PTSD CheckList - Civilian Version (PCL-C)
Assess Your Mental Health with the PCL-C Template
Experiencing distress after a traumatic event can leave you feeling overwhelmed and uncertain. This PCL-C template helps you accurately assess your PTSD symptoms to understand your emotional health and seek support where needed. With this tool, you can easily track changes in your mental state, identify potential triggers, and prepare for conversations with mental health professionals while ensuring compliance with relevant guidelines. Start using the live template today to take a positive step forward in your mental well-being.
When to use this form
Use this template during intake, post-incident check-ins, or routine reviews to screen adults for trauma symptoms. It fits primary care, college counseling, employee assistance, and telehealth. After a car crash, assault, disaster, or medical emergency, it gives you a baseline and a score you can trend over time. For broader context, pair it with the DSM-5 Level 1 cross-cutting symptom measure assessment form and the Mental health survey form. When grief is central to the story, add the Grief assessment form to separate loss reactions from trauma signs. The results help you triage, shape goals, and document progress.
Must Ask PTSD CheckList Civilian Version (PCL-C) Questions
- Over the past month, how often have you had unwanted memories of a very stressful event?
This gauges intrusion severity and gives you a clear baseline for tracking change. High frequency flags acute distress and helps you plan grounding and pacing.
- Over the past month, how often have you avoided thoughts, feelings, or places that remind you of the event?
Avoidance maintains symptoms and can block care. Knowing what you avoid helps you set exposure tasks that feel safe and doable.
- Over the past month, how much have sleep problems, irritability, or trouble concentrating bothered you?
These arousal symptoms affect safety, mood, and performance. If irritability is high, add the Anger management evaluation form to target triggers and coping.
- When you are reminded of the event, how strong are your physical reactions (for example, heart racing, sweating)?
Body cues reveal conditioned responses you can map and treat. Rating intensity helps you identify triggers and prepare brief interventions.
- How much have these problems interfered with your work, school, or relationships in the past month?
Impairment shows clinical need and supports referrals or accommodations. Use the Case conceptualisation form to turn this impact into concrete goals and a plan.
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