Course 2J_Basic Guide to Traumatic Stress, Complex Trauma, and Resilience

Course overview

The training document was prepared and published in 2017 in the public domain by National Center for Child Traumatic Stress on behalf of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network. This work was funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This course document serves as a basic clinical guide which assists clinicians in identifying strengths and functionality patterns which can contribute to the development of resiliency and emotional survival of trauma - including Complex Trauma. The Study Guide has three sections, each of which focuses upon a different aspect of trauma and resilience. The first section of the Study Guide -- 'Family Resilience and Traumatic Stress' -- focuses upon the family as a unit and the factors which impact their reaction to the traumatic event or ongoing traumatic circumstances, and the development of resilience in the face of trauma. The second section of the document -- 'Resilience and Child Traumatic Stress' -- focuses specifically on the children within the family: What does resilience look like in children? What factors might enhance resilience in children after traumatic events? What are some initial steps to enhance recovery during treatment or service delivery? The third section of this document focuses on the specific topic of 'What is Complex Trauma?' in youth, and how it differs from the trauma experienced in events such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, seeing someone hurt or killed, a major car accident, etc.. The format of this third section can be utilized with young adults, teens and pre-teens as a 'therapeutic workbook' under professional guidance of the treatment provider. The authors indicate that this 'workbook' format pertaining to Complex Trauma can be used by clinicians 'to have conversations—sometimes hard, but often freeing—with young adults, teens, pre-teens (and even some . . . 7-9 year olds).' CEU By Net sees this section of the course as perhaps the most compelling, in that it places the understanding and resolution of Complex Trauma into an unusual and workable framework which can serve as a step-by-step guide for mental health and addiction counselors, social workers, family therapists, CEAPs, and their clients. Goals of this course: 1. Learn to identify family strengths, functionality patterns, and other factors which can contribute to development of resilience and emotional survival of trauma, vs. those factors and characteristics which inhibit resilience and recovery. 2. Learn some initial steps which providers can take with families to enhance their resilience following a traumatic event. 3. Understand the nature of 'child traumatic stress' and 'resilience' in children, as individuals, and what factors and clinical interventions can enhance resilience following a traumatic event. 4. Learn the meaning of 'Complex Trauma' and how it differs from the trauma experienced in events such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, seeing someone hurt or killed, a major car accident, etc.. 5. Learn a specific therapeutic intervention to use with young adults, adolescents and pre-teens who are experiencing Complex Trauma.