Trauma Emphasis

Among mental health professionals, the potential long-term psychological costs of exposure to trauma has long been recognized. Adverse consequences have been well documented by researchers who study combat veterans, people who have experienced mass casualty events (e.g., disasters and terrorist attacks), domestic violence, and adult survivors of genocide, sexual assault, childhood abuse, or car accidents.

In response to the growing scientific literature, there is national support for developing a trauma-informed workforce across all healthcare domains, as evidenced by initiatives undertaken by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Joint Commission.

Recent natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and international conflicts have hastened demand for clinicians with competence in assessing and treating trauma survivors. Alongside clinicians, trauma researchers, teachers, and policy makers who possess the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to meet growing public health needs are greatly needed.

The Trauma Area of Emphasis provides students with a theoretical, research, and clinical foundation necessary for developing competency in working with traumatized adults, children, adolescents, and their families.

You must complete the core coursework required of all clinical students. In addition, you must complete a series of three required courses (9 units) that focus on trauma psychology.

Trauma core coursework must be completed over the course of two years, [2nd and 3rd] or [3rd and 4th] of the PhD program.

Students should plan their schedules carefully as successful completion of the perquisite CBT course are required for enrolling in the advanced courses. 

Prerequisites:

To enroll in the Assessment and Treatment of Trauma courses, you must complete CBT and the Foundations of Clinical Trauma Psychology with a grade at or above an A-.

• Foundations of Clinical Trauma Psychology (required prerequisite for the Assessment and Treatment course)
• Assessment and Treatment of Trauma in Children and Adolescents
• Elective PAU course with a child or adolescent trauma component*

Although the focus of assessment of this specialization track is on children and adolescents, it also includes adult family members, such as parents and grandparents, who are integral members of the process and outcome.

• Foundations of Clinical Trauma Psychology (required prerequisite for the Assessment and Treatment course)
• Assessment and Treatment of Trauma in Adults
• Elective PAU course with an adult trauma component

Students who elect to complete both the Child and Adolescent Trauma Specialization and the Adult Trauma Specialization may fulfill the elective requirement (i.e., #3 requirement listed above) by completing a single course (i.e., not two courses – one for each specialization track) if aspects of adult and child/adolescent trauma are addressed at some point during the course. No course approval for the selected elective course is needed from the Director of the Trauma Area of Emphasis.

*  Students can take CBT concurrently with Foundations of Clinical Trauma Psychology course, but not concurrently with the Assessment and Treatment of Trauma courses. CBT and Foundations of Clinical Trauma Psychology are prerequisite courses that need to be completed prior to taking the Assessment and Treatment of Trauma in Children and Assessment and Treatment of Trauma in Adults courses.