Crisis and Trauma Counselling

This is an elective unit that explores the issues involved in counselling people who have experienced situations of crisis and trauma. The unit provides the student with the knowledge and skills of the effective intervention and management of crisis, and introduces the student to the trauma cycle and the associated behaviours and emotional responses that victims of trauma experience. The student is made aware of the difference between crisis and trauma, and the types of intervention strategies that each requires. The unit explores the physiological and psychological reactions to crisis and trauma, critical incident stress debriefing, post-traumatic stress disorder, the effects of trauma caused by disaster, and the impact of trauma on children, adolescents, adults and the elderly. The student studies the ways in which counselling may assist clients and facilitate the effective management of their behaviour and emotional responses. The student is taught how to appropriately assess the client, how to respond  to a client in crisis from a traumatic experience or event, and when to refer the client to specialist services.

Learning Outcomes

• Define the key terminology and concepts of crisis and trauma counselling
• Describe the methodologies and strategies applied in crisis and trauma counselling
• Describe the situations in which crisis and trauma may occur
• Explain the physical, emotional, cognitive and behavioural symptoms of crisis and trauma
• Explain the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder
• Demonstrate key counselling skills for effective intervention in situations of crisis and trauma
• Identify and respond to the limits of expertise regarding the treatment of crisis and trauma
• Explore appropriate referral resources for clients in crisis and trauma

Content Areas

• Overview of Crisis and Trauma: Terminology and Definitions
• Physiological and Psychological Responses to Crisis and Trauma
• Assessment of Crisis and Trauma
• Modes of Crisis and Trauma Intervention
• Referral, Ethics, and Confidentiality
• PTSD and Complex Trauma
• Aggression, Violence and Substance Abuse
• Crises and Young People
• Suicidology
• Life Threatening Illness and Loss
• Community Criss and Trauma
• Self-care for Crisis and Trauma Counsellors

Unit Duration and Workload

This unit involves a total of 36 hours of face to face delivery of self directed study including educator contact in flexible delivery modes, generating a further 54 hours of self-study per unit including research and related study activities, including assessment. This translates to 7.5 hours per week for the unit.