Anxiety
Trauma Response Checklist
Trauma Response Checklist
Use this directive to structure an assessment or to check in on a client presenting with post-traumatic stress. It provides a systematic framework for identifying the diverse ways distress can manifest following a significant event. The tool is designed to help you and your client recognize and organize a wide range of reactions, many of which may seem disconnected from the original incident.
This process offers immediate psychoeducational value for the client while providing you with concrete data for case formulation. By externalizing and categorizing symptoms, it creates a shared language for discussing experiences that can feel chaotic. The resulting clarity directly informs treatment planning, helping to prioritize specific targets for intervention.
Trauma Response Checklist
| Recurrent and intrusive distressing memories | ▢ |
|---|---|
| Recurrent nightmares | ▢ |
| Acting or feeling as if the trauma is recurring | ▢ |
| Intense emotional distress when exposed to reminders | ▢ |
| Intense physical reactions to trauma reminders | ▢ |
| Avoidance of trauma-related triggers | ▢ |
| Memory loss or gaps in recall of the trauma | ▢ |
| Loss of interest or pleasure in activities | ▢ |
| Feeling disconnected or distant from others | ▢ |
| Difficulty experiencing or expressing loving feelings | ▢ |
| Sense of a foreshortened future | ▢ |
| Difficulty sleeping | ▢ |
| Irritability and anger outbursts | ▢ |
| Difficulty concentrating or maintaining focus | ▢ |
| Hypervigilance or being always on guard | ▢ |
| Exaggerated nervousness or anxiety | ▢ |
| Emotional numbing or detachment | ▢ |
| Negative beliefs about oneself, others, or the world | ▢ |
| Persistent guilt, shame, or self-blame | ▢ |
| Loss of trust in others | ▢ |
| Social withdrawal and isolation | ▢ |
| Self-destructive behaviors or tendencies | ▢ |
| Physical symptoms without medical cause | ▢ |
| Substance abuse or reliance on alcohol/drugs for coping | ▢ |
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