Trauma Concentration

If you are in a clinical degree program at Southwestern College you have the opportunity to add a Concentration in Trauma.

The MA in Counseling, MA in Art Therapy/Counseling and MA in Art Therapy for Clinical Professionals are the specific programs where you can add the trauma concentration. Adding a concentration to your degree can offer you leverage for highlighting a specialty area for future employment. It may also be advantageous in certain states for licensing purposes. The trauma concentration focuses on crisis interventions and holistic trauma-informed care and repair.

The two courses that make up the concentration are described here and are taken in sequence:

TCC 500 Trauma 1: Introduction to Trauma and Crisis Counseling 3 quarter units

Students will examine the impact of crisis and/or critical incidents and the potential neurobiological responses while obtaining skills and practicing techniques for assessing and intervening in specific crisis situations including suicide assessment and prevention. Students will explore multidisciplinary responses to crises, emergencies, and disasters. Cognitive, affective, behavioral, and neurological effects associated with trauma will be introduced; brief interventions to address stress responses will be addressed.

TCC 600 Trauma 2: Experiential Approaches to Trauma Treatment 3 quarter units

Students will examine the impact of complex trauma and associated neurobiological responses including the impact of traumatic experience on development, memory, learning, attachment, social skills, relationship, and intimacy. Students will explore experiential and somatic methods for assessing and treating cumulative trauma. Cognitive, affective, behavioral, and neurological effects associated with trauma will be introduced; brief, intermediate, and long-term approaches as well as assessment strategies will be introduced within cultural and developmental frameworks. Methods of self-care to address compassion fatigue and vicarious traumatization will also be a central focus of this course.

To apply for the concentration in Trauma, please contact admissions@swc.edu.