Understanding Complex PTSD

New Zealand · CPD courses & CPD points · Health Professionals

What is Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder?

Judith Lewis Herman proposed this term as away of capturing the sequelae of ongoing trauma, such as childhood sexual or physical abuse, as opposed to PTSD resulting from single, stand-alone traumatic events.

We know that PTSD resulting from traumatic events tends to result in symptom patterns which include re-experiencing of the event (including nightmares and intrusive thoughts, for example), avoidance (including avoidance of stimuli associated with the event, and avoiding thinking about the event), and hyper-arousal (including an exaggerated startle reaction, insomnia, and heightened physiological responsiveness). We usually conceptualise trauma counseling as a short-term intervention, and we envision that the person will be able to return to their previous level of functioning and make a significant recovery.

Complex PTSD is different. Certain kinds of chronic, ongoing traumas leave their mark on the self and the personality structure, impacting the way the person processes information about the world and relationships in a lasting manner.

In this short clip, Prof. Gill Eagle outlines some of what has been observed in survivors of chronic trauma, and proposes treatment considerations related to Complex PTSD.

If you're interested in learning more about current trends in working with PTSD from expert speaker Prof. Gill Eagle, watch her full talk here.

-Leanne

Calabash · South Africa
Calabash Articles · South Africa
Calabash Partners · South Africa
Calabash Contributors · South Africa
Calabash Speakers · South Africa
Calabash Talks · South Africa
Calabash Sign up · South Africa
Calabash Sign in · South Africa
Australian Counselling Association CPD courses & CPD points · South Africa
Neurodiversity CPD courses & CPD points · South Africa
Psychodynamic Therapy CPD courses & CPD points · South Africa
Article · Tips to prevent non-payment · South Africa
Article · Google Ads for Health Care Professionals · South Africa
Article · On Becoming a Play Therapist · South Africa
Board Exam CPD courses & CPD points · South Africa
Relational Psychoanalysis CPD courses & CPD points · South Africa
Australia CPD courses & CPD points · South Africa
Talk · Dialectical Behaviour Therapy: Mindfulness - the "what & how" skills · South Africa
Talk · Sleep Difficulties in Babies and Toddlers · South Africa
Talk · Mind Brain Body Connection and the Rhythms of Regulation · South Africa
Uploading an Article · South Africa
Uploading a Talk · South Africa
Privacy Policy · South Africa
Calabash · Australia
Calabash Articles · Australia
Calabash Partners · Australia
Calabash Contributors · Australia
Calabash Speakers · Australia
Calabash Talks · Australia
Calabash Sign up · Australia
Calabash Sign in · Australia
Personality CPD courses & CPD points · Australia
Clinical issues CPD courses & CPD points · Australia
Neurodiversity CPD courses & CPD points · Australia
Article · Multilingualism & Speech Therapy · Australia
Article · The core of 12 Step meetings – an insider’s view on why they are so effective · Australia
Article · Kangaroo Mother Care · Australia
Individual Psychology CPD courses & CPD points · Australia
New Zealand CPD courses & CPD points · Australia
CPD CPD courses & CPD points · Australia
Talk · Introduction to Schema Therapy - Part 1 - Core Childhood Needs & Maladaptive Schemas · Australia
Talk · Aggression and the Nature of Symptoms · Australia
Talk · Parental Counselling: Principles & Practice · Australia
About Calabash · Australia
Terms of Use · Australia
Privacy Policy · Australia
Calabash · New Zealand
Calabash Articles · New Zealand
Calabash Partners · New Zealand
Calabash Contributors · New Zealand
Calabash Speakers · New Zealand
Calabash Talks · New Zealand
Calabash Sign up · New Zealand
Calabash Sign in · New Zealand
Imago Relationship Therapy CPD courses & CPD points · New Zealand
Australian Counselling Association CPD courses & CPD points · New Zealand
Therapy Modalities CPD courses & CPD points · New Zealand
Article · SAPC Dialogues: Challenges and Innovations · New Zealand
Article · Examining Exams: School, Stress, and the Impact on Young Minds · New Zealand
Article · Colinda Linde on No Shows in Therapy · New Zealand
Writing CPD courses & CPD points · New Zealand
Language development CPD courses & CPD points · New Zealand
United Kingdom CPD courses & CPD points · New Zealand
Talk · Parental Counselling: Principles & Practice · New Zealand
Talk · Building Brains: Interpreting CT and MRI scan results & paper cases · New Zealand
Talk · Imago Relationship Therapy: Enhancing Sexual connection with couples · New Zealand
Uploading a Talk · New Zealand
Frequently Asked Questions · New Zealand
Terms of Use · New Zealand
Calabash · United Kingdom
Calabash Articles · United Kingdom
Calabash Partners · United Kingdom
Calabash Contributors · United Kingdom
Calabash Speakers · United Kingdom
Calabash Talks · United Kingdom
Calabash Sign up · United Kingdom
Calabash Sign in · United Kingdom
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy CPD courses & CPD points · United Kingdom
Mood disorders CPD courses & CPD points · United Kingdom
Australian Counselling Association CPD courses & CPD points · United Kingdom
Article · Clefts: A mom's perspective on what professionals should know · United Kingdom
Article · Tidbits on Treating the Dizzy Patient · United Kingdom
Article · Euphoria: what every therapist and parent needs to know about the show every teen is talking about · United Kingdom
School setting CPD courses & CPD points · United Kingdom
COVID-19 CPD courses & CPD points · United Kingdom
Human Rights CPD courses & CPD points · United Kingdom
Talk · Understanding and Managing Enuresis and Encopresis · United Kingdom
Talk · New ways of Approaching Borderline Personality Disorder: Insights on Trauma & Addiction · United Kingdom
Talk · Dissociation: Multiplicity of self – working with challenging self-states from a depth perspective · United Kingdom
Uploading a Talk · United Kingdom
Privacy Policy · United Kingdom
Frequently Asked Questions · United Kingdom
Calabash · United States
Calabash Articles · United States
Calabash Partners · United States
Calabash Contributors · United States
Calabash Speakers · United States
Calabash Talks · United States
Calabash Sign up · United States
Calabash Sign in · United States
Psychodynamic Therapy CPD courses & CPD points · United States
Clinical issues CPD courses & CPD points · United States
Neurodiversity CPD courses & CPD points · United States
Article · Cleaning during COVID-19 Pandemic · United States
Article · How to Hold Sessions with Social Distancing · United States
Article · Salisha Maharaj on Tips for New Therapists · United States
Confidence CPD courses & CPD points · United States
COVID-19 CPD courses & CPD points · United States
Couple Therapy CPD courses & CPD points · United States
Talk · Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Anxiety: Clinical understanding & techniques · United States
Talk · Sensory Modulation Patterns in children with Cerebral Palsy · United States
Talk · Neuropsychology of HIV: Effects and Assessment · United States
Frequently Asked Questions · United States
Uploading an Article · United States
About Calabash · United States
Calabash · Canada
Calabash Articles · Canada
Calabash Partners · Canada
Calabash Contributors · Canada
Calabash Speakers · Canada
Calabash Talks · Canada
Calabash Sign up · Canada
Calabash Sign in · Canada
Neurodiversity CPD courses & CPD points · Canada
Imago Relationship Therapy CPD courses & CPD points · Canada
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy CPD courses & CPD points · Canada
Article · How to Hold Sessions with Social Distancing · Canada
Article · Napping in Young Children · Canada
Article · Making Peace with Food · Canada
Human Rights CPD courses & CPD points · Canada
Adoption CPD courses & CPD points · Canada
Mental health CPD courses & CPD points · Canada
Talk · DIR: Floortime- an overview · Canada
Talk · Traumatic Brain Injury: Effects & Neuropsychological Considerations · Canada
Talk · Building Brains: Interpreting CT and MRI scan results & paper cases · Canada
Privacy Policy · Canada
How It Works · Canada
Uploading a Talk · Canada
Psychologist in Sydney