Trauma and Attachment Belief Scale (TABS)

Purpose: Assess long-term impact of trauma

Age: 9+ years

Time: 10-20 minutes

The Trauma and Attachment Belief Scale (TABS) assesses the long-lasting psychological impact of traumatic life events. The TABS helps you design the most effective therapeutic approach for individual trauma survivors as well as important themes that characterise the client’s relationships—often including the therapeutic relationship.

Composed of 84 items, the TABS is a self-report measure. It assesses beliefs—about self and others—that are related to five needs commonly affected by traumatic experience:

1. Safety
2. Trust
3. Esteem
4. Intimacy
5. Control

For each of these dimensions, the TABS produces 10 scale scores reflecting “beliefs about self” and “beliefs about others.” A Total Score is also provided.

Because the effects of trauma are so pervasive—often involving defences, coping styles, view of self and others, ego resources, psychological needs, worldview, and identity—the TABS has a wide range of clinical applications.

It can be used even when a client does not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD since it addresses issues that frequently come up in therapy for other problems. Items do not focus on trauma-related symptoms per se, but rather on an individual’s relationship history. They do not stigmatise, making the TABS helpful in any therapeutic endeavour that is focused on relationship disruptions.