Doctor of Clinical Psychology (California), Trauma Psychology

This course provides an understanding of the psychobiology and neurobiology of trauma and how to work with trauma within a neurobiological framework. Conceptual distinctions will be made between developmental trauma and shock trauma and guidance will be provided regarding how to address different kinds of symptom presentations from within a neurobiological treatment perspective. Topics covered include: trauma and the brain, traumatic memory, poly vagal theory, interpersonal neurobiology and neural integration, the window of tolerance; hyper vs. hypotonic trauma responses; trauma release processes; phase-oriented treatment; establishing mindfulness; stabilization and resourcing; the developing brain and developmental trauma; neuro-dynamics of attachment; attachment injuries and attachment repair; and models of understanding and treating dissociation and fragmentation.

This course enables students to recognize the signs and symptoms associated with vicarious trauma. Students will identify the potential impact of vicarious trauma on work performance and quality of life. Course readings will focus on the effects of vicarious trauma on health care providers. Teaching strategies will lead to articulating the role of awareness, balance, community, and connectedness in effective self-care. Students will create an effective, individualized plan for short-term/urgent self-care. Last, attendees will execute an effective, individualized lifestyle plan for ongoing self-care.

In this course, students learn about the various instruments they can use to screen clients and assess their degree and levels of traumatic symptoms. These measures include self-report or interview-based instruments such as the PTSD Checklist, Adverse Childhood Experiences, Brief Trauma Questionnaire, the UCLA Reaction Index, Upsetting Events Survey, among other relevant methods. Given the assessment procedures needed for diverse populations, such as children, Veterans or military personnel, refugees, linguistically and ability diverse individuals, individuals from an array of cultural and ethnic backgrounds, use of appropriate measures will be reviewed.

Trauma, violence, and racial and cultural hatred have been experienced by many in marginalized communities. These individuals have been directly impacted but survived and even thrived amid multiple, ongoing challenges. Socially disempowered individuals, families, and communities have encountered traumas and systemic injustices. Historical colonization and domination have led to intergenerational trauma. The importance of indigenous and historical, ancestral cultural practices will be discussed as sources of in-community strength and resilience. Lessons from diverse communities and our “serving community needs (SCN)” can be meaningful and effective sources of healing as community-defined evidence, or practice-based evidence which could eventually become evidence-based practices. This course provides a foundation for the sources of the above as well as research on practices contributing to healing.

In this course, students will come to understand the sources and psychological impact of trauma. The various types, sources and compounded impact of such traumas will be reviewed. Subsequently, there will be a review of trauma treatment approaches, including their development across time and context, their research foundation, and clinical applications. Finally, students will learn how to individually consult on trauma related issues, as well as how to work in a short-term, time-limited, team treatment setting utilizing effective treatment interventions such as EMDR, CBT, Prolonged Exposure Therapy, narrative approaches, and more.