Treating Complex Traumatic Stress Disorders in Adults: Scientific Foundations and Therapeutic Models

This authoritative reference on complex traumatic stress disorders (CTSDs) and their assessment and treatment has now been significantly revised with more than 75% new material reflecting a decade of advances in the field. Leading experts delve into ways to understand, engage, assess, and treat adults with complex trauma histories, whose symptoms often include but may go well beyond those of posttraumatic stress disorder. The volume presents cutting-edge theory and research on CTSDs, considers diagnostic controversies, and identifies core elements of effective, culturally responsive treatment. Established and emerging therapies specifically tailored to this population are described and illustrated with vivid case examples. Other highlights are chapters on transtheoretical treatment, the crucial role of professionalism and training, and recognizing and managing vicarious traumatisation.

New to This Edition:

• Incorporates major advances in research and clinical practice.
• Chapters on additional evidence-based individual treatments: prolonged exposure therapy, cognitive therapy, cognitive processing therapy, brief eclectic psychotherapy, eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing therapy, narrative exposure therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, emotion-focused therapy, and the TARGET recovery model.
• Chapters on additional evidence-based group and conjoint family therapy models: attachment-based couple therapy and integrated treatment of co-occurring CTSDs and substance use disorders.
• Chapters on promising treatments: treatment for structural dissociation, experiential/somatotherapy approaches, mindfulness approaches, and complementary healing therapies.

Table of Contents

Foreword, Judith Lewis Herman

I. Overview

1. Defining and Understanding Complex Trauma and Complex Traumatic Stress Disorders, Julian D. Ford & Christine A. Courtois sample
2. Developmental Neurobiology, Julian D. Ford
3. Best Practices in Psychotherapy for Adults, Christine A. Courtois, Julian D. Ford, Marylene Cloitre, & Ulrich Schnyder
4. Therapeutic Alliance and Risk Management, Christine A. Courtois
5. Evidence-Based Psychological Assessment of the Sequelae of Complex Trauma, Joseph Spinazzola & John Briere
6. Assessing and Treating Complex Dissociative Disorders, Kathy Steele & Onno van der Hart
7. Cultural Humility and Spiritual Awareness, Laura S. Brown
8. New Perspectives on Vicarious Traumatization and Complex Trauma, Laurie Anne Pearlman, James Caringi, & Ashley R. Trautman

II. Evidence-Supported Individual Treatment Modalities and Models

9. Prolonged Exposure Therapy, Elizabeth Hembree & Edna B. Foa
10. Cognitive Therapy, Anke Ehlers & Hannah Murray
11. Cognitive Processing Therapy, Kathleen M. Chard, Ellen T. Healy, & Colleen E. Martin
12. Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy, Berthold Gersons, Mirjam J. Nijdam, Geert E. Smid, & Ulrich Schnyder
13. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy, Deborah L. Korn & Francine Shapiro
14. Narrative Exposure Therapy, Maggie Schauer, Katy Robjant, Thomas Elbert, & Frank Neuner
15. Emotion-Focused Therapy, Sandra C. Paivio & Lynne E. Angus
16. Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Ari Lowell, Andrea Lopez-Yianilos, & John C. Markowitz
17. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Christie Jackson, Kore Nissenson, & Marylene Cloitre
18. Trauma Affect Regulation: Guide for Education and Therapy, Julian D. Ford

III. Group/Conjoint Therapy Models

19. Group Therapy, Julian D. Ford
20. Dual-Trauma Attachment-Based Couple Therapy, Pamela C. Alexander
21. Family Systems Therapy, Julian D. Ford
22. Complex Trauma and Addiction Treatment, Denise Hien, Lisa Caren Litt, Teresa López-Castro, & Lesia M. Ruglass

IV. Emerging Psychotherapy Models

23. Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Pat Ogden
24. Experiential Approaches, Janina Fisher
25. Mindfulness Approaches, Barbara L. Niles, Sarah Krill Williston, & DeAnna L. Mori
26. Complementary Healing Therapies, Stefanie F. Smith & Julian D. Ford

Epilogue: Overview and Future Directions in Treatment for Complex Traumatic Stress Disorders, Julian D. Ford & Christine A. Courtois

Afterword, Bessel A. van der Kolk

Author Index

Subject Index

"A valuable addition....This book will enhance the knowledge and therapeutic toolbox of any practitioner working with clients who have had complex psychological traumas. (on the first edition)"
- Addiction Today

"An unparalleled contribution to the existing literature on assessment and intervention with survivors of complex trauma....Courtois and Ford have assembled an impressive volume of empirically informed assessment and treatment approaches that 'honor and support the resilience of trauma survivors as they carry on with their lives and enrich the lives of their families and communities.' (on the first edition)"
- Trauma Psychology Newsletter

"Bringing together the voices of numerous leaders in the field, this work has become a classic text on CTSDs and should be considered an essential guide for students. Beginning with foundations such as developmental neurobiology and therapeutic best practices, the volume reviews a range of treatments--from cognitive and exposure-based therapies to body-based therapies--developed or adapted for complex trauma. The second edition significantly expands the number of approaches discussed and includes important issues such as treatment of co-occurring substance use disorders. It deftly integrates scientific perspectives with clinical experience and wisdom, including sound evidence-based practice recommendations that cut across treatment models. Well written and packed with information."
- Elizabeth K. Hopper, PhD, Program Director, The Trauma Center at Justice Resource Institute, Brookline, Massachusetts

"Essential reading for practitioners in all disciplines who work with trauma-affected populations. Edited and written by international leaders in the area, the volume provides deep insight into the nature and phenomenology of CTSDs and details an array of expert approaches to intervention. This work--combining the current best science and practice--is an outstanding reference for any clinician working to improve the lives of those experiencing CTSDs."
- David Forbes, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne; Director, Phoenix Australia Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health

"The definitive international handbook on CTSDs. This superb book yields wonderful insights into the therapeutic treatment of an important but difficult-to-treat group of patients. Every reader from a health care profession can learn something from it. Experts who have been working in the field of complex trauma for decades are complemented by highly respected scholars on classic PTSD. The case studies and therapy dialogues in the various treatment chapters are highly practical."
- Andreas Maercker, PhD, MD, Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Switzerland; Chair, ICD-11 working group on trauma-associated disorders

"Ford and Courtois are among the most knowledgeable authorities in the complex trauma field today. This volume provides a thorough update on the clinical and scientific controversies surrounding CTSDs in adults, as well as the rapidly expanding evidence base. Exciting theoretical and research developments on the neurobiology of the survival brain, complex PTSD, self-regulation, developmental trauma, vicarious trauma, and posttraumatic resilience are highlighted and translated into practical guidelines for culturally responsive clinical practice. I highly recommend this second edition as a valuable resource, both for students learning about complex trauma for the first time and for practitioners who wish to stay up to date on knowledge and treatment approaches."
- David L. Corwin, MD, Professor and Director of Forensic Services, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine

"This comprehensive work delves into the assessment and treatment of the wide symptom array associated with developmental trauma. The book provides incredible depth, breadth, and cutting-edge research on CTSDs. This fully revised second edition will be the leading text for years to come. A 'must read' for all clinicians, trainees, and researchers working in the area of complex traumatic stress."
- Ruth A. Lanius, MD, PhD, Professor and Harris-Woodman Chair in Mind-Body Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Western University, Canada

"Essential reading for practitioners in all disciplines who work with trauma-affected populations. Edited and written by international leaders in the area, the volume provides deep insight into the nature and phenomenology of CTSDs and details an array of expert approaches to intervention. This work--combining the current best science and practice--is an outstanding reference for any clinician working to improve the lives of those experiencing CTSDs."
- David Forbes, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne; Director, Phoenix Australia Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health

"The definitive international handbook on CTSDs. This superb book yields wonderful insights into the therapeutic treatment of an important but difficult-to-treat group of patients. Every reader from a health care profession can learn something from it. Experts who have been working in the field of complex trauma for decades are complemented by highly respected scholars on classic PTSD. The case studies and therapy dialogues in the various treatment chapters are highly practical."
- Andreas Maercker, PhD, MD, Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Switzerland; Chair, ICD-11 working group on trauma-associated disorders

"Ford and Courtois are among the most knowledgeable authorities in the complex trauma field today. This volume provides a thorough update on the clinical and scientific controversies surrounding CTSDs in adults, as well as the rapidly expanding evidence base. Exciting theoretical and research developments on the neurobiology of the survival brain, complex PTSD, self-regulation, developmental trauma, vicarious trauma, and posttraumatic resilience are highlighted and translated into practical guidelines for culturally responsive clinical practice. I highly recommend this second edition as a valuable resource, both for students learning about complex trauma for the first time and for practitioners who wish to stay up to date on knowledge and treatment approaches."
- David L. Corwin, MD, Professor and Director of Forensic Services, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine

"This comprehensive work delves into the assessment and treatment of the wide symptom array associated with developmental trauma. The book provides incredible depth, breadth, and cutting-edge research on CTSDs. This fully revised second edition will be the leading text for years to come. A 'must read' for all clinicians, trainees, and researchers working in the area of complex traumatic stress."
- Ruth A. Lanius, MD, PhD, Professor and Harris-Woodman Chair in Mind-Body Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Western University, Canada

"Essential reading for practitioners in all disciplines who work with trauma-affected populations. Edited and written by international leaders in the area, the volume provides deep insight into the nature and phenomenology of CTSDs and details an array of expert approaches to intervention. This work--combining the current best science and practice--is an outstanding reference for any clinician working to improve the lives of those experiencing CTSDs."
- David Forbes, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne; Director, Phoenix Australia Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health

"The definitive international handbook on CTSDs. This superb book yields wonderful insights into the therapeutic treatment of an important but difficult-to-treat group of patients. Every reader from a health care profession can learn something from it. Experts who have been working in the field of complex trauma for decades are complemented by highly respected scholars on classic PTSD. The case studies and therapy dialogues in the various treatment chapters are highly practical."
- Andreas Maercker, PhD, MD, Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Switzerland; Chair, ICD-11 working group on trauma-associated disorders

"Ford and Courtois are among the most knowledgeable authorities in the complex trauma field today. This volume provides a thorough update on the clinical and scientific controversies surrounding CTSDs in adults, as well as the rapidly expanding evidence base. Exciting theoretical and research developments on the neurobiology of the survival brain, complex PTSD, self-regulation, developmental trauma, vicarious trauma, and posttraumatic resilience are highlighted and translated into practical guidelines for culturally responsive clinical practice. I highly recommend this second edition as a valuable resource, both for students learning about complex trauma for the first time and for practitioners who wish to stay up to date on knowledge and treatment approaches."
- David L. Corwin, MD, Professor and Director of Forensic Services, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine

"This comprehensive work delves into the assessment and treatment of the wide symptom array associated with developmental trauma. The book provides incredible depth, breadth, and cutting-edge research on CTSDs. This fully revised second edition will be the leading text for years to come. A 'must read' for all clinicians, trainees, and researchers working in the area of complex traumatic stress."
- Ruth A. Lanius, MD, PhD, Professor and Harris-Woodman Chair in Mind-Body Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Western University, Canada