Our dedication to Racial Equality and Social Justice (RESJ) spans decades. Learn more about our RESJ Initiative

time exposed photo of headlights in urban center

Trauma Studies Concentration

  • Credits:
    9

Concentration Description

The master’s concentration in Trauma Studies provides professional training in crisis intervention and trauma treatment, education and prevention, leading to certification. The program has a strong commitment to educating compassionate, ethical and effective trauma specialists. The program emphasizes the role of trauma specialists in implementing trauma informed care across disciplines and utilizing community resources.

A Key Element in Your Counseling Degree. The Trauma Studies concentration provides an important area of knowledge for professionals who work with people suffering from trauma. The concentration is accepted in the following Cambridge College degree programs:

  • Mental Health Counseling
  • School Adjustment & Mental Health Counseling

Learning Outcomes

Students will gain knowledge of crisis, trauma, post-traumatic stress reactions, trauma-specific interventions and disaster mental health in multi-cultural settings. They can apply the learned skills in trauma assessment, counseling and treatment to effectively respond to immediate and long-term needs of survivors, including war veterans, survivors of child abuse, first responders, immigrants and refugees, as well as victims of crime, disasters, domestic violence, sex trafficking and torture.

Careers

Graduates will qualify to work in crisis response teams, provide trauma-informed care in community mental health, addiction treatment and rehabilitation programs in school settings and provide support for veterans, survivors of gender-based violence and refugees.

Curriculum

Take CCP 727 or CCP 729.

Post Traumatic Stress Reactions
CCP 724 • 3 credit(s)
This course focuses on addressing systemic and cultural aspects of diagnosis, assessment dynamics, and trauma treatment of, but not limited to, acute stress disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and complex PTSD, as well as dual diagnoses. The immediate and long-term effects of trauma on various populations will be explored.
Clinical Interventions for Combat Stress and Trauma
CCP 727 • 3 credit(s)
This course focuses on the multifaceted nature of combat stress and trauma (CST) and addresses its impact on military personnel and civilians exposed to war operations. It explores the historical, diagnostic, and therapeutic dimensions of CST, with special attention given to the effects of CST on veterans’ families. The emphasis is on diagnosis, treatment strategies, referral resources, and support systems, with insights and practical skills essential for those engaging with CST in various professional capacities.
Trauma Interventions in Schools
CCP 729 • 3 credit(s)
This course will explore the impact of trauma on a child/adolescent’s neurobiological development, relationships, behavior, learning, and academic performance. It will review various strategies to help traumatized children in schools as well as explore the role of the School Adjustment Counselor (SAC) in supporting those children and the staff that instruct them.
Trauma Specific Interventions
CCP 728 • 3 credit(s)
Students will learn about assumptions, principles and concepts of trauma-specific treatment approaches and trauma-informed care. Students will gain knowledge of theory and practice of psychological first aid, its application in disaster mental health, crisis intervention and crisis counseling. They will become familiar with major approaches in trauma treatment: individual and group trauma counseling, cognitive, behavioral, psychodynamic, and exposure therapies, psychopharmacological treatments, and newly emerging approaches. The acquired knowledge and skills can be applied in providing individual and group crisis intervention, brief trauma counseling and treatment of survivors of sexual abuse, war trauma, torture, disasters and workplace violence and other. The ethics of trauma work will be thoroughly covered. This course includes the fundamental occupational tasks of assessment, case presentation, case collaboration, team membership and client interaction.
Download Program Sheet