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Purpose Research and anecdotal clinical work indicate that complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) in families that have children and adults who have a learning disability and/or are autistic may be prevalent. This paper aims to provide a preliminary formulation of complex trauma in families. Design/methodology/approach This report is based on a review of clinical psychotherapeutic work with six families. The themes are derived from the assessment period through examining the assessment reports and clinical supervision notes for thematic patterns. Findings This report suggests that the prevalence of CPTSD in families of people who have a learning disability and/or are autistic needs to be researched across the family lifecycle and that there are specific factors that mediate complex trauma symptomatology. Originality/value CPTSD symptomatology in these families is inadequately conceptualised and this is one of the first papers suggesting this as a potentially helpful framework to consider the experiences of families.