COUN 6910 - Crisis and Trauma Counseling

The purpose of this course is to provide students with a solid foundation in the theory and treatment of psychiatric crises and emergencies. The course will address various dynamics involved in a psychiatric crisis, including but not limited to; concept of disequilibrium relating to overwhelmed defenses and coping skills, effects of psychosocial stressors, resiliency, and the effects of various symptoms and diagnoses. Fundamentals of trauma and trauma-causing events and their impact upon crisis intervention work will be examined. The course will examine the differences and similarities of emergencies as opposed to crises. All aspects of psychiatric emergencies will be examined: Emergency assessments and interventions, techniques of lethality assessment, risk factors such as substance abuse, violence history, demographic profile, cultural factors and the presence of mental illness. Differential assessment regarding the various aspects and levels of professional mental health response will be reviewed, including the use of Psychological First Aid, suicide prevention, stabilization, and immediate psychiatric crisis response. Credits: 3