We provide individualized assessments for complex trauma presentations, often referred to as Complex post-traumatic stress disorder, in children, teens, and adults. One psychologist guides the entire process, exploring how ongoing or repeated trauma may affect emotional regulation, self-perception, and interpersonal functioning, so you leave with a clear picture. Getting started takes no referral and no doctor's note.
Our evaluations begin with a cognitive and executive function baseline, then build an in-depth understanding of trauma-related symptoms associated with prolonged or repeated exposure to distressing experiences. We focus on emotional dysregulation, persistent shame, negative self-concept, interpersonal difficulties, hypervigilance, and intrusive trauma-related symptoms, screening for any overlapping concerns that complete the picture. Because complex trauma rarely appears alone, this assessment often works best as part of a broader comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation, giving Appleton families one complete, individualized picture rather than a narrow snapshot.
Prolonged trauma may manifest as intense emotional reactions, difficulty trusting adults, behavioral regression, chronic anxiety, disrupted attachment patterns, or new difficulty with attention and academic engagement.
In teens, complex trauma often surfaces 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 adults, CPTSD often shows up as chronic emotional overwhelm, unstable relationships, persistent shame, avoidance of intimacy, hypervigilance, intrusive memories, or difficulty holding steady work and 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.
People seeking a C-PTSD evaluation often describe persistent emotional dysregulation, difficulty trusting others, a negative or distorted self-concept, chronic shame or guilt, dissociative episodes, and a sense of being fundamentally different from those around them. These symptoms typically trace back to prolonged or repeated trauma, often in childhood or within a long-term abusive relationship. An evaluation can confirm whether C-PTSD is present and identify any co-occurring conditions shaping the symptom picture.
The evaluation is paced around the individual, not a fixed session structure. Most evaluations begin with a clinical interview and progress to one or more testing sessions, with timing adjusted based on the complexity of the presentation. If the psychologist recommends a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation rather than a standalone C-PTSD assessment, the process may involve additional sessions to cover the broader scope of concerns.
Yes. The comprehensive written report produced at the end of every evaluation documents diagnostic findings and functional limitations in a format suitable for disability claims, workplace accommodation requests, and legal proceedings. The psychologist can also address specific functional questions relevant to your situation during the feedback session.
Yes. Dissociative symptoms are a recognized feature of complex trauma presentations, and Core Spring Diagnostics screens for them as part of the comorbidity screening built into every C-PTSD evaluation. If dissociation is a significant part of the clinical picture, the psychologist will factor that into the diagnostic conclusions and recommendations.
Recommendations are individualized based on evaluation findings. Evidence-based approaches commonly referenced for complex trauma include EMDR, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Internal Family Systems, and somatic therapies. The psychologist does not prescribe treatment but provides detailed recommendations that therapists can use to guide their approach. The goal is to give you and your care team a clear clinical foundation.
Yes. Core Spring Diagnostics works with individuals from Appleton and across northeastern Wisconsin who are seeking a thorough, evidence-based evaluation for complex trauma. One psychologist manages every step of the process, from the clinical interview through the feedback session and written report.
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