ABSTRACT

This chapter provides an overview of how the schema model can facilitate our understanding of the issues confronting people with simple and complex post traumatic stress disorder. It details strategies to facilitate effective formulation via a ‘trauma map’ and underscores how this process, based on schemas and modes, improves treatment outcomes. Recommendations are made on how to share this understanding with patients to improve their motivation for trauma processing and set up better generalisation of trauma treatment through the patient’s schema-related experiences. Preliminary evidence in support of this approach is reviewed.