Traumatology 1001

Course Description

Traumatology 1001 is the first of five (5) courses leading to the designation of "Certified Traumatologist" and/or the course that leads to the designation of "Field Traumatologist." We recognize that there is a breadth of both experience and training goals among the persons who take this course. This diversity presents a unique challenge to the designers and instructors of this course.
We have attempted to design this course with the minimum theoretical and interventional information for participants to be helpful to traumatized individuals, families and communities while, at once, stimulating and challenging the seasoned clinician. The following topics will be explored in a didactic, participatory and multimedia presentation:
History and purpose(s) of the Traumatology Institute (including certifications, trainings, site licenses, and disaster interventions)
Describe the development of traumatic stress studies
Identify the major symptoms of acute and chronic post-traumatic stress disorders, including possible implications for personality development
Discuss Terr's concept of Type I and Type II trauma and its possible significance for the diagnosis and treatment of trauma
Identify and describe at least eight common sources of traumatic reactions
Discuss some of the more recent hypotheses about how trauma may affect the brain and biological systems
Present the important ingredients to effective disaster traumatology including the Four Waves of Intervention (Figley, 1995).
Explore the process and theoretical active ingredients to individual disaster debriefing.
Discuss the phenomenon of Compassion Fatigue and present assessment, prevention and resiliency skills for this debilitating condition.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course students will be able to:

1   Understand the purposes and functions of the Traumatology Institute;
2   Be more aware of and be able to cite the highlights of the long history of the study of traumatized people and their recovery.
3   More sensitive to the multidisciplinary nature of the field with regard to the traumatology of law, medicine, journalism, education, as well as mental health
4   Understanding of the differences and similarities of Field Traumatology and Clinical Traumatology;
5   Appreciate the incidence and prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder among a variety of traumatized groups of people.
6   Understand and utilize the concept of trauma response vs. traumatic events.
7   Appreciate the role of the brain, nervous system, and other body systems in the processing of traumatic material and the implications for how people behave during and long after a critical incident.
8   Understand the role of traumatic experiences in the development of current symptoms and disorders.
9   Become knowledgeable about the four waves of traumatology intervention opportunities and the various goals for services.
10   Develop requisite knowledge and skills for intervention in disaster contexTx including: individual defusing/debriefing, individual posttraumatic stress prevention skills; group defusing/debriefing;
11   Develop understanding of the phenomenon of compassion fatigue as well as interventions for resilience and prevention

Schedule: T1001
Day 1

8:00 ­ 9:00am
Introductions of staff, course, Traumatology Institute, certificate programs and learning goals

9:00 - 9:30am
The Field of Traumatology (Field & Clinical)

9:30 - 9:45am
Break

9:45 - 10:30 am
What is Posttraumatic Stress?

10:30 - 11:15 am
Traumatic Events vs. Trauma Response

11:15 - Noon
Phenomenology of PTSD

Noon - 1:00 pm
Lunch

1:00 ­ 2:30 pm
Disaster Traumatology/Critical Incidents: Waves of Intervention

2:30 ­ 2:45 pm
Break

2:45 - 4:00 pm
Disaster Traumatology/Critical Incidents: Individual Defusing

4:00 ­ 5:30 pm
Disaster Traumatology: Individual Debriefing (Pt. 1: Didactic)

Day 2

8:00 ­ 8:30 am
Welcome, recap of learning goals, schedule

8:30 - 10:00 am
Disaster Traumatology/Critical Incidents: Individual Debriefing (Pt. 2: Skills Development)

10:00 ­ 10:15 am
Break

10:15 ­ Noon
Disaster Traumatology/Critical Incidents: Group Defusing/Group Debriefing (Pt. 1 ­ Didactic)

Noon ­ 1:00 pm
Lunch

1:15 ­ 3:00 pm
Disaster Traumatology/Critical Incidents: Group Defusing/Group Debriefing (Pt. 2 ­ Skills Development)

3:00 ­ 3:15 pm
Break

3:15 ­ 3:30 pm
Deployment Etiquette and The Chain of Command

3:30 ­ 5:00 pm
Compassion Fatigue: Prevention & Resiliency

5:00 ­ 5:30 pm
Review/Q&A/Closure