Advanced Studies in Community & Trauma Counseling

Foundations of Trauma Counseling provides an understanding of the phenomena of trauma and human responses, treatment, and recovery. Discussion includes identifying major types of trauma, effects, assessment, and a survey of clinical interventions. The neurobiology of trauma and responses is explored, with attention to its relevence to understanding response behaviors and treatment.

Neurobiology of Trauma provides an understanding of the neurobiological processes involved in trauma experiencing, processing, and post-trauma adaptation. Study includes affective neuroscience, arousal modulation, memory processes involved in trauma experiences, executive functioning, and post-trauma adaptation of these and other areas and processes. Discussion examines application of neuroscience to understanding trauma experiencing and treatment.

This course provides a detailed examination of clinical interventions for treating posttraumatic stress disorder. Specific study includes trauma-focused cognitive behavioral treatment of adults and children, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, dialectical behavior therapy, body-oriented therapy, and expressive group processes. Discussion examines evidence-based practices and evaluation of therapeutic interventions.

This course provides an understanding of the environmental factors that contribute to and constitute adverse childhood experiences, and the effects on children's development and subsequent behavior. Discussion will include attachment theory and the influence of attachment on development, historical and contemporary research on adverse childhood experiences and subsequent mental health and illness, and an overview of prevention and intervention, and treatment.

This course will provide students with primarily utilize case-based simulation learning as the pedagogy. Discussion of the theory behind trauma-informed evidenced-based practices will occur to ensure students have an understanding of the core trauma-informed evidenced based practices used in the field of counseling. Students will engage in case-based learning to practice the clinical skills necessary to carry out evidence-based practice components to various trauma-based case studies, including crisis intervention skills. Psychological First Aid learning will take place through an experiential learning activity.