Complex Trauma focuses on cumulative, interpersonal harms—chronic abuse, neglect, captivity, displacement—that shape attachment, identity, and regulation across the lifespan. This page translates guidelines into phased, trauma-informed care: safety and stabilization; skills for emotion regulation and dissociation; and carefully timed trauma processing. If you’re comparing a complex trauma conference, you’ll find pathways for children, adolescents, and adults that align therapy, psychiatry, and social supports while avoiding re-traumatization. Because somatic symptoms, pain, sleep disturbance, and substance use commonly co-occur, we integrate whole-person plans that prioritize dignity and choice. For school and community coordination, pair with Childhood Trauma and Resilience, which complements this page with cross-system models.

Effective programs weave safety with empowerment. Begin by mapping triggers and resources; stabilize housing, food, legal protections, and medical issues. Build routines that anchor sleep, nutrition, and movement; teach grounding, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. When ready, introduce trauma-focused CBT, EMDR, or other evidence-based processing with careful pacing and consent. Address self-harm risks, substance use, and dissociation proactively; involve trusted supports without undermining autonomy. Cultural humility, language access, and flexible scheduling widen reach; digital tools and crisis plans sustain gains between visits.