The student must post 2 replies of at 250-300 words. In the replies, students must extend the discussion by analyzing and building upon peers threads, asking relevant questions as needed. Each reply must incorporate at least 1 scholarly reference in APA format. Any sources cited must have been published within the last five years. Acceptable sources include course texts, other scholarly texts, or peer-reviewed journal articles.
See your manual for when to use italics in journal articles. Also, drop the place of publication in Levers as APA-7 doesn’t do that anymore.
Original Discussion Question: Discuss the nature and role of assessment in trauma counseling. Compare and contrast different methods of assessment discussed by Briere & Scott and Levers, (Chapter 26) or other approaches that you are familiar with, identifying strengths, weaknesses, challenges, and benefits for treatment.
Please respond to the following 2 discussion posts following the instructions above.
1. Brittany O posted:
The nature of trauma counseling in general allows therapists to have a full understanding of the various traumas their client has experienced in their lifetime, and what impact each has played into symptoms their client is currently experiencing (Levers, 2012; Briere & Scott, 2015). The role of assessment in trauma counseling allows a therapist to build an effective treatment plan for their client based off their history of trauma experienced, the symptoms exhibited, and how their daily life is currently impacted by these symptoms (Briere & Scott, 2015; Levers, 2012).
The different types of assessments include interviews (clinical or structured) or screening scales for various trauma-specific assessments (DSM-5, PDS-5, TSI, DES, etc.) (Brand et al., 2018; Briere & Scott, 2015; Levers, 2012). In a clinical and structured interview assessments, the therapist has a conversation with their client about their experienced trauma(s), symptoms, and daily challenges faced, with the difference between the two interviews being the clinical one is more fluid in questioning and conversation compared to the structured interview which guides the conversation with questions, surveys, and screening tools to get the specific information they need to help diagnose and create a treatment plan for their client (Briere & Scott, 2015; Levers, 2012). The strengths and benefits of the interviews are that they help the therapist build rapport and a baseline with their client because it covers all facets of trauma and symptoms (Levers, 2012). The weaknesses and challenges faced with the interviews is that the therapist has to be aware of any personal biases, and that the client may not be able to remember all of the critical details of their trauma, or the client is not psychologically stable enough to handle the structured interview which can make diagnosing and creating an effective treatment plan challenging (Briere & Scott, 2015; Levers, 2012; Sapolsky, 2004). The strengths and benefits of the trauma-specific screening scale assessments are that they are widely known and used and depict reliability and validity within the scores so therapists can see which specific symptoms the client is experiencing and distressed by (Briere & Scott, 2015; Levers, 2012). The weaknesses and challenges faced by these scale assessments are that they are self-reported responses, so the symptoms can be under-or-over reported (Briere & Scott, 2015; Levers, 2012).
The Bible verse that I think of when working with victims of sexual assault in my office is, heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me, and I will be saved, for you are my praise (ESV, 2001, Jeremiah 17:13-15). The Lord helped them find the strength and courage to come find you as their therapist to help guide them to healing from their traumas.
References
Brand, B. L., Myrick, A. C., Loewenstein, R. J., Classen, C. C., Lanius, R., McNary, S. W., Pain, C., & Classen, C. (2018). A survey of practices and recommended treatment interventions among expert therapists
treating patients with dissociative identity disorder and dissociative disorder not otherwise specified. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 10(5), 539-547. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000336
Briere, J., & Scott, C. (2015). Principles of trauma therapy: A guide to symptoms, evaluation, and treatment (2nd ed.). Sage Publications.
English Standard Version Bible. (2001). ESV Online. https://esv.literalword.com/
Levers, L. L. (2022). Trauma counseling: Theories and interventions for managing trauma, stress, crisis and disaster. Springer Publishing Company.
Sapolsky, R. M. (2004). Why zebras don’t get ulcers: The acclaimed guide to stress, stress-related diseases and coping (3rd ed.). St. Martin’s Griffin.
2. Trulissa M posted
Assessment in trauma counseling is a significant process that entails gathering information in a systematic way in order to understand the nature and impact of trauma on a person. It is essential in the development of safety plans, treatment planning, identifying risk and protective factors, determining appropriate interventions, and evaluating progress (Briere & Scott, 2015; Levers, 2022; Herrenkohl et al., 2019). Trauma assessment extends beyond symptom identification to examine the larger context of an individual’s life. This comprehensive perspective takes into account cultural, societal, and environmental elements that may influence the individual’s recovery.
There are various approaches to measure someone’s mental state, each with advantages and disadvantages. Below is a list of some testing methods, along with their pros and cons.
Clinical Interview
The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Dissociative Disorders (SCID-D) is a clinician-administered diagnostic examination that assesses and diagnoses dissociative disorders using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria. Dissociative disorders are characterized by changes in consciousness, memory, identity, or perception that significantly affect an individual’s everyday functioning (Briere & Scott, 2015; Levers, 2022). One advantage of SCID-D is that it offers a structured and systematic way to assessing dissociative symptoms, providing consistency in the diagnostic process. One disadvantage is that performing a SCID-D interview might be time-consuming due to its thorough nature. This may limit its applicability in time-sensitive or busy medical settings (Briere & Scott, 2015). In some circumstances, a combination of interviews and standardized scales are necessary to reach a diagnosis or assess the impact of trauma (Williams & Zare, 2022).
Trauma-Specific Scale/Self-Report Instrument
The Combat Exposure Scale (CES) is a self-report questionnaire used to assess the level of combat exposure encountered by military personnel when deployed. It evaluates several aspects of combat encounters that individuals may face in a war zone. One advantage is that the scale gives a quantifiable measure of combat exposure, allowing for more consistent assessments across individuals as well as groups. One disadvantage is that the scale is susceptible to biases based on individual viewpoints and interpretations of their own experiences. To reply effectively, the client must first understand themselves and be willing to communicate their experiences (Briere & Scott, 2015; Levers, 2022).
Completing a trauma assessment allows the counselor to have a comprehensive understanding of a client’s experiences before providing guidance or assistance. Proverbs 18:13 states, “He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him” (King James Bible, 1769/2023, Proverbs 18:13). Counselors are encouraged in Proverbs 18:13 to avoid making hasty judgments or intervening prematurely. Instead, it emphasizes the need for patience and empathic listening, allowing the individual to share their experience at their own pace.
References
Briere, J., & Scott, C. (2015). Principles of trauma therapy: A guide to symptoms, evaluation, and treatment (2nd ed.). Sage Publications
Herrenkohl, T. I., Hong, S., & Verbrugge, B. (2019). Trauma-informed programs based in schools: Linking concepts to practices and assessing the evidence. American Journal of Community Psychology, 64(3-4), 373-388
King James Bible. (2023). King James Bible Online. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/ (Original work published 1769)
Levers, L. L. (2022). Trauma counseling: Theories and interventions for managing trauma, stress, crisis and disaster. Springer Publishing Company
Williams, M., & Zare, M. (2022). A psychometric investigation of racial trauma symptoms using a semi-structured clinical interview with a trauma checklist. Chronic Stress, 6, https://doi.org/10.1177/24705470221145126
