You may have heard the term ACEs, short for adverse childhood experiences. It refers to potentially traumatic events in childhood, such as abuse, neglect, or growing up in a home affected by substance use, mental health concerns, violence, or separation from a parent.
The idea behind ACEs is that hard experiences in childhood can have effects that last into adulthood, shaping how people handle stress, relationships and health. That's why some providers ask about them, and why you may have seen a questionnaire that counts how many of these experiences a person had.
An ACE score can be a useful starting point for a conversation, but it's only one piece of information. It isn't a diagnosis, and it doesn't capture how a person experienced those events, what support they had, or who they've become since. Two people with the same score can have very different stories.
Just as important is resilience: the capacity to adapt and recover when life is hard. Resilience isn't a fixed trait that some people have and others don't. It's built, often through safe, stable relationships with caring adults, a sense of belonging, and chances to develop skills and confidence. Those protective experiences can matter at any age.
For parents, learning about ACEs isn't about blame. Many caregivers are carrying experiences from their own childhood while raising children of their own. Understanding that history can be a step toward the home you want to create.
Confianza Health offers ACE education for families, schools and community partners, on how adverse childhood experiences shape us and how resilience is built. If childhood experiences are still affecting your life or your family's, therapy can help you work through them at your own pace.
