Trauma Outcomes and Societal Response

Catalog description

This course provides students with an understanding of traumatic reactions to prepare professionals to respond to those suffering after a traumatic event compassionately and effectively, across clinical and non-clinical settings, so that interventions support prevention, resilience, and treatment. Common trauma outcomes will be discussed. Clinically, diagnosis and treatment options will be reviewed with an emphasis on crisis intervention and evidence-based treatments. Non-clinically, trauma-sensitive considerations and interventions will be discussed systemically, across families, communities, and the workplace. Legal and ethical issues surrounding trauma will be reviewed. The course will highlight protective and risk factors that increase/decrease traumatic reactions and review the experiences of posttraumatic growth and resiliency in the face of trauma. Students will understand the potential of shock, desensitization, burnout, vicarious trauma, and compassion fatigue among professionals and will be able to recognize the importance of professionals’ self-care.