Diagnosing And Treating Complex Trauma

The term complex trauma refers to a broad range of symptoms resulting from exposure to prolonged or repeated severely traumatizing events. This broad spectrum of psychological symptoms complicates the formulation of an all-encompassing explicit definition, which in turn complicates the creation of specific treatment guidelines. In Diagnosing and Treating Complex Trauma, Trudy Mooren and Martijn Stöfsel explore the concept of complex trauma with reference to severely traumatised people including refugees, asylum seekers, war veterans, people with severe occupational trauma and childhood trauma and others who have dealt with severe violence. The book introduces a layered model for diagnosing and treating complex trauma in four parts. Part One introduces the concept of complex trauma, its historical development and the various theories about trauma. The authors introduce a layered model that describes the symptoms of complex trauma, and conclude with a discussion on the three-phase model. Part Two describes the diagnostic options available that make use of a layered model of complex trauma. Part Three discusses the treatment of complex trauma using the three-phase model as an umbrella model that encompasses the entire treatment. Chapters cover a multitude of stabilization techniques crucial to the treatment of every client group regardless of the therapeutic expectations. This part also contains an overview of the general and specific trauma processing techniques. The last chapter in this part covers the third phase of the treatment: integration. Part Four addresses the characteristics of different groups of clients who are affected by complex trauma, the components that affect their treatment and the suggested qualities required of a therapist to deal with each group. The book concludes with a chapter discussing the consequences for therapists providing treatment to people afflicted by complex trauma. Developed from the authors’ own clinical experiences, Diagnosing and Treating Complex Trauma is a key guide and reference for healthcare professionals working with severely traumatised adults, including psychologists, psychotherapists, psychiatrists, social-psychiatric nurses, and case managers.

With contributions from prominent experts, this pragmatic book takes a close look at the nature of complex psychological trauma in children and adolescents and the clinical challenges it presents. Each chapter shows how a complex trauma perspective can provide an invaluable unifying framework for case conceptualization, assessment, and intervention amidst the chaos and turmoil of these young patients' lives. A range of evidence-based and promising therapies are reviewed and illustrated with vivid case vignettes. The volume is grounded in clinical innovations and cutting-edge research on child and adolescent brain development, attachment, and emotion regulation, and discusses diagnostic criteria, including those from DSM-IV and DSM-5. See also Drs. Courtois and Ford's edited volume Treating Complex Traumatic Stress Disorders (Adults) and their authored volume, Treatment of Complex Trauma: A Sequenced, Relationship-Based Approach.

Chronic childhood trauma, such as prolonged abuse or family violence, can severely disrupt a person's development, basic sense of self, and later relationships. Adults with this type of history often come to therapy with complex symptoms that go beyond existing criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This important book brings together prominent authorities to present the latest thinking on complex traumatic stress disorders and provide practical guidelines for conceptualization and treatment. Evidence-based assessment procedures are detailed, and innovative individual, couple, family, and group therapies are described and illustrated with case vignettes and session transcripts.

The research base on complex psychological trauma has grown significantly in recent years. Yet even with the development of more effective techniques for treating complex trauma survivors, therapists often struggle to build strong relationships with these severely distressed clients. In this guide, the authors present an approach for helping adult clients move through the three phases of posttraumatic recovery -- and for managing the inevitable roadblocks and relationship issues that occur. The introductory chapters explore how complex trauma emerges from chronic victimization and the disruption of attachment bonds in childhood or adulthood and review diagnostic considerations. Two extended case examples highlight clinical issues that arise with this population and, running throughout the chapters, show how to use a secure therapeutic alliance as a foundation for utilizing evidence-based treatment strategies. The authors demonstrate ways to weave together elements of cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, relational, and systemic therapies, along with other proven approaches, in the service of working toward clearly defined therapeutic goals. In Phase 1, the emphasis is basic safety and personal stabilization. Phases 2 and 3 address trauma processing and the challenges of creating a new, more satisfying life. Strategies for tailoring interventions to each individual's needs and strengths, aided by ongoing assessment, are detailed. Applications in group, couple, and family therapy are also discussed.

This book is a clinician's guide to understanding, diagnosing, treating, and healing complex posttraumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD). C-PTSD, a diagnostic entity to be included in ICD-11 in 2022, denotes a severe form of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and is the result of prolonged and repeated interpersonal trauma. The author provides guidance on healing complex trauma through phase-oriented, multimodal, and skill-focused treatment approaches, with a core emphasis on symptom relief and functional improvement. Readers will gain familiarity with the integrative healing techniques and modalities that are currently being utilized as evidence-based treatments, including innovative multi-sensory treatments for trauma, in addition to learning more about posttraumatic growth and resilience. Each chapter of this guide navigates readers through the complicated field of treating and healing complex trauma, including how to work with clients also impacted by the shared collective trauma of COVID-19, and is illustrated by case examples. Topics explored include: Complex layered trauma Dissociation Trauma and the body The power of belief An overview of psychotherapy modalities for the treatment of complex trauma Ego state work and connecting with the inner child Turning wounds into wisdom: resilience and posttraumatic growth Vicarious trauma and professional self-care for the trauma clinician It is important for clinicians to be aware of contemporary trends in treating C-PTSD. Healing Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is an essential text for mental health practitioners, clinical social workers, and other clinicians; academics; and graduate students, in addition to other professionals and students interested in C-PTSD. It is an attractive resource for an international clinical audience as we work together to heal, affirm, and unburden clients following this time of shared collective trauma.

The new diagnosis of Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder presents diagnostic and treatment challenges that need to be grappled with, since, in a troubled world, it is increasingly important to understand the impact and aftermath of traumatic experiences and, crucially, how to work with those affected by them. In Complex Trauma, Joanne Stubley and Linda Young have assembled a fascinating range of approaches in order to explore the questions of understanding and intervention. They detail the relevance of an applied psychoanalytic approach, both in the Tavistock Trauma Service and, more broadly, in illuminating understanding of traumatized individuals. The book includes chapters related to the impact of trauma on the body, as well as on the mind, incorporating neurobiological and attachment theory to develop ideas on the impact and aftermath of complex trauma. A number of specialist areas of trauma work are covered within this volume, including work with adolescents, with refugees and asylum seekers, with military veterans, and with survivors of child sexual abuse. The editors bring together chapters that will be of interest to those working with traumatized individuals in a variety of settings and using different modalities. The central importance of relationships, as understood within the psychoanalytic model, is depicted throughout as being at the heart of understanding and working with traumatic experience.