Clinical Practice with Trauma Survivors

Catalog description

A high percentage of clients in outpatient treatment and a higher percentage of patients of inpatient hospitals report histories of trauma including neglect, abuse and/or attachment failure. In addition to being diagnosed with PTSD, this client population often presents as affectively dysregulated, chronically depressed, exhibiting symptoms of bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder or personality disorders. This course will help the students understand the symptoms, issues and neurological basis of traumatization and how to work with patients in an effective way. This course will introduce students to a wide variety of modalities to trauma treatment and interventions including safely exploring trauma- related somatic activation, mindfulness for symptom reduction, emotional processing, body- oriented therapy, cognitive behavior therapy (including cognitive restructuring), and art and creative therapies.