We provide comprehensive assessments for complex trauma presentations, often referred to as Complex post-traumatic stress disorder, in children, teens, and adults. CPTSD can develop from ongoing or repeated trauma and may significantly affect emotional regulation, self-perception, and interpersonal functioning. You do not need a referral to schedule.
Our evaluations provide an in-depth understanding of trauma-related symptoms associated with prolonged or repeated exposure to distressing experiences. One psychologist owns the process, opening with a cognitive and executive function baseline, then focusing on emotional dysregulation, persistent shame, negative self-concept, interpersonal difficulties, hypervigilance, and their impact on daily functioning and relationships. For Waukesha families, the assessment is individualized and boutique, with no rigid timelines or fixed session counts, paced around each client's specific concerns.
Prolonged trauma may manifest as 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.
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.
Both C-PTSD and ADHD can produce attention difficulties, impulsivity, and executive function challenges. At Core Spring Diagnostics, cognitive and executive function testing is conducted as a baseline for every evaluation, and the clinical interview explores trauma history and developmental patterns in depth. This combination makes it possible to distinguish between primary ADHD and attention difficulties driven by chronic trauma, which have different treatment implications.
Complex trauma affects multiple systems simultaneously: mood, cognition, attention, relationships, and physical health. A standalone C-PTSD evaluation captures the trauma-specific findings but may not fully account for how trauma has shaped executive function, learning, or emotional regulation. The comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation is structured to address the full scope of these effects, giving you a more complete and actionable clinical picture.
The report includes a detailed account of clinical findings, any diagnoses reached, cognitive and executive function results, and individualized recommendations. The recommendations are specific to your situation and may address trauma-focused therapy, co-occurring conditions, accommodations, and strategies for daily life. The report is written to be usable by therapists, employers, and other care providers.
Yes. While C-PTSD presentations in younger individuals differ from adult presentations, the evaluation process at Core Spring Diagnostics is adapted for age and developmental stage. Children and teens who have experienced prolonged trauma may show symptoms including emotional dysregulation, school difficulties, relational challenges, and somatic complaints. A thorough evaluation can clarify what is happening and guide appropriate support.
The length of the evaluation depends on the complexity of the presentation and whether comorbidity screening expands the scope. Most evaluations involve a clinical interview session followed by one or more testing sessions. If the psychologist recommends expanding to a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation based on initial findings, additional time may be needed. Pacing is structured around producing accurate, thorough results rather than hitting a fixed session count.
Yes. Core Spring Diagnostics serves individuals from Waukesha and surrounding communities who are seeking clarity about complex trauma symptoms. One psychologist oversees every aspect of the evaluation, from the clinical interview through the final report and feedback session, providing continuity throughout the entire process.
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