When the Body Remembers: Addressing the Psychosocial Link Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Autoimmune Disease Through a Trauma-Informed Counselling Lens
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Authors
Zimmerman, Anna
Issue Date
2026-03-31
Type
Capstone
Language
en
Keywords
adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) , autoimmune disease , trauma-informed counselling , biopsychosocial model , trauma theory , early prevention , holistic care
Alternative Title
Abstract
Autoimmune diseases represent a growing public health concern, with increasing evidence linking their development to early-life adversity and unprocessed trauma. Though biomedical research has established a correlation between adverse childhood experience (ACE) scores and autoimmune conditions, limited attention has been given to the psychosocial and trauma-informed dimensions of this relationship. Guided by trauma theory and the biopsychosocial model, this study conceptualizes ACEs as chronic stressors that, when biologically embedded, influence long-term health trajectories. The integration of these frameworks invites a whole-person perspective on understanding how early-life adversity shapes physiological, emotional, and relational processes throughout the lifespan. Beyond examining causality, the research underscores counselling psychology's role in prevention and holistic care. It argues that trauma-informed counselling approaches can contribute to the improved health outcomes of this specific population. Ultimately, it highlights counselling psychology's capacity to foster compassionate and integrated responses to complex connections between the mind and body.