Help medical and dental visits feel safer for a child who has experienced trauma.
Preparation, predictable communication and realistic choices can reduce fear during health care without requiring the child or caregiver to retell the entire family history.
Part of our Health & Mental Health resource series. See the main Health & Mental Health guide for the wider topic and related resources. Following a guided route? Return to the School & health route.
Information reviewed September 2026. Services and clinical guidance can change, so use the linked official source when a current process matters.
Health care can feel unsafe even when the provider is trying to help.
The Canadian Paediatric Society describes trauma-informed care as safe medical care from trusted providers who understand how personal histories can affect health and family life. Its 2026 resources were co-designed with youth from across Canada and focus on safe spaces, safe interactions, sensitive conversations and what makes a health visit feel safer.
Canadian Paediatric Society: Trauma-informed care in paediatrics
Prepare the child before the appointment.
Explain where you are going, who you expect to see and what you know will happen. Do not promise that something will not hurt if you cannot know that. If the appointment may involve touch, needles, changing clothes, dental instruments or private questions, prepare the child in age-appropriate language.
Tell the provider what helps without giving the entire trauma history.
A provider may need to know that the child is anxious about unexpected touch, needs extra processing time, has sensory sensitivities or benefits from the caregiver staying close. They do not necessarily need the full details of parental addiction, family violence or court history to make the visit safer.
Offer real choices where choices exist.
- Where the child sits.
- Whether the caregiver stays close when appropriate.
- Whether the provider explains each step directly to the child, caregiver or both.
- Whether to pause before the next non-urgent step.
- Which comfort object, music or calming strategy to use if permitted.
Ask before touch whenever possible.
Routine clinical care still has medical requirements, but warning the child before touch and explaining why it is needed can reduce surprise and loss of control. For older children and youth, include them directly in discussions about privacy, consent and what happens next.
Do not use a caregiver as a substitute for the child's voice.
The caregiver may know triggers, history and practical needs, but the child or youth should still be addressed directly in developmentally appropriate ways. Canadian youth involved in CPS's national consultation emphasized safe interactions and sensitive conversations with health professionals.
Plan for the next visit while the experience is fresh.
Record what helped, what made the child more anxious, how long the appointment took and what the provider should know next time. This is especially useful when the child sees several clinics or professionals.
Trauma-Informed Health Visit Preparation
Prepare the provider, identify realistic choices, record questions and note what should change next time.
Download health visit plannerClarify legal authority separately from emotional support.
A kinship caregiver may be the person who best helps the child feel safe while another person or legal arrangement determines consent authority. Health staff should clarify both questions instead of assuming they are the same.
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