Trauma Counseling

PREREQUISITES:  CSL6782

UPON COMPLETION OF THE COURSE, THE STUDENT WILL BE COMPETENT IN:

• Knowledge of the historical context of trauma & core trauma concepts.
• Knowledge of the differences in various types of abuse and trauma, including physical, emotional & sexual abuse; domestic violence, experiences of war for combat veterans and survivors of war; natural disasters and community violence.
• Knowledge of symptoms & effects of trauma on children, adolescents & adults
• Knowledge of the varying effects that different types of trauma have on human development and the development of psychological and substance use issues.
• Knowledge of the nature and neurobiology of trauma & current neuroscience regarding how the brain processes traumatic experiences.
• Knowledge of the accepted methods of assessment for psychological trauma including diagnostic interviews and psychological tests to determine specific targets for treatment, & DSM-5 criteria.
• Knowledge of diagnostics involved in determination of other differential diagnoses related to traumatic experiences.
• Knowledge of how trauma affects diverse people throughout their lifespans, including with differing mental health problems, cognitive and physical disabilities, and substance use issues.
• Knowledge of the impact of trauma on diverse cultures with regard to the meaning various cultures attach to trauma and the attitudes they have towards behavioral health treatment.
• Knowledge of the Social-Ecological Model of Trauma & how it effects individuals.
• Understanding the effects of trauma on individual domains of functioning (cognitive, emotional, physical, spiritual, relational, and identity) and how they express stress reactions both behaviorally and psychologically.
• Knowledge & skills in screening and assessment of individuals’ trauma history including knowledge of and practice with specific screening tools, and ability to identify clients’ strengths, coping resources, and resilience.
• Knowledge of necessity to ensure physical and emotional safety of clients and to avoid confrontation of apparently unhealthy client behaviors that could trigger trauma symptoms or acute stress reactions.
• Knowledge of evidence-based treatment modalities, common factors, and emerging trends and training needed to deliver effective treatment for varying presentations of trauma.
• Knowledge of research, methodology, and goals of mindfulness-relevant trauma treatments & their use in reducing psychological symptoms of trauma survivors.
• Knowledge of ethics of trauma treatment & strategies to address secondary trauma and promote positive counselor self-care.
• Knowledge and skill in general trauma-informed counseling strategies, including grounding techniques that manage dissociative experiences, cognitive-behavioral tools that focus on anxiety reduction and distress tolerance, and stress management and relaxation tools that reduce hyperarousal.