Session One: Trauma and Its History
Content Level: Beginning

Abstract: Complex trauma, now more widely acknowledged, has a history of being “known and not known” over several centuries. This contributes to the difficulties that those suffering from complex trauma encounter when seeking to be understood and treated. What are the differences between “simple” and “complex” trauma and what are the antecedents of trauma from “simple to complex”. Furthermore, how well do mental health professionals recognize a history of trauma, in its various forms, which might indicate complex trauma as a distinct clinical syndrome? Time will be given to discuss case material as it relates to the readings.

Readings:

1. Herman, JL (2022) Trauma and Recovery: The aftermath of violence – from domestic abuse to political terror. NY, NY: Basic Books, Introduction and Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, pp. 1 – 139.
2. Courtois, CA, and Ford, JD (2020), Defining and Understanding Complex Trauma and Complex Traumatic Stress Disorders, (pp. 3 – 34) in CA Courtois and JD Ford, eds. Treating Complex Traumatic Stress Disorders in Adults, second edition. NY, NY: The Guilford Press. 
3. Giourou, E., Skokou, M., Andrew, S.P., Alexopoulou, K., Gourzis, P., and Jelastopulu, E. (2018) Complex posttraumatic stress disorder: The need to consolidate a distinct clinical syndrome or to reevaluate features of psychiatric disorders following interpersonal trauma? World J Psychiatr 2018 March 22; 8(1): 12-19 (open access)

Timed Outline: 
45 minutes: Discussion of Reading 1 - history of trauma 
15 minutes: Discussion of Reading 2 - difference between simple and complex trauma
45 minutes: Discussion of Reading 2 - antecedents of simple to complex trauma
45 minutes: Discussion of Reading 3 - recognition of a clinical syndrome resulting from chronic childhood trauma