A stage by dimension model of trauma recovery: Application to practice

Abstract

In this article, a conceptual framework for the evaluation and treatment of trauma survivors, the stage by dimension model, is summarized and applied to the formulation and treatment planning of a clinical case. The stage by dimension model outlines three stages along which trauma recovery proceeds, and describes eight dimensions of psychological functioning most relevant to the process of recovery. The complexities of clinical evaluation and treatment with multiply traumatized individuals are described. A case presentation of a woman with a complex trauma history illustrates the way in which this model highlights clients' strengths, and focuses clinical interventions in an individualized manner. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.