Trauma

Trauma is any experience that overwhelms an individual's (or a group's) capacity to cope. It can result in specific symptoms of psychological or emotional distress, or it can affect many aspects of the person's life over time. Trauma is at the extreme end of the scale, requiring a more intensive intervention.   

The National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) defines trauma as the personal experience of interpersonal violence, including sexual abuse, physical abuse, severe neglect, loss, and/or witnessing violence, terrorism, and disasters.