If ongoing or repeated trauma has shaped how you feel, relate, and see yourself, one psychologist guides the entire assessment from start to finish. We provide comprehensive assessments for complex trauma presentations, often referred to as Complex post-traumatic stress disorder, in children, teens, and adults. You can start without a referral from another provider.
Our evaluations provide an in-depth understanding of trauma-related symptoms associated with prolonged or repeated exposure to distressing experiences. Every assessment begins with a cognitive and executive function baseline, then focuses on emotional dysregulation, persistent shame, negative self-concept, interpersonal difficulties, hypervigilance, and intrusive symptoms, and how they affect daily functioning and relationships. Because complex trauma rarely appears alone, screening for related conditions is standard, and many clients move into our comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation for the fullest picture.
You may notice intense emotional reactions, difficulty trusting adults, behavioral regression, chronic anxiety, disrupted attachment patterns, or problems with attention and academic engagement.
Complex trauma often appears as mood instability, persistent feelings of worthlessness, self isolating behavior, difficulty forming stable peer relationships, irritability, sleep disturbance, or heightened sensitivity to perceived rejection.
In adulthood, CPTSD may show up as chronic emotional overwhelm, unstable relationships, persistent shame, avoidance of intimacy, hypervigilance, intrusive memories, or difficulty maintaining consistent work or social functioning.
Your evaluation begins with a one-hour clinical interview where your psychologist gathers a thorough personal history in a safe, supportive environment. Complex PTSD often stems from prolonged or repeated experiences, so this conversation covers a broader timeline to understand how those experiences have shaped your emotional regulation, relationships, and sense of self. You set the pace.
Your psychologist selects a personalized battery of assessments designed to capture the layered effects of complex trauma. Testing involves 2 to 6 hours of in-person evaluation over one to two days. You will also be sent home with self-report questionnaires, and someone close to you can complete their own if they choose. If your psychologist identifies signs of other conditions (such as anxiety, depression, dissociation, or ADHD), those areas are screened for as well.
All testing data, clinical observations, and questionnaire results are compiled into a detailed diagnostic report. Your psychologist evaluates how complex trauma has affected emotional regulation, identity, relationships, and cognitive functioning. Any co-occurring conditions are fully documented to ensure a complete clinical picture.
Approximately two to three weeks after testing, you return for a feedback session. Your psychologist walks through the diagnosis and provides individualized recommendations: specialized trauma therapy options, emotional regulation strategies, relationship support resources, and next steps tailored to your healing process.
Comorbidity screening is built into the evaluation structure, not added on as an afterthought. The clinical interview covers mood, attention, dissociation, and behavioral patterns, while the testing battery includes measures that flag co-occurring conditions such as depression, anxiety, ADHD, and executive dysfunction. If findings suggest a broader concern, the psychologist discusses whether expanding to a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation is warranted.
C-PTSD is diagnosed through a clinical process that integrates a detailed trauma history, self-report measures, behavioral observations, and normed assessment tools. Testing at Core Spring Diagnostics adds an objective layer to the diagnostic picture by measuring cognitive and executive function, mood, and behavioral patterns against established norms. This multi-method approach makes the diagnosis more defensible and the recommendations more specific.
Yes. The written report produced at the end of every evaluation is formatted to be usable in legal contexts, including personal injury cases, custody proceedings, and disability determinations. The report documents clinical findings, diagnostic conclusions, and functional limitations in a format that attorneys and courts recognize. If specific questions need to be addressed, the psychologist can discuss this during the intake or feedback process.
Many adults seeking evaluation later in life describe years of unexplained emotional struggles, failed treatment attempts, or recent life events that brought earlier trauma to the surface. Some have been previously diagnosed with depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder without finding the explanation fully satisfying. A thorough evaluation can reframe the clinical picture and open the door to treatments and supports that are better matched to what is actually present.
The clinical interview is designed to be comprehensive, and the psychologist will guide the conversation. It helps to be prepared to discuss your trauma history, when symptoms began, how they affect your daily life, any prior diagnoses or treatments, and the specific concerns that prompted you to seek an evaluation. You do not need to have everything organized in advance; the psychologist will ask targeted questions to gather the information needed.
Yes. Core Spring Diagnostics works with individuals from Cedarburg and the surrounding Ozaukee County area for complex trauma evaluations. The evaluation process is the same for every client: one psychologist, gold-standard tools, built-in comorbidity screening, and a detailed report with individualized recommendations.
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