The Scripto-Trauma Genogram: An Innovative Technique for Working with Trauma Survivors' Intrusive Memories

This article focuses on how to construct the Scripto-Trauma Genogram and how to use it with trauma survivors who struggle with intrusive memories. Clients develop Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after a traumatic event, based upon personal factors, predisposing factors, peridisposing factors, postdisposing factors and resiliency factors. Clients with ASD or PTSD, as well as trauma survivors who do not quite meet all the diagnostic criteria for ASD or PTSD, often report struggling with intrusive memories, which are believed to be brief sensory fragments of the traumatic event and are experienced as intensely as they were during the traumatic event. [Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention 6:36–51 (2006)]