Overview of Part I: The biological, psychological and social contexts of trauma: A conceptual model

First stage trauma treatment: A guide for mental health professionals working with women

Part I of the guidebook offers a conceptual framework through which to understand the prevalence and effects of abuse and violence in women’s lives and the ways in which this can manifest in complex post-traumatic stress responses. This framework does not assume a linear relationship between the experiences of abuse and the onset of complex post-traumatic stress responses. Instead, it explains how other significant factors in a woman’s life might contribute to the development of these disparate and complex psycho-physiological adaptations.

Part I also discusses the role of gender and its connection to mental health issues in women’s lives. As well, it emphasizes the importance of understanding psychological development as it affects trauma. The need for a phase-oriented approach to trauma treatment is stressed, as the first phase is the foundation for any future work.

 

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