Trauma is often defined as a sudden, overwhelming, life-threatening experience that induces experiences of powerlessness, often leading to lasting, disturbing memories, a pendulum effect of hyperarousal and numbness, and disruptions in relationships. Generally, the field of traumatology has focused primarily on the effects of traumatic events on the mental health of affected individuals. Yet, recent research discoveries have both expanded and deepened our understanding of the far-reaching effects that traumatic events have on couples and families. Two different philosophies guide the literature in couple and family therapy with trauma survivors. The first rationale for using couple and family therapy approaches is based on the recognition that trauma-related effects directly and indirectly influence relationships within families. The focus of these systems-based and developmental methods is to ...