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Clinical Assessment Tools

Pre-Session Screenings

Five screening instruments ~ 8 downloadable PDFs for clinical intake and treatment planning. Each screening includes a client questionnaire and where applicable, a separate clinician scoring sheet.

About These Screenings

These five instruments (8 downloadable PDFs) are designed for use by licensed clinicians as part of a comprehensive clinical intake. Most PDFs are formatted at half-letter size (5.5" × 8.5") for readability on both mobile devices and paper. They print cleanly on standard letter paper (centered). Where applicable, client questionnaires contain no scoring information ~ scoring keys and interpretation guidelines are on the separate clinician sheets.

Adult Attachment Questionnaire
Levine & Heller

39-item self-report questionnaire identifying adult attachment patterns (Secure, Anxious, Avoidant). Clients check statements that apply to them across three categories.

39 itemsA/B/C checkbox formatHalf-letter (5.5" × 8.5")

Excerpted from Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find ~ and Keep ~ Love (2010)

Client Questionnaire

For the client to complete

Self-report form with response options. No scoring information visible.

Clinician Scoring Sheet

For the clinician only

Scoring key with style descriptions, Brennan & Clark/Shaver dimensional framework, and interpretation guidelines.

Dissociative Experiences Scale II (DES-II)
Carlson & Putnam

28-item self-report screening for dissociative experiences. Clients rate how often each experience happens to them on a 0–100% scale. Color-coded by factor (Amnesia, Absorption/Imaginative, Depersonalization/Derealization).

28 items0–100% circle responseHalf-letter (5.5" × 8.5")

Eve Bernstein Carlson, Ph.D. & Frank W. Putnam, M.D. (1986, revised 1993)

Client Questionnaire

For the client to complete

Self-report form with response options. No scoring information visible.

Clinician Scoring Sheet

For the clinician only

Factor key, scoring formula, clinical interpretation ranges (normal, elevated, significant), and scoring worksheet.

Sensitivity Questionnaire
Aron (1997) / Richey (1999)

25-item questionnaire measuring nervous system sensitivity on a 1–7 Likert scale. Helps identify clients with heightened sensory processing who may need modified pacing in trauma work.

25 items1–7 Likert scaleHalf-letter (5.5" × 8.5")

Derived from Elaine Aron's HSP Questionnaire (1997) and David Richey's Holistic Inventory of Stimulus Sensitivities Questionnaire (1999)

Client Questionnaire

For the client to complete

Self-report form with response options. No scoring information visible.

International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ)
Cloitre, Shevlin, Brewin, Bisson, Roberts, Maercker, Karatzias, & Hyland (2018)

Brief self-report measure of ICD-11 PTSD and Complex PTSD (CPTSD). 18 items on a 0–4 Likert scale ("Not at all" to "Extremely"). PTSD items cover re-experiencing in the here and now (P1–P2), avoidance (P3–P4), and sense of current threat (P5–P6). CPTSD adds Disturbances in Self-Organization (DSO): affective dysregulation (C1–C2), negative self-concept (C3–C4), and disturbances in relationships (C5–C6). Functional impairment items for both PTSD (P7–P9) and DSO (C7–C9).

18 items · 4-page clinician packet0–4 Likert scaleLetter (8.5" × 11")

Developed to align with ICD-11 diagnostic criteria (WHO). Freely available in the public domain. Published in Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. DOI: 10.1111/acps.12956

ITQ Clinician Scoring Packet

4 pages · Directions, scoring sheet & client questionnaire

Four-page clinician packet: scoring directions, a diagnostic and dimensional scoring sheet, and the two-page client questionnaire. Apply the ≥ 2 endorsement rule, score PTSD and DSO impairment separately, then document the provisional self-report result within the broader clinical, differential-diagnostic, functional, and safety assessment.

C-SSRS ~ Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (Since Last Contact)
The Columbia Lighthouse Project (Posner et al., 2011)

Two versions of the C-SSRS 'Since Last Contact' form. The Screener (1 page) is a quick 6-question branching tool with color-coded triage points (green/yellow/red) for rapid risk stratification. The Full Version (3 pages) adds intensity of ideation ratings (frequency, duration, controllability, deterrents, reasons), suicidal behavior assessment (actual attempts, interrupted/aborted attempts, preparatory acts), and medical lethality scoring.

6 items (Screener) / 3 pages (Full)Yes/No branching + Likert intensity scalesLetter (8.5" × 11")

Developed by Columbia University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Pittsburgh. Public domain screening tool endorsed by FDA, CDC, WHO, and VA/DoD. Two versions provided: a 1-page Screener with color-coded triage points, and the full 3-page clinical version with intensity ratings and behavior assessment.

C-SSRS Screener ~ Since Last Contact

1 page · Color-coded triage points (green/yellow/red)

Self-report form with response options. No scoring information visible.

C-SSRS Full Version ~ Since Last Contact

3 pages · Intensity ratings + behavior assessment

Screener: Hand to client or read aloud. Questions 1–2 gate the rest ~ if both are 'No,' skip to Q6 (behavior). If either is 'Yes,' continue through 3–5 to establish severity. Triage: Green = low, Yellow = moderate, Red = high/immediate evaluation needed. Full Version: Use for comprehensive documentation, treatment planning, and when the screener flags moderate-to-high risk. Includes intensity subscale and behavior history.

Printing Tips

All PDFs are formatted at half-letter size (5.5" × 8.5") for optimal readability on phones and tablets. When printing, select "Actual Size" or "100%" in your print dialog ~ the content will center on standard letter paper with generous margins. For best results, print client questionnaires single-sided so clients can write comfortably.

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Pre-Session Screenings ~ Page summary

Browse the pre-session screening resources and clinician materials. Each resource includes a description, with PDF viewing and downloading where available.

Browse Trauma Essentials · Clinical resources