This module will give students a systematic understanding of the nature of traumatic incidents through a variety of methods including case-studies involving natural and human made disasters.  In addition, students will learn a variety of models of planning and responding to critical incidents including organisational responses and their impact. Pre and post incident interventions will be considered along with current debates in crisis intervention and critical evaluation of established techniques.

Students will engage with extensive coverage of the nature of post-traumatic stress and its historical conceptualisations, including psychological, neurobiological, physiological, cultural, political, economic and spiritual perspectives across the lifespan. 

The current perspectives and theoretical models of the holistic approach to psychological trauma and its many manifestations including acute stress and post-traumatic stress disorder and co-morbid conditions such as depression. These will be explored in detail as will the role of the brain including memory and neurobiological processes.  

Students will explore the range of diverse criteria for trauma related symptoms and their assessment, classification and treatment. 

Models of intervention for psychological trauma will be critically examined and the current controversies and debates surrounding ameliorating factors, co-morbid conditions and developmental outcomes will be explored. The impact of trauma on different populations and a consideration of this in relation to specific points in the lifespan. 

Students will critically examine current research evidence relating to a range of therapeutic responses to psychological trauma. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence recommendations will form a key reference point for this examination but a wide range of interventions including psychological, physiological and pharmacological will be considered. Responses to co-morbid conditions such as depression will also be critically reviewed.  Research relating to grief, bereavement and traumatic bereavement will be considered. Students will review a range of assessment tools and will examine the process of administration and the ethical and procedural aspects of this process.  The role of medico-legal proceedings and their implications will be evaluated. Current research on the concept of post-traumatic growth and its facilitation will be critically examined and aspects of therapist self-care considered.