Online Graduate Certificate in Practices in Trauma Recovery

This course builds on conceptual frameworks of human development, with emphasis on the biological, psychological, and environmental influences on social and emotional disturbances. The course will consider diagnosis and assessment within the framework of culture and life cycle changes. The student will acquire a working knowledge of the DSM-5 and its uses in identifying and classifying mental disorders. Students will also be encouraged to view these disorders within the context of the individual’s culture and environment. This course provides students with the Core Competencies and Related Behaviors for conducting assessment of human psychosocial functioning to inform culturally and socially sensitive social work interventions.

Course outcomes:

• Demonstrate social and psychological understanding of emotional and behavioral dysfunction.
• Recognize strengths as well as vulnerabilities in understanding emotional and behavioral dysfunction.
• Understand the differences between a nosology that is derived from human strengths and vulnerability and one that emphasizes “health” and “illness” in the pursuit of social justice in the provision of services.
• Consider ways in which gender, race, ethnicity, social class, sexual orientation, age, physical disability, and other variables contribute to people’s unique strengths and vulnerabilities.
• Understand the uses of classification systems, such as the DSM-5, and think critically about them through alternative perspectives.
• Assess an individual’s functioning within a multi-dimensional framework (biopsychosocial).
• Identify ethical concerns in making judgments about people’s competence.

This advanced standing bridge course is designed to provide advanced standing students with the knowledge base and skills needed for the advanced clinical curriculum courses: SW 630 Clinical Social Work Practice with Individuals, SW 633 Clinical Social Work Practice with Families, and SW 637 Field Instruction III & Seminar. It builds on the generalist social work practice perspective and focuses on the theoretical basis and skills needed to work effectively with individuals and families. Students explore the beginning, middle, and ending stages of practice and the skills needed for creative and effective use of self with individuals and families. Attention is given to ethnicity, race, gender, and sexual orientation. Students also develop knowledge of theory, including ecological, systems, individual and family life cycle, ego psychology, learning, and cognitive theories. Students are introduced to evidence-based practice and qualitative and quantitative methods of research and begin to critically analyze research to inform practice. Class discussions, experiential exercises, role plays, audio/ video recording, assigned readings, and written assignments are directed at integrating the theoretical generalist foundation and developing a range of skills.

Course outcomes:

• Demonstrate knowledge and critically evaluate the theories and models used by social work in understanding client systems.
• Demonstrate an understanding of assessment tools in social work practice (Biopsychosocial, Genogram, and Ecomap).
• Demonstrate ability to monitor interventions and evaluate effects of the interventions focusing on the use of supervision to evaluate one’s own practice.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the stages and skills needed in the rendering of social work service to individuals and families.
• Demonstrate continued development of a professional identity and the integration of social work values and ethics into practice.
• Demonstrate increasing skill in working with diverse populations and understanding the influence of diversity on the helping process.
• Demonstrate the ability to use research evidence to inform practice.

This course concentrates on the etiology and treatment of traumatic symptomatology. Students explore conditions that contribute to the development of acute stress disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, borderline personality disorder, dissociative disorders, and other disorders of extreme stress. Comorbid conditions, including substance abuse and self-harming behaviors, are considered. The intergenerational, socio-cultural, and societal impact of trauma is explored. A strengths-based approach is emphasized. Readings orient students to the assessment of trauma symptoms, as well as to some generally applicable treatment approaches, and to research on the psychobiology of trauma.

Course outcomes:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the factors that contribute to the development of traumatic symptomatology and stress disorders.
• Demonstrate integration of the knowledge needed to assess traumatic symptomatology.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the impact of trauma on psychobiology.
• Demonstrate a general understanding of a variety of treatment approaches, including the ability to incorporate unique client strengths and resources into chosen treatment approaches.
• Demonstrate the analytical skills needed to integrate theories into trauma treatment.
• Demonstrate the ability to make use of professional literature.
• Demonstrate an understanding of personal and professional strategies for minimizing the risks of vicarious traumatization.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the intergenerational, cultural, and societal impact of trauma.

Focusing on social work practice with families, this course expands systemic thinking by introducing multiple models for family work, including Psychodynamic, Bowen, Narrative, Communication, Contextual, Structural, and Solution-Focused, as well as newer models of family work such as Multidimensional Family Therapy. Using these models and their related theories, students will gain a solid foundation for assessment and intervention with families, knowledge of the family life cycle, and the impact of wider systems on a family’s structure and functioning. The definition of family will be inclusive of many different family forms. Students will examine how cultural issues such as class, race, ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation must be considered while assessing a family’s presenting issues, unique strengths, and vulnerabilities. Students will learn to think critically about the relevance of particular concepts and interventions for each family system, including whether certain “Western” concepts apply to all families.

Our program managers are here to assist with opportunities to make the online Trauma Recovery Certificate cost-effective. Although scholarships are unavailable for this program, you can pursue a variety of financial aid options, including the following:

• Complete the FAFSA® to determine financial aid eligibility. Our FAFSA code is 003313.
• Apply for a Sallie Mae loan.

For additional tuition details, visit the Program Overview page.

This online Trauma Recovery Certificate includes 12 credit hours. Visit the Program Overview page to learn more about each course.

You’ll complete four courses to earn your Trauma Recovery Certificate online. During the program, you’ll learn to engage in trauma-informed practice with an understanding of human behavior, trauma treatments, and best practices for clinical social work. Visit the Program Overview page for additional details.

The online Trauma Recovery Certificate does not include concentrations or specializations. All students complete four courses that delve into the treatment of trauma, human behavior, and clinical social work topics. To review the courses, visit the Program Overview page.

The online Trauma Recovery Certificate program prepares you to become a trauma social worker, rehabilitation counselor, and trauma-informed therapist. The courses also explore the treatment of traumatic symptomatology, making the program appeal to professionals interested in learning how to become a trauma counselor. Learn more about your career options by visiting the Careers page.

By earning this graduate certificate online, you can grow as a trauma-informed social worker through courses that explore human behavior, the treatment of trauma, and best practices for clinical social work. However, the program does not confer social work trauma certification, trauma counselor certification, or other professional certifications in trauma. To learn more about the program, visit the Program Overview page.