Mixed Deck — All TSS Topics Flashcards

The 'window of tolerance' concept helps specialists to:

Answer: Identify the arousal zone in which a person can process information effectively

Interventions aim to keep or return clients to the zone between hyperarousal and hypoarousal.

Human trafficking survivors require trauma-informed care that specifically addresses:

Answer: Coercive control, trauma bonding with traffickers, and barriers created by shame and fear of criminalization

Trafficking survivors often experience trauma bonding, shame, and fear of criminalization that create unique barriers requiring specialized, non-judgmental approaches.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) complicates trauma care because:

Answer: TBI can cause cognitive and emotional symptoms that overlap with and exacerbate PTSD symptoms

TBI and PTSD share overlapping symptoms — irritability, memory problems, emotional dysregulation — making differential diagnosis and treatment complex.

The concept of 'parallel process' in trauma supervision refers to:

Answer: Dynamics in the supervisory relationship that mirror those in the clinician-client relationship

Parallel process describes how relational dynamics in the client-clinician relationship can be unconsciously replicated in the supervisory relationship.

Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) is primarily designed to:

Answer: Prevent and mitigate the impact of traumatic stress on responders and survivors

CISM is a comprehensive, multi-component crisis intervention system designed to prevent and mitigate the psychological impact of traumatic stress.

Which statement best reflects trauma-informed use of restraint or seclusion?

Answer: It should be a last resort used only for imminent danger, with debriefing afterward

Restraint and seclusion can retraumatize and should be minimized and followed by review.

What is the role of oxygen therapy in trauma stabilization?

Answer: To maintain adequate oxygenation of tissues

Oxygen therapy in trauma stabilization is vital for maintaining adequate oxygenation of tissues throughout the body. Trauma can impair oxygen delivery due to blood loss, respiratory compromise, or shock, leading to cellular hypoxia. Supplemental oxygen helps ensure that vital organs receive sufficient oxygen, preventing further damage and supporting metabolic function during critical periods.

Co-regulation in trauma-informed care refers to:

Answer: A calm adult helping a dysregulated person regain regulation through their presence

Co-regulation uses a regulated caregiver's nervous system to help another person calm down.

A youth escalates, yelling and pacing. Which de-escalation response is most trauma-informed?

Answer: Using a calm, low voice and offering choices

A calm tone and choices restore a sense of control and reduce perceived threat.

Which document legally designates a person to make healthcare decisions for a trauma patient who is incapacitated?

Answer: Durable power of attorney for healthcare

A durable power of attorney for healthcare legally authorizes a designated person to make medical decisions when the patient cannot.

Medically complex trauma patients (e.g., with chronic pain or autoimmune conditions) require integrated care because:

Answer: Trauma and medical conditions bidirectionally worsen each other and require coordinated physical and psychological treatment

Trauma and chronic medical conditions have bidirectional relationships — each worsens the other — requiring integrated physical and psychological care.

Re-traumatization in clinical settings most commonly occurs when:

Answer: Patients feel powerless, unheard, or subjected to forced procedures without explanation

Re-traumatization occurs when clinical interactions replicate the power imbalance and loss of control central to the original trauma.

Which breathing technique is most commonly used to activate the parasympathetic response during an acute stress reaction?

Answer: Slow diaphragmatic breathing with a longer exhale

Slow belly breathing with extended exhalation engages the vagal calming response.

When providing support to a family from a collectivist cultural background after trauma, the specialist should:

Answer: Recognize that community and family decisions may take precedence over individual autonomy

In collectivist cultures, family and community roles in decision-making are central, and trauma support must respect this orientation.

What is the primary goal of crisis intervention in trauma-informed care?

Answer: Restore the individual to at least their pre-crisis level of functioning

Crisis intervention aims to stabilize the individual and restore them to at least their pre-crisis level of functioning, not to provide long-term therapy.

Trauma-informed care requires that physical environments be modified to:

Answer: Maximize perceived safety, privacy, and choice through layout, décor, and access design

Trauma-informed environments are designed with safety and choice in mind, using calming décor, clear exits, and private spaces.

What is the purpose of the secondary survey in trauma assessment?

Answer: It provides a comprehensive physical exam.

The purpose of the secondary survey in trauma assessment is to provide a comprehensive physical exam. This detailed, head-to-toe assessment is performed after life-threatening conditions have been addressed in the primary survey. It aims to identify all injuries, including those not immediately life-threatening, to ensure thorough care and guide definitive treatment.

Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy is contraindicated in trauma recovery when:

Answer: The patient lacks sufficient stabilization, is in active suicidal crisis, or is in an ongoing unsafe situation

PE requires a stable foundation — active suicidal crisis, insufficient coping skills, or ongoing danger are contraindications to beginning trauma exposure work.

An electronic health record (EHR) audit trail is important in trauma care because it:

Answer: Records every access and modification to patient records, supporting accountability

An EHR audit trail logs every access and change, creating accountability and a defensible legal record.

Adolescent trauma survivors differ from adults in trauma presentation primarily because:

Answer: Developmental tasks of identity formation and peer connection are disrupted, and risk-taking behaviors may increase

Adolescent trauma disrupts identity development and peer relationships, and may manifest as increased risk-taking, substance use, and defiant behavior.