Crisis & Trauma: Identification, Assessment and Treatment for Acute and Prolonged Symptoms

In an age where trauma and tragedy is nearly becoming commonplace, clinicians must arm themselves with education and training in the management of crisis and trauma. This foundational course will provide a comprehensive overview of Trauma Theory, a review of the research on the management of crisis and trauma, and tools for best identifying, assessing and treating acute and prolonged symptoms associated with trauma.

This course is comprised of six articles and four audiotaped recordings (transcripts are provided). The first set of documents proffers definitions and descriptions of crisis and traumatic response including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Additionally, they note the roles played by a variety of responders during crisis. The second set of documents provides several frameworks for better understanding traumatic response and the implications for the development of PTSD and other symptoms. Dr. Bessel van der Kolk speaks about his groundbreaking neurobiological approach in an interview with Dr. David Van Nuys. Dr. Van Nuys also reflects on the influence of trauma on cognitive interpretation and human experience in his interview with Pat Ogden. Measures available for the assessment and treatment of acute and long-term symptoms associated with traumatic experience are summarized in the final set of documents. Additional resources and references are provided for further study, but they are not part of the course.

Disclaimer: This course is purely educational and does not intend to serve as a license (or permission) to mental health professionals to prescribe or practice any of the approaches discussed in this course unless they fall within the scope of practice of your profession. Check with your licensing board about the scope of practice of your profession to make sure you practice within that scope.It also does not serve as a permission to title yourself in any specific way.