Clara's story: post-traumatic response and therapeutic art

Post-traumatic response (PTR) is a reaction to a distressful event or events. PTR can be immediate, delayed, or chronic. Delayed or chronic PTR is often observed in adults who experienced repeated episodes of childhood physical, emotional, and/or sexual abuse. After years of secrecy, fear, denial, repression, suppression, and/or maladaptive coping patterns, recovery for chronic survivors can be lengthy, painful, and arduous. Recovery work can be facilitated by a therapeutic approach combining cognitive and expressive techniques. A case study illustrates one client's four-year recovery period.