SWK6685 Social Work Practice with Trauma and Interpersonal Violence

Abstract

1 WURZWEILER SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK YESHIVA UNIVERSITY Social Work Practice with Trauma and Interpersonal Violence SWK 6685 I. Course Description: ¶Trauma and Interpersonal Violence is a clinical course that examines trauma and interpersonal violence from a critical lens exploring the various types of trauma, its effect on human lives and trauma-informed, evidence-based interventions for social work practice. Exploring the prevalence and complex dynamics of trauma and interpersonal violence from an ecosystems lens, this course contextualizes the environment in which traumatic events occur, analyzing the historical roots of movements and social policy influencing social thought about trauma and response strategies. Students will learn to think critically about the intersection of sociopolitical discourse with existing intervention approaches, as well as the intersectionality of persons vulnerable to trauma exposure and their historical, cultural legacies, and the importance of reflexive practice to effectively engage in the work. The biopsychosocial impact of interpersonal violence, relationally based trauma and traumatic events will be examined, and its effects on the developmental life course. Students will learn about the neurobiological impact and complex manifestations of trauma, including the effects of surviving adverse childhood experiences as it relates to social determinants of health. The various types of traumatic event exposure in childhood and adulthood will be reviewed. Issues of social justice and oppression will be highlighted in relation to social work practice with survivors of trauma, particularly the manifestation of power dynamics and potential re-enactment in the therapeutic relationship. ¶Throughout the entirety of this course, special attention will be given to indirect trauma, including secondary and vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue and burnout to inform students about the potential indirect effects of the work. Students will learn to self-evaluate their potential indirect responses, develop personalized self-care strategies and explore macro level interventions to effectively prepare them for practice with survivors. Thus, learning objectives related to reflexivity and self-care will be woven throughout course assignments and in reflection papers to prepare students for practice. ¶Students will learn the importance of trauma-informed approaches as they explore evidence- based models of interventions at the micro, mezzo and macro levels of care. Herman’s seminal framework will be reviewed to inform students’ general approach to working with survivors. Thereafter, more specific models of intervention will be examined: individual and group strategies of cognitive behavioral therapy such as trauma-informed CBT and prolonged exposure; narrative and mindfulness-based approaches; eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR); somatic experiencing; child and family interventions such as the ARC model, and; posttraumatic growth as it relates to protective factors and resiliency when working with all survivors.