Phase based treatment has long been endorsed by clinicians of complex, as distinct from standard (`single-incident’) PTSD. Consisting of three stages, which are not strictly linear, the rationale is that initial focus on affect regulation, improved functioning and self-care assists stabilization and thereby the ability to process traumatic experience and memories. This session introduces the phased therapy approach to treatment of complex trauma. It addresses the issues to which it gives rise, including criticisms of it, delineates the three phases, and how they apply in clinical context.