Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Two common misconceptions about working with survivors who suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are that the disorder always stems from a single event and that effective treatment consists solely of a set of exposure-based interventions that address that one event.

However, individuals who have survived prolonged or repeated trauma often develop complex PTSD, a disorder consisting of forms of impairment much more extensive than in PTSD. Often, when trauma-focused exposure-based interventions are launched into prematurely, they are highly likely to cause deterioration rather than improvement.

In this video, Dr. Steven N. Gold demonstrates an approach to working with clients experiencing complex PTSD that focuses initially on helping them improve their quality of life in the present. By coaching clients on various facets of adult living, such as mastering effective coping skills, maintaining steady employment, and building a social support network, therapists can help them experience marked improvement in the present and form a stable base from which to address the lingering impact of traumatic experiences.