Episode Details

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In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Erin Eadie and Dr. John Briere, co-authors of the third edition of Principles of Trauma Therapy. We dive deep into how trauma assessment has evolved over the past 20 years, exploring both clinical nuances and broader societal issues. From differentiating trauma from other diagnoses, to understanding complex PTSD, to assessing trauma in marginalized populations, this conversation is packed with insight for psychologists, therapists, and other mental health professionals. We also highlight new tools and approaches for assessing trauma in adults, discuss the importance of feedback and relational context, and examine how social oppression and systemic discrimination can function as trauma.

Topics Covered

• Evolution of trauma conceptualization over the past 20 years
• Differences between trauma exposure, response, and diagnosis
• Why some individuals develop PTSD while others don’t after similar events
• Assessment principles: clinical interview + standardized tools
• Trauma-specific vs. broad-band measures (e.g., TSI-2, MMPI-2-RF, PAI)
• Complex PTSD and dissociation in assessment
• Feedback practices: balancing assessment with therapeutic impact
• Cultural humility and trauma in marginalized communities
• The Social Discrimination and Maltreatment Scale (SDMS) and new assessment tools
• Practical takeaways for clinicians working with trauma survivors

Cool Things Mentioned

• The Testing Psychologist mastermind groups and business consulting
• Reverb: the premier AI-powered report-writing platform for testing psychologists
• Psychological Assessment of Adult Posttraumatic States: Phenomenology, Diagnosis, and Measurement, Third Edition, by John Briere & Erin Eadie: https://www.apa.org/pubs/books/psychological-assessment-adult-posttraumatic-states-third-edition
• Trauma Symptom Inventory-2 (TSI-2): https://www.parinc.com/Products/Pkey/422
• MMPI-3 (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-3): https://www.pearsonassessments.com/en-us/Store/Professional-Assessments/Personality-%26-Biopsychosocial/Minnesota-Multiphasic-Personality-Inventory-3/p/P100000004?srsltid=AfmBOopG43wt3wRZe1FfBZ4QXTCOzC9XbglMyWQahLFPiUiu9n-ZGEnr
• Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI): https://www.parinc.com/Products/Pkey/238
• Social Discrimination and Maltreatment Scale (SDMS) – included in Principles of Trauma Therapy (3rd Ed.)
• Broadband Trauma and Adversity Review (BTAR) – included in Principles of Trauma Therapy (3rd Ed.)
• Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Study: https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/aces

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