Crisis Interventions: Course Outline (APSY-4201)

1. The Effects of Trauma across the Developmental Spectrum

Describe the effects of trauma on the emotional, cognitive, neurological and physical human systems. Discuss neurophysiological and neurochemical changes and the efficacy of medication. Examine the short and long term effects of trauma across the life span(infancy, child, adolescent, adult). Identify the differences between normal grief and grief resulting from trauma.

2. Foundations and Models of Crisis Intervention Examine the history and evolution of Crisis Intervention and Trauma Response over the past century. Describe the different models and techniques currently used with different populations and discuss their effectiveness. Review the international psychosocial intervention programs and less on learned from these efforts.

3. Self-Care for Clinicians Treating Trauma
▪ Discuss secondary or vicarious traumatization among clinicians who work with trauma.

▪ Identify practical skills/methods for self-awareness/self-care.
4. Differences and Diversity in the Experience, Effects and Treatment of Trauma
▪ Examine how culture and ethnicity influence the experience, effects and treatment of trauma.
▪ Explore how pre-incident mental health and pre-existing mental health conditions (e.g. substance abuse, affective disorder) influence the experience, effects and treatment of trauma.

5. Responding to Disaster
▪ Describe different types of disaster including Natural Disaster and Terrorism.
▪ Discuss individual and Community Responses to Disasters.
▪ Examine the four phases of disaster response: mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.
 

6. Individual Treatment Approaches in Working with Trauma
▪ Delineate the different theories related to trauma work.
▪ Discuss the major approaches to trauma treatment, including their philosophical assumptions, strategies and techniques employed, and available outcome research.
7. Dealing with Trauma in the Muslim world
▪ Coping with The Persistent Trauma of Anti-Muslim Rhetoric and Violence
▪ PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).
▪ Psychosocial Problems of Refugees: Understanding and Addressing Needs.

1. Self-Care for Clinicians Treating Trauma

▪ Discuss secondary or vicarious traumatization among clinicians who work with trauma.

▪ Explore the issues of transference and counter transference as it pertains to working with trauma.

▪ Identify practical skills/methods for self-awareness/self-care

2. Differences and Diversity in the Experience, Effects and Treatment of Trauma

▪ Examine how culture and ethnicity influence the experience, effects and treatment of trauma.

▪ Explore how pre-incident mental health and pre-existing mental health conditions (e.g. substance abuse, affective disorder) influence the experience, effects and treatment of trauma.

▪ Identify special populations (e.g. Refugees, Children of War, etc.).

3. Responding to Disaster

▪ Describe different types of disaster including Natural Disaster and Terrorism.

▪ Discuss individual and Community Responses to Disasters.

▪ Examine the four phases of disaster response: mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.