Main description:

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.

Contents:

Book Front Matter

Dedication

Acknowledgments

About the Author

List of Abbreviations

Book Body Matter

Chapter 1 Introduction

Chapter 2 Understanding Your Emotional Map

* Attachment, Attunement and Mirroring: An Overview
* Implications of an Insecure Attachment Status
* Insecure Attachment and Romantic Partnerships
* Attachment Theory Critique
* Developmental Trauma and Racial Disparity in the Time of COVID-19
* Measuring Attachment Status in a Clinical Setting

Chapter 3 Complex Layered Trauma

Understanding Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Emergence of Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD)
Deconstructing C-PTSD
The Neuroscience of Complex Trauma
Measuring Trauma in a Clinical Setting

Chapter 4 Dysfunctional Family Systems

* Dysfunctional Family Systems and Pathological Accommodation
* Communication Deviance and Behavioral Abnormalities
* Adverse Childhood Experiences
* Measuring Adverse Childhood Experiences in a Clinical Setting

Chapter 5 Dissociation

* Understanding Dissociation
* Measuring Dissociation in a Clinical Setting
* Working with Dissociative Clients

Chapter 6 Trauma and the Body

* Mind-Body Connection
* The Modulation Model
* Polyvagal Theory
* Somatization and Implicit Memory
* Autoimmune Disorders

Chapter 7 The Power of Belief

* Core Negative Beliefs
* Negativity Bias and Confirmation Bias
* The Bite that Fits the Wound
* Linking Blocking Beliefs to Memories

Chapter 8 An Overview of Psychotherapy Modalities for the Treatment of Complex Trauma

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
Somatic Experiencing Practice Innovations in the Wake of COVID-19

Chapter 9 Ego State Work and Connecting with the Inner Child

* Connecting with the Inner Child
* Trauma and the Multiplicity of the Mind
* Internal Family Systems Model

Chapter 10 Turning Wounds into Wisdom: Resilience and Posttraumatic Growth

* Vulnerability and Shame
* The Anatomy of Resilience
* The Posttraumatic Growth Model

Chapter 11 Vicarious Trauma and Professional Self-Care for the Trauma Clinician

* Conceptualization of Vicarious Trauma
* Understanding Countertransference and Compassion
* The Role of Clinical Supervision and Professional Self-Care

Chapter 12 Conclusion

Book Back Matter

Appendix

Index