Understanding Trauma

Catalog description

In this elective, students will learn the conceptualization of trauma from cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic and attachment theory perspectives; neuroscience findings that explain the impact of trauma on brain development will be included. Students will be expected to differentiate between different types of trauma, to identify the impact of trauma on adults and to understand the role of gender, race, ethnicity and culture on individuals’ responses to trauma. In the second part of the course, students learn to apply diagnosis, assessment, psychoeducation, stress management and affect regulation, and emotional processing (systematic desensitization, exposure, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing [EMDR], and narration) as core treatment components. The course will include the applications of trauma therapy to selected groups, including adult survivors of complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) such as sexual abuse, combat trauma, and survivors of acute incident trauma.