Course Summary
Practice Level: Intermediate
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:
To cope with the stress and anxiety of exposure to traumatic experiences, people develop coping mechanisms to help them feel better. Sometimes these coping strategies involve unhealthy and maladaptive behaviors. Psychological coping mechanisms may lead to developing psychological disorders, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. An individual may feel unsafe, suspicious, betrayed, and vulnerable. A person may exhibit strong emotional reactions, such as anger, aggression, shame, numbing, or isolation.
This learning material provides social workers, psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and counselors with the information necessary to better help both their child and adult clients with trauma histories. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing and understanding common responses to trauma, signs and symptoms of trauma, trauma-related and co-occurring disorders, and cultural considerations when involved in trauma work.
Course Format
This course contains downloadable online lessons (PDF) and a practice test. When you’re ready, purchase the course by clicking the “Add To Cart” or “Enroll” button. This will let you take the test, complete the course evaluation and receive your certificate for CE credits.
Learning Objectives
- Explain common responses to traumatic experiences.
- Identify signs and symptoms of trauma.
- Describe trauma-related psychological disorders and co-occurring problems.
- Recognize cultural considerations in trauma care.
- Differentiate factors that contribute to cultural trauma among specific cultural groups.
Course Syllabus
- Introduction
- Common Responses to Traumatic Experiences
- Fight
- Flight
- Freeze
- Fawn
- Flop
- Signs and Symptoms of Trauma
- Triggers and Memories
- Dissociation
- Emotional Reactions
- Cognitive Reactions
- Challenges to Established Belief Systems/Cultural Assumptions
- Arousal and Reactivity Changes
- Re-Experiencing
- Avoidance
- Negative Changes in Cognition and Mood
- Trauma-Related Psychological Disorders
- Reactive Attachment Disorder
- Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
- Acute Stress Disorder
- Adjustment Disorders
- Prolonged Grief Disorder
- Specified and Unspecified Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders
- Other Trauma-Related and Co-Occurring Problems
- Suicide
- Substance Use
- Anger and Violence
- Physical Health Problems
- Neurocognitive Problems
- Cultural Considerations
- Cultural Trauma and Related Concepts
- Minority Stress Theory
- Factors Associated with Cultural Trauma Among Specific Cultural Groups
- Summary
- Resources
- References
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 2 clinical continuing education credits.
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.
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.
Level Education Group, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0835.
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.
