Mixed Deck — All TTC Topics Flashcards

In EMDR, a 'touchstone memory' refers to:

Answer: The earliest or most representative memory linked to a core negative belief

A touchstone memory is the earliest or most foundational memory in a trauma cluster that, when processed, can generalize healing to related memories sharing the same negative cognition.

A trauma therapist conducting crisis intervention with a client experiencing a flashback should FIRST focus on:

Answer: Grounding techniques to help the client reconnect with the present moment

Grounding techniques (sensory anchoring, breathing, orienting to the environment) are the first-line intervention to interrupt a flashback and restore present-moment awareness.

According to DSM-5, which criterion requires that PTSD symptoms persist for more than one month?

Answer: Criterion E

DSM-5 Criterion E specifies that the disturbance (Criteria B, C, D, and E symptoms) must last more than one month.

What is the typical duration of a standard TF-CBT treatment course?

Answer: 12–25 sessions

Standard TF-CBT is typically delivered over 12–25 sessions, allowing sufficient time to progress through all PRACTICE components including trauma narrative development.

Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy conceptualizes trauma by understanding that:

Answer: The psyche consists of multiple sub-personalities or 'parts' that carry burdens from traumatic experiences

IFS posits that trauma creates 'exiles' (wounded parts) protected by 'managers' and 'firefighters,' and healing involves unburdening these parts.

A clinician is concerned about malingering during a PTSD assessment. Which approach is most appropriate?

Answer: Use validity indices within standardized measures and cross-reference multiple information sources

Using embedded validity scales in instruments like the MMPI-2-RF and corroborating across multiple data sources is the ethical and evidence-based approach to detecting symptom exaggeration.

When using EMDR with children, which adaptation is most commonly recommended?

Answer: Replacing the SUDS scale with a simpler feelings thermometer or visual scale

Children often benefit from developmentally adapted measures, such as a feelings thermometer or 0–10 visual scale, instead of the standard SUDS verbal rating.

In the CPT model, 'natural emotions' vs. 'manufactured emotions' is an important distinction. Which of the following is an example of a manufactured emotion?

Answer: Shame arising from the belief 'I should have stopped it' after sexual assault

Manufactured emotions (also called 'stuck emotions') arise from stuck point beliefs rather than the trauma itself, and they persist because the beliefs driving them are maintained.

The 'freeze' response in the context of complex trauma is associated with which branch of the autonomic nervous system, according to Polyvagal Theory?

Answer: Dorsal vagal complex (immobilization/shutdown)

Polyvagal Theory (Porges) identifies the freeze/shutdown response as driven by the dorsal vagal complex, the evolutionarily oldest branch that produces immobilization when escape seems impossible.

In trauma treatment, 'psychoeducation' during the stabilization phase serves primarily to:

Answer: Normalize trauma symptoms and reduce shame by explaining their neurobiological basis

Psychoeducation normalizes trauma responses (e.g., hyperarousal, numbing, flashbacks) by framing them as understandable adaptations rather than signs of weakness or 'craziness.'

Which of the following represents a contraindication for initiating trauma processing work in Phase 2?

Answer: Client lacks adequate affect regulation skills and social support

Insufficient stabilization — including poor affect regulation and inadequate support systems — signals the client is not yet ready for trauma processing.

In Somatic Experiencing (SE), the technique of 'pendulation' involves:

Answer: Oscillating between traumatic material and a resource or sense of safety

Pendulation rhythmically moves the client's attention between a charged sensation and a place of relative ease, building capacity to tolerate distress.

How does risk management apply to daily practice in Cognitive Processing Therapy for Trauma Treatment professionals?

Answer: Through proactive identification of potential hazards and implementation of preventive measures

Effective risk management in Cognitive Processing Therapy requires proactive hazard identification and preventive measures, not just reactive responses. This approach reduces incidents, improves outcomes, and protects both professionals and clients.

In SE, hyperarousal symptoms such as hypervigilance, startle responses, and intrusive imagery are understood as:

Answer: Incomplete discharge of survival energy remaining in the nervous system

SE views hyperarousal symptoms as trapped survival energy that was never discharged, keeping the nervous system stuck in a mobilized defensive state.

What is the PRIMARY purpose of continuing education requirements in Trauma-Informed Care Principles for TTC professionals?

Answer: Maintaining current knowledge and competency as the field evolves

Continuing education in Trauma-Informed Care Principles ensures professionals maintain current knowledge and skills as standards, technologies, and best practices evolve in the Trauma Treatment field.

A CPT therapist is delivering treatment to a client with both PTSD and borderline personality disorder (BPD). Which adaptation is MOST supported by evidence?

Answer: CPT can be used with BPD clients, potentially with slower pacing and additional skills support

Research supports delivering CPT to clients with comorbid BPD, though therapists may need to move at a slower pace and provide additional support for emotion regulation.

During a mobile crisis response, a client refuses to engage and begins to escalate. The FIRST recommended de-escalation step is to:

Answer: Maintain a calm, non-threatening posture and lower your voice

Non-threatening body language and a calm, quiet voice are the first-line de-escalation strategies before other interventions.

Peter Levine's SIBAM model in SE stands for:

Answer: Sensation, Image, Behavior, Affect, Meaning

SIBAM (Sensation, Image, Behavior, Affect, Meaning) describes the five elements that make up an experience and that become coupled in trauma.

When a conflict arises between standard procedures and a unique situation in Trauma-Informed Care Principles, what should a TTC professional prioritize?

Answer: Safety and ethical obligations while seeking expert consultation

Safety and ethics always take priority in Trauma-Informed Care Principles. When standard procedures don't adequately address a unique situation, consulting with experienced colleagues or supervisors ensures both safety and professional standards are maintained.

Which of the following best describes the EMDR 'Future Template' used in the final prong of the Three-Pronged Protocol?

Answer: A positive imaginal rehearsal of the client handling future situations adaptively, reinforced with BLS

The Future Template involves having the client imagine a future scenario where they respond adaptively, then reinforcing that positive image with BLS to promote generalization of treatment gains.