Trauma-Informed Care for a Military Sexual Assault Survivor
This case study examines "Suzy," a 28-year-old married female veteran with five years of military service who seeks treatment following an unreported sexual assault. Drawing on Ward's (1988) framework of psychological, behavioral, and interpersonal impacts of sexual assault, the paper documents Suzy's presenting symptoms—including anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and social withdrawal—and situates them within Maslow's hierarchy of needs. The paper evaluates her current cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) plan, identifies its limitations given unprocessed trauma, and recommends trauma-informed care as a foundational first step before resuming CBT. The role of religious community and social support in rebuilding her network is also discussed.
- Client Background and Presenting Concerns: Profile of Suzy, a veteran sexual assault survivor
- Psychological Impact of Sexual Assault: Ward's framework applied to Suzy's symptoms
- Current Treatment and Its Limitations: CBT plan reviewed; gaps in trauma processing identified
- Theoretical Framework: Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: Maslow's model explains Suzy's motivational regression
- Trauma-Informed Care as a Foundation for Treatment: Trauma-informed care proposed before resuming CBT
- Recommended Treatment Plan: Step-by-step plan integrating trauma care and CBT
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What makes this paper effective
- The paper grounds clinical observations in specific theoretical frameworks—Ward's (1988) three-category impact model and Maslow's hierarchy of needs—giving the case analysis an organized, evidence-based structure.
- It integrates the client's military cultural context meaningfully, explaining why Suzy did not report her assault and how that decision shaped her subsequent psychological trajectory.
- The recommended treatment plan flows logically from the critique of the current plan, moving from trauma processing to CBT rather than treating them as interchangeable.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates applied citation synthesis: rather than simply listing sources, each reference (Ward, Billette et al., Elliott et al.) is used to evaluate the client's specific symptoms or to justify a clinical recommendation. This shows the reader exactly why each source is relevant to Suzy's case.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with a detailed client profile, then maps Suzy's symptoms to Ward's impact categories. It transitions to critiquing the existing CBT plan before introducing Maslow's hierarchy as a broader motivational lens. The penultimate section argues for trauma-informed care as prerequisite groundwork, and the conclusion synthesizes these threads into a step-by-step treatment recommendation. The references follow APA format throughout.
Client Background and Presenting Concerns
The client "Suzy" in this case study is a 28-year-old married female with five years of military service. Because of her military background, she was trained and disciplined within a culture renowned for praising strength and abhorring weakness. The military code also centers on unity and mission, and soldiers who "betray" their fellow soldiers are seen as untrustworthy and risk being ostracized and marginalized. Because Suzy was sexually assaulted while serving, she did not report the assault, fearing it would lead to her being labeled a bad soldier. Instead, she attempted to cope with the trauma on her own.
In attempting to cope independently, Suzy developed depression, a loss of self-esteem and self-confidence, substance abuse problems, and anxiety. She has stated that she has no real support network now that she is out of the military. She is not close with her family, and her old friends all have families and jobs and do not offer much assistance. She has come seeking treatment both for her trauma as a sexual assault victim and for help with her substance abuse. She is a chain smoker—something she says she was not prior to her assault—and she has difficulty sitting still for more than a few seconds at a time.
References
Billette, V., Guay, S., & Marchand, A. (2008). Posttraumatic stress disorder and social support in female victims of sexual assault: The impact of spousal involvement on the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy. Behavior Modification, 32(6), 876–896.
Elliott, D. E., Bjelajac, P., Fallot, R. D., Markoff, L. S., & Reed, B. G. (2005). Trauma-informed or trauma-denied: Principles and implementation of trauma-informed services for women. Journal of Community Psychology, 33(4), 461–477.
Ward, C. (1988). The psychological impact of sexual assault: Case studies of adolescent victims. Singapore Medical Journal, 29(6), 619–623.
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