Four-Component Model for Counseling Clients with Traumatic Childhood Abuse

Abstract

To treat the effects of traumatic childhood abuse effectively, we propose a model which incorporates information from neurophysiological, psychoeducational, cognitive, and social work literature. The four components of the model reflect the broad range of explanations for pathology posed by researchers and also support the breadth of interventions available for use with survivors of childhood abuse. The model relies on individualized assessment and treatment related to the physiological response to abuse, faulty learning, cognitive and psychological problems, and social effects of abuse. This model contributes to the literature by providing a comprehensive framework complementary to many theoretical orientations, is useful across the helping disciplines, and appropriate in multidisciplinary settings.