STAIR Narrative Therapy for Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder:
Treating Sexual and Gender Minority Trauma
Abstract
Complex PTSD (CPTSD) is a new diagnosis in the World Health Organization
(WHO)’s International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). This case
study describes the delivery of Skills Training in Affective and
Interpersonal Regulation and Narrative Therapy (SNT), a flexible,
multi-component therapy that addresses the symptoms of CPTSD. SNT
balances interventions that address current day stressors with those
that reappraise the meaning of traumatic past events. This paper
outlines 16 sessions of SNT with a 55-year-old gay man. The treatment
introduces client tailored coping skills for current minority stress,
discrimination and micro-aggressions as well as trauma-focused
interventions regarding events from his childhood and the death of his
partner and many members of his community due to the AIDS epidemic.
Qualitative and quantitative outcomes are summarized. Implications
regarding the relevance of SNT for sexual and gender minority (SGM)
individuals is discussed.