Trauma-Informed Psychotherapy for Complex Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in a Young Adult Woman: A Case Report

This case study, conducted at a wellness center in western India, examines the therapeutic journey of a female in her early 20s with severe anxiety, depression, insomnia, self-harm urges, suicidal ideation, and a history of childhood trauma. Standardized assessments, including the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Major Depression Inventory (MDI), insomnia assessment, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE-14), Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R), and the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ), revealed severe symptoms and the presence of complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD). A detailed consultation identified additional issues not fully captured by structured assessments, including a history of self-harm, suicidal thoughts, a chronically violent and abusive family environment, dysfunctional coping strategies, irrational decisions, attachment disturbances, and instability in relationships. A trauma-informed, integrative psychotherapeutic approach was implemented over more than one year, incorporating inner child therapy, parts work, empty chair and Gestalt-based body interventions, self-regulation practices, and belief system restructuring, followed by later-stage coaching interventions. Outcomes demonstrated substantial improvements in emotional regulation, trauma resolution, relationships, and resilience. This case highlights the importance of combining structured CPTSD assessments with detailed interviews and phased trauma-informed psychotherapy.