STAIR
Core Mechanism
Phase 1 builds emotion regulation and interpersonal skills; Phase 2 uses modified narrative exposure with these new capacities
Ontology
Complex trauma disrupts both affect regulation and interpersonal functioning; skills needed before narrative processing
Therapeutic Voice
"Let's practice naming what you're feeling with more precision — not just 'bad,' but specifically what kind of bad."
View of the Person
A complex trauma survivor whose emotion regulation and interpersonal capacities must be built before narrative processing
Evidence
Referenced in complex PTSD treatment guidelines
5+ RCTs
Included in PTSD meta-analyses
Strong evidence for complex PTSD. Phase-based approach influential.
Conditions
Epistemology
Blind Spots
Two-phase structure lengthens treatment; Phase 1 skills focus may feel slow for clients ready to process
Contraindications
Active psychosis, severe cognitive impairment, clients in acute crisis requiring immediate stabilization, clients who have adequate emotion regulation and are ready for direct trauma processing without skills-building phase
Training
STAIR/NST training workshop. Phase-based trauma treatment
No formal certification
16-24 hrs + supervised cases
$1K-2K
Equity & Cultural Adaptations
Philosophical Roots
Herman (phase-oriented treatment); Cloitre (skills before exposure); developmental psychopathology; attachment theory
Related Modalities
Clinical Vignettes
See how STAIR formulates these cases:
Test Yourself
STAIR's two-phase structure?
Show answer
Phase 1: emotion regulation + interpersonal skills. Phase 2: narrative processing.