Here's your customized 6-step learning plan for trauma counseling, designed for a beginner with 2 hours per week, a hands-on learning style, and the goal to "be able to assess trauma in a counseling session." This version includes links to recommended support materials such as YouTube videos, published articles, and books.
Total time: 24 hours over 12 weeks
Step 1: Knowledge Assessment
Core Components of Trauma Counseling:
- Understanding Trauma
- Definitions and types (acute, chronic, complex)
- Trauma responses (emotional, cognitive, physiological)
- Developmental and Cultural Considerations
- Impact of trauma across the lifespan
- Cultural influences on trauma experience and expression
- Trauma Assessment Foundations
- Trauma-informed care principles SAMHSA+1SpringerLink+1
- Therapeutic presence and rapport
- Ethical and safety considerations
- Screening and Assessment Tools
- Clinical interviews
- Common assessment tools (e.g., ACEs, PCL-5)
- Observational skills
- Differential Diagnosis and Comorbidity
- PTSD vs. other disorders arXiv+4Psychotherapy.net+4PMC+4
- Co-occurring conditions such as substance use, depression, anxiety
- Low: Definitions, trauma responses, ethical basics
- Medium: Rapport building, screening tools
- High: Differential diagnosis, cultural nuances
- Foundational counseling skills → trauma-informed principles → trauma assessment → interpreting tools → differential diagnosis
- Trauma definitions, trauma-informed care principles, basic interviewing skills
- Foundational Counseling Skills
- Empathic Listening
- Cultural Sensitivity
- Understanding Trauma Light University+7www.counseling.org+7PMC+7
- Types of Trauma
- Physiological & Psychological Responses
- Trauma-Informed Principles
- Safety, Trust, Empowerment, Collaboration
- Assessment Foundations
- Rapport
- Ethics & Scope OUP Academic+2News-Times+2SAGE Journals+2
- Interviewing Skills PMC+2Psychotherapy.net+2OUP Academic+2
- Tools for Assessment
- ACEs PMC+8YouTube+8Psychotherapy.net+8
- PCL-5
- Trauma Symptom Inventory YouTube+1American Psychological Association+1
- Interpretation & Differential Diagnosis
- PTSD vs. Anxiety/Depression
- Co-occurring Conditions YouTube
Step 2: Learning Path Design
Progression Milestones:
- Learn trauma types and responses
- Master trauma-informed principles YouTube
- Practice basic trauma-sensitive interviewing
- Learn and use screening tools cctasi.northwestern.edu+1News-Times+1
- Identify red flags and comorbid signs
Week | Topic | Time |
1–2 | Understanding trauma and its effects | 4 hrs |
| 3–4 | Trauma-informed care principles | 4 hrs |
| 5–6 | Rapport and safety in trauma interviews | 4 hrs |
| 7–8 | Using trauma screening tools | 4 hrs |
| 9–10 | Practice role-plays and application | 4 hrs |
| 11–12 | Case reviews and red flag recognition | 4 hrs |
Step 3: Resource Curation (Hands-On Learning)
Top Hands-On Learning Resources:
- Interactive Practice:
- “Trauma Informed Care: Essential Counseling Skills” – YouTube Playlist YouTube
- Provides information about trauma-informed care guidelines and counseling techniques for helping trauma survivors.
- Watch on YouTube
- Videos + Activities:
- “Mastering Trauma-Informed Screening and Assessment” YouTube+1YouTube+1
- Offers insights into effective trauma screening and assessment methods.
- Watch on YouTube
- “The Role of Assessment in Trauma Treatment” YouTube
- Discusses the importance of assessment in guiding trauma treatment.
- Watch on YouTube
- Reading + Practice Prompts:
- “Prioritizing Trauma-Informed Care” – Article by the American Counseling Association www.counseling.org
- Explores the foundational framework of trauma-informed care.
- Read Article
- “Screening and Assessment - Trauma-Informed Care in Behavioral Health Services” NCBI
- Provides guidelines on conducting trauma assessments.
- Read on NCBI
- Books:
- *“The Body Keeps the Score”