Sections
Excerpt
Trauma-centered psychotherapy may be employed by therapists of any theoretical persuasion and at any time during the course of treatment. Generally, the work of conducting a thorough trauma history, identifying the trauma schemas, decoding current behaviors in terms of these schemas, and then differentiating the past from the present can be accomplished within a 4- to 6-month time frame, but often more quickly. The therapist may then decide to resume other methods that he or she believes are appropriate based on the entire set of needs presented by the client. After a course of trauma-centered psychotherapy, the therapist can continue to work on deepening the client’s personal insight, providing encouragement and advice, extending the client’s social capacities, and helping the client deal with current stressors and life decisions. When and if the client’s trauma schemas emerge again forcefully, the therapist can apply the techniques described in this chapter. Trauma-centered psychotherapy is not a comprehensive treatment method for all problems; it is designed to facilitate the loosening of the traumatic event’s grip on the person’s functioning. Although many derivative problems may lessen or even disappear during this therapy, many others less connected to the trauma schemas do not.
Access content
To read the fulltext, please use one of the options below to sign in or purchase access.- Personal login
- Institutional Login
- Sign in via OpenAthens
- Register for access
-
Please login/register if you wish to pair your device and check access availability.
Not a subscriber?
PsychiatryOnline subscription options offer access to the DSM-5 library, books, journals, CME, and patient resources. This all-in-one virtual library provides psychiatrists and mental health professionals with key resources for diagnosis, treatment, research, and professional development.
Need more help? PsychiatryOnline Customer Service may be reached by emailing [email protected] or by calling 800-368-5777 (in the U.S.) or 703-907-7322 (outside the U.S.).