Why did Susan shift topics away from Carly's discussion of her return home and daily management?

• A. Clinical social workers avoid overcoming repression in fragile clients.
• B. It's essential to explore all traumatic memories first.
• C. Trauma recall is always safe.
• D. The client must discuss all memories.

Answer: (A)

Trauma-informed practice centers on safety, stabilization, and pacing. When working with someone who has experienced trauma, you don’t push them to relive or reveal all traumatic memories at once. Shifting away from Carly’s discussion about returning home and daily management shows the clinician prioritizing the client’s current ability to cope and stay grounded before delving into painful experiences.

The best answer reflects this idea: clinicians avoid forcing the process of overcoming repression in fragile clients. By not insisting on uncovering repressed memories and by focusing on present functioning, the therapist protects the client from overwhelm and builds a stable foundation for future processing when readiness exists.

Options that imply all traumatic memories must be explored first, or that trauma recall is always safe, or that the client must discuss every memory, don’t align with trauma-informed care and safety planning.