Abstract
The term “complex trauma” is used to describe chronic traumatization, for instance, the experience of multiple and/or prolonged developmentally adverse traumatic events, most often of an interpersonal nature. The field of psychotherapy has increasingly become influenced by evidence-based practice (EBP), which is centered on the ethos of research-informed practice and practice-informed research. Consequently, treatment planning and the clinical decision-making process are informed by best practice guidelines developed from research findings.
Complex trauma treatment has evolved into a more integrative, body-oriented approach. This chapter first provides an overview of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as a psychotherapy modality for treating complex trauma. Second, an outline of the process of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy is offered. Subsequently, a review of the benefit of body-based therapies such as Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and Somatic Experiencing is discussed. Finally, this chapter discusses the implications for somatic therapies arising from COVID-19—more specifically, the fact that virtual therapy has gone from being an emerging trend in clinical practice to a necessary adaptation during COVID-19.
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Notes
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A pseudonym has been used to preserve confidentiality.
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A pseudonym has been used to preserve confidentiality.
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O’Shea Brown, G. (2021). An Overview of Psychotherapy Modalities for the Treatment of Complex Trauma. In: Healing Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Essential Clinical Social Work Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-61416-4_8
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