Treating Survivors of Childhood Abuse and Interpersonal Trauma: STAIR Narrative Therapy

Now revised and expanded with 50% new content reflecting important clinical refinements, this manual presents a widely used evidence-based therapy approach for adult survivors of chronic trauma. Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation (STAIR) Narrative Therapy helps clients to build crucial social and emotional resources for living in the present and to break the hold of traumatic memories. Highly clinician friendly, the book provides everything needed to implement STAIR—including 68 reproducible handouts and session plans—and explains the approach's theoretical and empirical bases.

The large-size format facilitates photocopying; purchasers also get access to a Web page where they can download and print the reproducible materials. First edition title: Treating Survivors of Childhood Abuse: Psychotherapy for the Interrupted Life.

New to This Edition

• Reorganised, simplified sessions make implementation easier.
• Additional session on emotion regulation, with a focus on body-based strategies.
• Sessions on self-compassion and on intimacy and closeness in relationships.
• Chapter on emerging applications, such as group and adolescent STAIR, and clinical contexts, such as primary care and telemental health.
• Many new or revised handouts—now downloadable.
• Updated for DSM-5 and ICD-11.

Table of Contents

I. Theoretical Frameworks

1. A Resource Loss Model sample
2. Attachment: When Protector and Perpetrator Are One
3. Development in the Context of Deprivation

II. Foundations of Treatment

4. Treatment Rationale

5. Building Emotional and Social Resources: Overview of STAIR

6. Working with Traumatic Memories: Overview of Narrative Therapy

7. Extending the Narrative: Transforming Shame and Loss

8. Guidelines for Implementing Treatment

9. Assessment of Client and Match for Treatment

III. STAIR Narrative Therapy, Session by Session

- Module I. Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation (STAIR): Building Resources

10. Session 1. The Resource of Hope: Introducing the Client to Treatment

11. Session 2. The Resource of Feeling: Emotional Awareness

12. Session 3. Emotion Regulation: Focus on the Body

13. Session 4. Emotion Regulation: Focus on Thoughts and Behavior

14. Session 5. Emotionally Engaged Living: Distress Tolerance

15. Session 6. The Resource of Connection: Understanding Relationship Patterns

16. Session 7. Changing Relationship Patterns: Focus on Assertiveness

17. Session 8. Changing Relationship Patterns: Managing Power

18. Session 9. Changing Relationship Patterns: Increasing Closeness

19. Session 10. Self-Compassion and Summary of Skills Training

- Module II. Narrative Therapy: Facing the Past and Imagining the Future

20. Moving from Skills Training to Narrative Therapy: How Do You Know Your Client Is Ready?

21. Session 11. Introduction to Narrative Therapy

22. Session 12. Narrative of First Memory

23. Sessions 13–17. Narratives of Fear

24. Sessions 13–17. Narratives of Shame

25. Sessions 13–17. Narratives of Loss

26. Session 18. The Final Session

27. New Developments for STAIR Narrative Therapy

References

Index

"Wonderfully written, with quotes to reflect upon for each chapter, the book provides handouts, case scenarios, and explanations and summaries for the goals and skills developed per chapter section. It is a practice guide for anyone working with any type and any level of survivorship from trauma….This book meets the need of any audience who wants to be an agent of change in thought, word, and action for those who have somehow survived the very worst that life experiences could offer….Materials and descriptions provide step-by-step directives to reduce the potential for child trauma creating maladaptive adults with repetitive trauma-driven behaviors. Don't miss the chapters on resource loss, changing relationship patterns, and the resource of hope. The entire book is of benefit, but these chapters are amazing and substantive."
- Doody's Review Service

"The second edition of this amazing resource builds on and expands the first edition. It conveys a deep understanding of survivors of abuse and presents a treatment model that flexibly addresses their varied needs. The book contains practical discussion and application and includes a wealth of handouts. STAIR Narrative Therapy fulfills the criteria for an evidence-based treatment, as it is built on theory, research findings, clinical observation, and client preferences. STAIR is a fitting acronym—the book presents a set of skills in a developmental and progressive sequence, one step at a time."
- Christine A. Courtois, PhD, ABPP, private practice (retired), Washington, DC; consultant and trainer, trauma psychology and treatment

"For therapists who want a clear, structured way to help trauma clients increase their coping skills and revise the narrative of their traumatic experiences, this book is a gem. The session outlines and client exercises are systematic and amazingly thorough. I particularly appreciate the book's respectful stance toward the client, the down-to-earth focus on emotion, and the accessible way topics such as complex trauma are laid out. This second edition is a great contribution to the literature. It will be particularly helpful to mental health professionals who are beginning the journey into treating the chaos of trauma with their clients."
- Susan M. Johnson, EdD, Professor Emeritus of Clinical Psychology, University of Ottawa, Canada; Distinguished Research Professor, Marital and Family Therapy Program, Alliant International University, San Diego

"Cloitre and colleagues have done a fabulous job updating and expanding their book on STAIR Narrative Therapy for childhood abuse and chronic interpersonal trauma. STAIR is now strongly supported by the authors' own research, as well as being grounded in the broader trauma research literature. The book offers a carefully delineated description of this brief yet comprehensive treatment. The step-by-step explanations and numerous downloadable handouts make this book an excellent learning tool for beginning therapists—it also has plenty to offer seasoned therapists. Highly recommended."
- Catherine C. Classen, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco

"The authors' theoretical and clinical model of early trauma and adversity leading to an interrupted life is a very helpful perspective to understand this important clinical group. This book provides a detailed treatment manual on how to conduct STAIR Narrative Therapy. Therapists will hugely benefit from the many case examples, handouts, and step-by-step instructions. A new chapter in the second edition describes adaptations of STAIR for specific populations and settings, showing that the authors constantly work on refining and developing their evidence-based approach."
- Thomas Ehring, PhD, Department of Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Germany

"This second edition leaves no stone unturned. It is an invaluable resource for both experienced clinicians and the next generation of therapists, who will gain a precise and systematic method for helping their clients with childhood trauma. This book uncovers the troubling complexities of trauma while presenting a promising path forward through STAIR Narrative Therapy."
- David M. Greenberg, PhD, Zuckerman Postdoctoral Scholar, Bar-Ilan University, Israel; Visiting Researcher, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom