PS/HL 380 - Trauma-Informed Care: Principles, Interventions, and Policies

This course introduces students to the concept of psychological trauma, providing a comprehensive understanding of post-traumatic processes and intervention models within a public health framework. It explores the continuum of care—from psychosocial and early interventions to clinical treatment—to examine trauma-informed care by integrating perspectives from psychology, neuroscience, and public policy. Students will become familiar with the following topics: intervention and treatment assessment, neurobiological and developmental aspects of complex trauma, principles and applications of trauma-informed care, risk and protective factors in post-traumatic syndromes, post-traumatic growth and resilience-building strategies. 

The course combines clinical knowledge with organizational and policy models to prepare students to recognize and to respond to the complexity of psychological trauma across the lifespan and in varied professional contexts. Students will analyze existing government initiatives that promote trauma-informed care at a local, regional, and national levels, critically evaluating their effectiveness in diverse settings. Through a hands-on, experiential learning approach, students will engage with real-world case studies, class debates, guest speakers, and course-related field experiences, ensuring a practical and applied understanding of trauma-informed interventions in public health and clinical settings.