Assessment & Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

In this 7-credit hour course, students will learn about ways of thinking about the trauma induction and reduction process; how to consider the most appropriate assessment and diagnostic instruments; how resiliency and stress reactions are determined in part by the history and current social resources traumatized personality; how to classify the presenting symptoms of the traumatized and determine the best intervention approach from an array of approaches, and; the pitfalls to burnout and secondary trauma (compassion fatigue).

NOTE:  In registering for this course you will have access to its contents for 1 month starting from the registration date.  You must complete the course within 1 month.

Students who complete this course will have greater:

1. Knowledge of the continuum of post-traumatic stress responses and disorders from the perspective of trauma theory;
2. Awareness of the major symptoms of acute and chronic post-traumatic stress disorders, including possible implications for personality development;
3. Awareness of and be able to discuss how symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorders may be misdiagnosed;
4. Knowledge of at least five (5) instruments used to assess disorders associated with traumatic stress and discuss the potential merits and deficits of each;
5. Appreciation of the context of military-related stress and coping;
6. Knowledge of the utility of phase-oriented treatment with trauma survivors;
7. Knowledge of and competence in implementing at least three trauma treatment approaches;
8. Competence in helping clients to establish inter- and intrapersonal safety including self-soothing and symptom containment skills;
9. Effectiveness in comparing and contrasting six (6) treatments of PTSD, and;
10. Knowledge in discussing how the therapist may effectively employ the “self” as a tool for healing.