are currently working with, Through the Woods can help you find the right fit for you.
Visit our website to learn more or to book your free consultation today. You can also get in touch by email at info@throughthewoods.ca or phone at (403) 984-7922.
References
Madigan, S., Thiemann, R., Deneault, A.-A., Fearon, R. M. P., Racine, N., Park, J., Lunney, C. A., Dimitropoulos, G., Jenkins, S., Williamson, T., & Neville, R. D. (2025). Prevalence of adverse childhood experiences in child population samples: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Pediatrics, 179(1), 19–33. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2024.4385