3.3 Trauma – Events – Homeless and Gambling Harm Learning

Single Event (or type 1 trauma)

When a traumatic event happens unexpectedly and comes out of the blue. It is a single distressing event which is extreme enough to threaten the person’s emotional or physical security and can create a lasting impression on the person.

Complex Trauma (or type 2 trauma)

When traumatic events occur repeatedly and persistently over time and are difficult to escape from. This often occurs in close relationships, breaching trust and often (but not always) occurs at developmentally vulnerable times.

Type 1 trauma can happen at any age, at any time in your life. Type 2 trauma, usually, occurs when you are a child.

It is not uncommon for people to experience both types of trauma - if you have experienced Type 2 trauma you are statistically more likely to also experience Type 1 trauma.

Activity: Types of trauma

Click and drag the different situations to categorise them as either Type 1 or Type 2 trauma.