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Certificate in Mental Health Trauma

(Non-degree)

Purpose

The Certificate in Mental Health Trauma program is designed to prepare mental health professionals to be more fully prepared to work with trauma survivors. It is designed to provide mental health professionals (in pursuit of a master's or higher degree, as well as those with a master's or higher degree in a mental health field) with a foundation to understand the physiological and psychological impact of trauma on trauma survivors, their families, and the community.

The program allows great flexibility and an opportunity for participants to choose from a selection of courses to meet the needs and interests of the individual, with the opportunity of specialization in one of three areas:

1. School trauma/disaster (e.g., school shootings, suicides, gang violence, child abductions, and other acts of violence)
2. Community trauma/disaster (e.g., human-made disasters [terrorism, bombing, shootings, hostage situations, etc.] and natural disasters [earthquake, floods, fire, tornado, hurricane, etc.])
3. International trauma/disaster (e.g., human-made [terrorism, bombing, shootings, war, etc.] and natural disasters [earthquake, floods, fire, tornado, hurricane, etc.])

All workshops address issues of gender, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and spirituality. Certificate holders should understand that the certificate does not guarantee eligibility to serve as a relief worker with any local or national organization.

Important: Many relief agencies require that mental health professionals serving in that capacity hold a mental health license and must verify that their license is in good standing with the state licensure agency.

Program Objectives

Educational Objectives

To enable students to:

• Possess a foundational knowledge and understanding of trauma, as well as knowledge and skills in the chosen area of specialization
• Learn how trauma and disaster impacts the emotional, physiological, and relational aspects of a person's life
• Learn how to engage individuals, couples, families, and communities in dealing effectively with the after effects of trauma and disaster

Professional Objectives

To enable students to:

• Be prepared professionally to intervene in school trauma, community trauma, and international trauma and disaster

Admission Requirements

Individuals wanting to pursue one or more trauma specializations should request and complete the special Trauma Certificate Application Form.

Students must be enrolled in a graduate degree program in counseling, social work, marriage and family therapy, psychology, and/or psychiatry, or have earned a master's or doctoral degree in one of the above mental health professions.

Transfer Credit

All continuing education hours toward the Certificate in Mental Health Trauma program (except those indicated by an asterisk below) must be earned through workshops sponsored by the George Fox University Graduate Department of Counseling (exceptions will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and must be approved by the GDC chair). Transferability of credits earned at this institution and transferred to another is at the discretion of the receiving institution. Consult the registrar's office for information on eligibility of transfer credit.

Residence Requirements

Of the 87 clock hours required for the Certificate in Mental Health Trauma program, a minimum of 47 clock hours must be taken in resident study at George Fox University. All work leading to the certificate must be completed within five years from the time of matriculation. Extension of this limit requires approval of the Graduate Department of Counseling (GDC) Faculty. However, only one such extension may be considered due to special circumstances, such as ill health. Reinstatement to the program after withdrawal requires Admissions Committee action and may subject the student to additional requirements for the program.

Course Requirements

The Certificate in Mental Health Trauma program is generally 5 years in length with 87 clock hours of course work required as a minimum for graduation. Of those hours, 47 clock hours are in core course work with an additional 40 clock hours of electives in the chosen specialty area(s). All course work is offered or sponsored by the Graduate Department of Counseling and presented in the form of workshops. Completion of the workshops provides continuing education units (CEU) only, and not graduate credit, meeting the continuing education requirements for most mental health licensure. Local, national, and international experts in the field teach the workshops.

There is no requirement concerning the order in which workshops must be taken. However, the following are often best taken first:

1. Overview of the Physiological Impact of Trauma
2. Overview of the Psychological Impacts of Trauma
3. Trauma Responses, Needs, and Treatment From a Developmental Process

Graduation Requirements

Individuals who have completed all of the certificate requirements must submit copies of all certificates of attendance, including documentation of hours. After review of this material, those individuals who have met all requirements will be awarded a trauma certificate.

Curriculum Plan

Required Workshops (47 clock hours)
Overview of the Physiological Impact of Trauma	8 clock hours
Overview of the Psychological Impacts of Trauma	6 clock hours
Trauma Responses, Needs, and Treatment From a Developmental Process Using a Systems Perspective	8 clock hours
Psychopharmacology and Trauma	6 clock hours
Self-care and Vicarious Traumatization	6 clock hours
Critical Incident Stress Debriefing	8 clock hours
Functioning Effectively as a Crisis Team Member	5 clock hours

Specializations (40 clock hours)

Students may select workshop electives from one or multiple specializations for a total of 40 clock hours.

School Trauma/Disaster Workshops
Nature and Cause of School Violence	6 clock hours
Different Kinds of Violence: Prevention and Intervention	8 clock hours
Crisis Intervention With Children	6 clock hours
Recovery and Healing From School Violence	8 clock hours
Students must choose 12 clock hours of additional electives.
Community Trauma/Disaster Workshops
Crisis Intervention Strategies in Natural Disasters	8 clock hours
Crisis Intervention Strategies in Human-made Disasters	8 clock hours
Dual Disorders	6 clock hours
Family Treatment Approaches to Trauma	6 clock hours
Students must choose 12 clock hours of additional electives.
International Trauma/Disaster Workshops
How to Assess Trauma/Disaster Needs Within Other Countries	6 clock hours
Culturally Sensitive Relief Work	8 clock hours
Working Collaboratively: A Systems Approach	4 clock hours
Helping the Helper: Providing Help to Other Rescue Workers	4 clock hours
Training, Supporting, and Empowering Nationals	6 clock hours
Students must choose 12 clock hours of additional electives.

Additional Electives (Optional)

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing I*	12 clock hours
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing II*	12 clock hours
Trauma and Grief Recovery	6 clock hours
*These couses can be taken only by mental health professionals who hold an active mental health license.