002 | PTSD and Complex Trauma: Differential Diagnosis and Evidenced-based Treatment Models

Traumatic events can come in many forms. For example, some forms of trauma are relational in nature while others are not, some are single-incident, and others are chronic; some occur in childhood, and others occur later in life. In this workshop, survivors of PTSD (i.e., the result of natural disasters, single incident trauma, combat trauma, etc.) and Complex PTSD (i.e., the result of chronic, relational trauma, often originating in childhood) will be compared in terms of severity of post-traumatic symptoms, type of attachment style, relational capacity, use of dissociation, ability to regulate affect, and the challenges of developing an integrated sense of self and identity. Discussing differences in these areas between the two groups of trauma survivors will help psychologists, licensed mental health professionals, and medical professionals differentially diagnose PTSD and Complex PTSD and develop a context for understanding why varying treatment approaches are indicated for each. Specific evidence-based treatment models will then be presented for both PTSD and Complex PTSD.