Lucas experienced complex trauma growing up. His mother was emotionally abusive and told Lucas and his brother when they were 7 years old that she regretted not aborting them. His father was physically and emotionally abusive when home on the weekends. Lucas underwent various therapies to process and heal from his trauma history, including trauma egg, psychodrama, therapeutic letter writing, group work, and experiential therapies like art, music, equine, and adventure therapy. Complex trauma involves prolonged or interpersonal trauma that disrupts multiple areas of functioning like affect regulation, self-perception, and relationships. Unresolved trauma often results in avoidance of dealing with the traumatic memories and associated difficult emotions.

1. LUCAS C
A TRAUMA PERSPECTIVE
JUDY CRANE LMHC, CSAT, CAP, ICADC,
CO-FOUNDER AND CEO OF THE GUEST HOUSE OCALA

2. IN UTERO
“One day my mother told my brother and me, when we were 7, that she should
have aborted us, she would have stayed free instead of moving with my father
and getting married when 4 months pregnant. I cried alone in my bedroom the
whole night.”

3. INNER GENERATIONAL
Dutch origin with Indonesian maternal grandmother.

4. ATTACHMENT
Mother always tearful and yelling at the children and physical abuse of Lucas
Mothers statements that she should have aborted the twins
Father on the road during the week. Alcohol and rage during the weekend
Public rejection by female peer

8. ASSESMENTS
• PTSI-R
• Beck Depression Inventory
• Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation
• Beck Anxiety Inventory
• SDI
• Atta

9. THE WORK

10. TRAUMA EGG
PSYCHODRAMA
THERAPEUTIC LETTERS
GROUP WORK
BREATH WORK
ART AS THERAPY
MUSIC AS THERAPY
EQUINE ASSISTED THERAPY
ADVENTURE THERAPY

11. The trauma egg was
developed as a tool for
treating emotional trauma by
Marilyn Murray, an
internationally-recognized
authority on trauma, abuse,
deprivation, and its
consequences.
The Trauma Egg

12. HOW TO WRITE A LOVE LETTER
BEGIN BY EXPRESSING YOUR ANGER, RESENTMENT, AND BLAME. ALLOW YOURSELF TO MOVE THROUGH THE OTHER LEVELS UNTIL YOU
GET DOWN TO LOVE. EACH LOVE LETTER HAS FIVE PARTS AND THE FOLLOWING LEAD-IN PHRASES MAY HELP YOU IF YOU GET STUCK.
ANGER AND BLAME
I HATE IT WHEN…
I DON’T LIKE IT WHEN…
I’M FED UP WITH…
HURT AND SADNESS
I FEEL SAD WHEN…
I FEEL HURT BECAUSE…
I FEEL AWFUL BECAUSE…
I FEEL DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE…
FEAR AND INSECURITY
I’M AFRAID THAT…
I FEEL SCARED BECAUSE…

13. “SIMPLE” TRAUMA
• Epidemiologic studies show that prevalence of trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is substantial in
modern society. Most people will experience a traumatic event at some point in their life, and up to 25% of them
will develop the disorder. Demographic and socioeconomic factors also play a role in the risk for exposure to
traumatic experiences and subsequent PTSD. Psychiatric history, both personal or in family members, increases
the likelihood of being exposed to trauma and of developing PTSD once exposed. Traumatic exposure and PTSD
have an impact on the individual's health, health care service utilization, and general functioning. Such effects
provoke a considerable economic burden not only for those persons experiencing trauma and PTSD, but also for
the health care system and society as a whole.
Hidalgo RB, Davidson JR. Posttraumatic stress disorder:
Epidemiology and health-related concerns. J Clin Psychol. 2000;61:5–13.

14. “SIMPLE” TRAUMA
“Two factors are essential to understanding traumatic experience: how far our systems are
stretched and for how long.”
Patrick J. Carnes Ph.D. – The Betrayal Bond

15. “COMPLEX” TRAUMA
OR DISORDERS OF EXTREME STRESS NOT OTHERWISE SPECIFIED - DESNOS
Characteristic of DESNOS
trauma which involves interpersonal victimization, multiple traumatic events, or events of prolonged
duration.
Disturbances in six areas of functioning are required
for the diagnosis:
(1) Regulation of affect and impulses;
(2) attention or consciousness;
(3) self-perception;
(4) relations with others;
(5) somatization; and
(6) systems of meaning.
Complex Trauma and Disorders of Extreme Stress (DESNOS) Diagnosis, - Part One: Assessment
Toni Luxenberg, PsyD, Joseph Spinazzola, PhD, and Bessel A. van der Kolk, MD
D i r e c t i o n s i n P s y c h i a t r y - Volume 21 Lesson 25

16. “COMPLEX” TRAUMA
“Some trauma experiences are relatively minor, but they happen every day. The hurt accumulates. Many acts of child neglect, for example, in
themselves are not that serious. Every parent has moments of not being able to cover all the bases. A consistent pattern of neglect however,
creates incredible anxiety in a child and leaves serious life long wounds.
Trauma by accumulation sneaks up on its victims.”
Patrick J. Carnes Ph.D. – The Betrayal Bond

17. Unresolved Trauma
and Feelings Surrounding
Unresolved Trauma
Response is to avoid
Looking at the trauma
We perceive too much fear, shame,
guilt, sadness; nightmares;
controlling memories
around the trauma