Trauma & Dissociation

Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACE‑Q)

What this looks at

This measure asks about exposure to certain stressful or adverse experiences during childhood, such as abuse, neglect, or household instability.

You may want to take this if you:

• Experienced significant stress, trauma, or instability while growing up
• Are curious whether early life experiences may relate to current patterns

You may choose to skip this if:

You are not ready to reflect on early life experiences, or you prefer to focus only on current symptoms. This measure tracks exposure history only. It does not diagnose trauma-related conditions.

PCL-5 (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5)

What this looks at

The PCL-5 measures symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) over the past month, including intrusive memories, avoidance, negative mood changes, and hyperarousal.

You may want to take this if you:

• Have experienced a specific traumatic event
• Experience flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive thoughts
• Avoid reminders of a past event
• Feel constantly on guard or easily startled

You may not need this if:

You have not experienced a clearly traumatic event, or your symptoms are more related to chronic relational trauma without a single index event (see International Trauma Questionnaire).

This measure focuses on DSM-5 PTSD criteria.

International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ)

What this looks at

The ITQ assesses symptoms of PTSD and Complex PTSD (C-PTSD), including emotional dysregulation, negative self-concept, and interpersonal disturbances following prolonged or repeated trauma.

You may want to take this if you:

• Experienced chronic childhood abuse, neglect, or coercive control
• Struggle with persistent shame or feelings of worthlessness
• Have long-standing relational difficulties tied to trauma
• Feel your symptoms go beyond classic PTSD

You may not need this if:

Your trauma exposure was a single isolated event without broader relational impact.

This measure captures both standard PTSD and complex trauma patterns.

International Trauma Questionnaire – Child Version

What this looks at

This measure evaluates PTSD and Complex PTSD symptoms in children and adolescents.

You may want this completed if:

• A child has experienced trauma
• There are behavioral, emotional, or relational changes following adverse events
• You are seeking a structured child trauma assessment

You may not need this if:

There is no known trauma exposure.

Trauma Recovery Measure

What this looks at

This measure evaluates trauma-related symptoms across multiple domains, including affect regulation, self-perception, and interpersonal functioning.

You may want to take this if you:

• Want a broader understanding of trauma impact beyond core PTSD symptoms
• Are already aware of trauma history and want deeper assessment
• Are monitoring trauma recovery over time

You may not need this if:

You are only looking for a brief PTSD screening tool.

This is a more comprehensive trauma impact measure.

Life Events Checklist for DSM-5 (LEC-5)

What this looks at

The LEC-5 identifies exposure to potentially traumatic events across your lifetime.

You may want to take this if you:

• Are unsure whether certain experiences qualify as traumatic
• Want to document lifetime exposure history
• Are preparing to complete a trauma symptom measure like the PCL-5

You may not need this if:

You are already focused on one clearly identified traumatic event.

This measure assesses exposure only, not symptoms.

MID-60 (Multidimensional Inventory of Dissociation – 60 Item)

What this looks at

The MID-60 evaluates dissociative symptoms such as depersonalization, derealization, identity disturbance, amnesia, and internal voice experiences.

You may want to take this if you:

• Frequently feel detached from your body or surroundings
• Experience memory gaps not explained by ordinary forgetfulness
• Feel as though different parts of you operate independently
• Have a history of chronic trauma

You may not need this if:

You do not experience dissociative symptoms.

This is a detailed dissociation assessment and is more comprehensive than brief screeners.

Dissociative Experiences Scale – II (DES-II)

What this looks at

The DES-II screens for dissociative experiences such as absorption, depersonalization, derealization, and amnesia.

You may want to take this if you:

• Feel disconnected from yourself or your surroundings
• “Lose time” or have gaps in memory
• Want a brief screening before taking a more detailed measure like the MID-60

You may not need this if:

Dissociation is not a concern.

This is a shorter screening tool compared to the MID-60.

Benevolent Childhood Experiences (BCEs) Scale

What this looks at

This measure assesses positive and protective experiences during childhood, such as supportive relationships and feelings of safety.

You may want to take this if you:

• Want a balanced understanding of early life experiences
• Are exploring resilience factors alongside trauma history

This measure focuses on protective experiences rather than adversity.

Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) Scale

What this looks at

This measure evaluates nurturing, supportive, and relationally positive experiences in early life.

You may want to take this if you:

• Are exploring how early protective experiences may influence resilience
• Want to balance adversity measures such as ACE-Q

This measure complements trauma history tools by identifying strengths.