Course Summary

Practice Level: Beginner

Series Overview: This course is part of a 3-course series on Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care

Traumatic experiences are common and take varied forms. Trauma occurs in a range of contexts—from exposure to natural disasters or combat to being a first responder and/or a victim of interpersonal violence. This series provides information that clinicians can use to improve their recognition and understanding of trauma and improve the help seeking experiences of trauma victims. Recovery from trauma exposure is possible and this series details trauma and trauma-informed care in behavioral health services so that programs and interventions can best meet the needs of trauma survivors. The courses in this Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care series are:

Clinicians in the behavioral health field often come in contact with clients who have histories of trauma. There is not a one-size-fits-all description of trauma that applies to all individuals. Instead, traumatic experiences come in different forms and reactions to those experiences vary between people. Seeking help for traumatic events is further complicated by the stigmas associated with having psychosocial difficulties post trauma; by the often humiliating, shaming, or terrorizing nature of the experience; and, in certain cases, by concerns about possible interactions with the criminal justice system as a result of seeking help. Healthcare and human service organizations, behavioral health clinicians, and professionals from other fields can use trauma-informed principles to help create settings and treatments that are sensitive to the likelihood and sequelae of trauma exposure. Trauma-specific care helps clinicians understand what trauma is, differentiate among the various types of trauma, and recognize the developmental effects that can occur as a result of trauma. This learning material can help clinicians better understand the influence of trauma and its sequelae.

Social workers, psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and counselors can help their clients address reactions to negative life events by becoming familiar with the principles of trauma-informed care. Additionally, clinicians trained in trauma-informed care can learn trauma-specific skills and techniques that help clients recognize triggers and manage their emotional and physical symptoms with various coping strategies. Initially, clients often find it challenging to manage their lives after a traumatic event or series of events and trauma-informed clinicians have a vital role to play in this recovery process. A list of additional resources is provided at the end of the learning material.

Course Format

This course contains downloadable online lessons (PDF) and a practice test.

Learning Objectives

  1. Define trauma and trauma-informed care.
  2. Classify types of trauma.
  3. Recognize cultural considerations in trauma and trauma-informed care.
  4. Explain the possible developmental and neurobiological effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and other traumas.

Course Syllabus

  • Introduction
  • Trauma-Informed Care
    • What is Trauma?
    • Principles of Trauma-Informed Care
    • Overview of Trauma-Specific Interventions
    • Trauma-Informed Care in Behavioral Health Services
  • Traumatic Experiences
    • Types of Traumatic Events and Experiences               
    • Cultural Considerations: Intergenerational and Historical Trauma
  • Developmental Effects of Trauma
    • Adverse Childhood Experiences
    • Neurobiological Effects of Childhood Trauma
  • Summary

Author

Teresa Crowe, PhD, LICSW

Teresa Crowe, PhD, LICSW is a licensed clinical social worker in the District of Columbia and Maryland. She is a professor of social work at Gallaudet University and teaches practice, theory, and research in the MSW program. Her recent research focuses on deaf and hard of hearing populations, especially in the areas of behavioral health, intimate partner violence, telemental health, well-being, and help-seeking.

Accreditation Approval Statements

CE4Less.com is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. CE4Less.com maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

CE4Less.com, provider #1115, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 8/8/24-8/8/27.

Social workers completing this course receive 1 clinical continuing education credit.

This course has been approved by CE4Less.com, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits. NAADAC Provider #91345, CE4Less.com is responsible for all aspects of the programing.

NBCC

CE4Less.com has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6991. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CE4Less.com is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

We are committed to providing our learners with unbiased information. CE4Less never accepts commercial support and our authors have no significant financial or other conflicts of interest pertaining to the material.