Notes

Define trauma

Trauma is the unique individual experience of an event or enduring conditions in which the individual's ability to integrate his/her emotional experience is overwhelmed and the individual experiences (either objectively or subjectively) a threat to his/her life, bodily integrity, or that of a caregiver or family.

Describe two types of trauma.

1. Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) describes symptoms associated with a traumatic event, such as a car accident, witnessing violence, natural disaster.

2. Complex Trauma also known for complex ptsd describes how children's exposure to multiple or prolonged traumatic events impacts their ongoing development. Typically, complex trauma exposure involves the simultaneous or sequential occurrence of child maltreatment and may include psychological maltreatment, neglect, physical and sexual abuse, and witnessing domestic violence.

(Chronic begins in early childhood and occurs within the child's primary caregiving system and or social environment)

List common yet diverse types of traumatic experiences

Sexual Abuse or Assault: Actual or attempted sexual contact, exposure to age-inappropriate sexual material or environments, sexual exploitation, unwanted or coercive sexual contact.
Physical Abuse or Assault: Actual or attempted infliction of physical pain with or without use of an object or weapon and including use of severe corporeal punishment.