Trauma Assessment and Interventions – CRIS 608

CG • Section 8WK • 11/08/2019 to 04/16/2020 • Modified 09/05/2023

Course Description

A focused investigation of specific techniques and interventions utilized in trauma care. Focus is given to the physical and psychological effects of trauma, a Christian theology of suffering, and assessment use in counseling clients in trauma.

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

Rationale

It is undeniable that today’s society is saturated by violence. The average child will witness over 200,000 acts of violence on TV by the time he/she turns 18. Around 35% of the women and 22% of the men who arrive at hospital emergency rooms are there due to domestic violence. While some who experience trauma of this type are able to adequately cope, many are not. Counselors and community workers need to be aware of the effects of trauma on individuals and ways in which these effects may be treated, this class is intended to address that need.

Course Assignment

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (4)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences and are the online equivalent of a classroom discussion among students. Therefore, the student is expected to post a thread on the topic assigned. Threads must address the topic in a clear and concise fashion, using outside sources (quotes from course textbooks, other books, and/or journal articles) as needed to support his/her point. Also, the student will reply to some of the comments on his/her thread (as needed). Threads are usually 1–2 paragraphs while replies may be fairly brief. Scholarly sources must be cited in current APA or Turabian standards. 

Research Paper Assignment

Utilizing information presented in the textbooks as well as theoretical and practical elements from academic and Christian sources, the student will write an original paper of at least 10 pages of body text but no more than 12. The paper must include a title page, abstract, and references in current APA or Turabian standards; the paper must summarize the student’s understanding of violence and spirituality in general or violence and spirituality shown in relationship to some major aspect (domestic, school, sexual, and workplace violence as well as natural disaster). Also, the paper must address factors necessary for successfully coping with the effects of violence and spiritual and professional approaches to treatment. A minimum of 10 scholarly sources (books and journal articles) is required in addition to the textbooks (if the student chooses to cite these). Grades will be assigned based on quality of content, how well current APA or Turabian standards are adhered to, the richness of citations utilized, quality of expression, and biblical integration presented.

Quizzes (4)

There will be 4 quizzes covering the presentations and all required reading from the textbooks. Each test will be open-book/open-notes, contain 25 multiple-choice and true/false questions, and have a 30-minute time limit. Since each test has a time limit, only by becoming familiar with the material in advance will each test be completed successfully. Time begins when the test is opened and multiple attempts are not allowed. The questions are selected at random, so each test will vary in its content.