ABSTRACT
Epidemiological studies have demonstrated for some time that exposure to trauma is pervasive (Kessler, Sonnega, Bromet, Hughes, & Nelson, 1995), that the most damaging traumatic events are interpersonal (Charuvastra & Cloitre, 2008), and that trauma survivors are likely to experience multiple events or live in chronically stressful environments (Kessler, 2000). Interests in the development of treatment approaches have expanded beyond the resolution of psychopathology to approaches that train skills in order to provide protection against future traumatizing effects of adverse events. Trauma research has joined the ‘Third Wave’ in the evolution of psychotherapies that are as concerned with resolving symptoms as building strengths. An important task for trauma research is the development of psychological interventions that foster capacities that reduce trauma-related distress and bolster resilience.
