Complex trauma is a serious condition that can have long-lasting effects on a person's mental and physical health. It is caused by prolonged and repeated exposure to traumatic events, often starting in childhood. Treatment for complex trauma can be a long and difficult process, but it is possible to recover with the right help. In this article, we will discuss the different types of complex trauma, the symptoms associated with it, and the best treatment options available. Complex trauma is a clinical formulation used by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network and other knowledgeable therapists and researchers.
It is most commonly seen in people who experienced trauma early in life, especially when they were injured by a caregiver or are still in contact with the abuser. Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) is a response to prolonged and repeated trauma that lasts for months or years. The best treatment route for complex PTSD encompasses the whole person and their entire life, past, present and future. This includes identifying the different parts of the person's psyche, challenging underlying maladaptive beliefs, and helping them learn to integrate these parts into a cohesive whole. Therapies such as trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) can be used to treat PTSD. Complex PTSD treatment centers offer immersive opportunities for therapy and positive life skills in a welcoming and safe environment.
Assuming that you are receiving evidence-based and empirically validated treatment for complex trauma, such as dyadic developmental psychotherapy, you can expect symptoms to begin to improve in about ninety days. If we're only working on a single event that occurred when you were an adult, then it could be quite short, possibly between 1 and 3 months. Childhood trauma research recommends 15 to 30 months, but I have had clients who were satisfied with what they achieved sooner, sometimes much sooner. But this in no way means that treatment and recovery are not possible. Long-term therapy is highly effective in the right setting with a productive therapeutic alliance between client and doctor. And that relationship can absolutely develop with time, care and trust.
If you have complex post-traumatic stress disorder, recovery is possible for each and every person. One of the most useful first steps in treating complex trauma is to identify the various modes within a person's psyche. In general, traumatic disorders can be difficult to treat because a person must work with a therapist to discover the sources of trauma and their ability to trust those vulnerabilities and address them is severely compromised.
