Faculty Articles
Benefits of a Contextual Approach to Understanding and Treating Complex Trauma
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-11-2008
Publication Title
Journal of Trauma and Dissociation
Volume
9
Issue/Number
2
First Page
269
ISSN
1529-9732
Last Page
292
Abstract/Excerpt
The conceptual framework and treatment rationale of contextual therapy are described. Contextual therapy was specifically fashioned for survivors of prolonged child abuse (PCA). It is grounded in the observation that contexts beyond abuse trauma, especially restrictions in psychological development stemming from growing up in an ineffective family environment, appreciably impact the adjustment of many PCA survivors. Contextual therapy proposes that remediation of developmental gaps commonly manifested by PCA survivors is essential to equip them to (a) benefit from rather than be debilitated by trauma processing and (b) move beyond symptom reduction to the attainment of adequate social and occupational functioning
DOI
10.1080/15299730802048819
NSUWorks Citation
Gold, S. N.
(2008). Benefits of a Contextual Approach to Understanding and Treating Complex Trauma. Journal of Trauma and Dissociation, 9(2), 269-292.
Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cps_facarticles/481