Tana Frey - Therapist - Havenwood Academy

What if the behaviors that frustrate parents and clinicians the most are actually survival skills developed through trauma?In this episode, Tana Frey, Therapist at Havenwood Academy, explores how trauma reshapes the way adolescents see the world, why traditional punishment-based approaches often fall short, and what real progress looks like long before behavior visibly changes.Tana shares how Havenwood designs treatment around the nervous system, the importance of relational safety, and why healing often begins when young people move from blaming others to recognizing their own role in their struggles. She also discusses experiential therapies, the role of safe touch, clinician burnout, and the shift from consequence-based treatment to relationship-based care.