Therapist Development Center Exam 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

When a childhood abuse survivor exhibits agitation and becomes unresponsive during an evaluation, it is often indicative of re-experiencing past trauma. This re-experiencing can manifest as intense emotional distress in response to reminders or triggers related to the abuse. The agitation may stem from a sudden flood of memories or feelings that the client is struggling to process, leading to a fight-or-flight response, which can cause individuals to become overwhelmed and disengage from the present situation.

Survivors of trauma may sometimes dissociate as a coping mechanism, allowing them to escape the painful emotions connected to their experiences. Thus, the behavior of becoming unresponsive can be understood as a protective response to an overwhelming emotional state, rather than a sign of a psychotic episode or a disorder like multiple personality disorder. Additionally, while substance abuse can affect mood and behavior, the context primarily points towards the trauma response as the core issue in this scenario.