Diploma in Traumatology and PTSD

Course Modules

1. Introduction to the course; history of trauma theory (Janets’ phases, DSM inclusion) and treatment. Complex-PTSD and emerging issues (culture, labelling, legal implications, controversies)

2. Theories and models of trauma; the body and trauma, impact on the brain and memory, Polyvagal Theory

3. Theories and models of trauma II; Rothschild, Levine, Le Doux, Terr, Herman, Van der Kolk, Ogden, Fisher

4. Trauma symptomatology: dissociation, memory loss, depression, anxiety, arousal, activation

5. Assessment and measurement: instruments and debate about relevance and value. Retraumatisation considerations

6. Treatment approaches and considerations, contra-indications, working with the body and breath. Importance of safety. Prosody. Relationship with a therapist.

7. Treatment approaches and considerations: flashbacks, nightmares and sleep. Evidence and controversies

8. Trauma; traumatic deaths, recognizing traumatic reactions in adults and children, PTSD, secondary trauma, inter-generational trauma, societal trauma

9. Promoting resilience and post-traumatic growth, what works for trauma survivors

10. Self-care; compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma – how to recognize and manage

Course Award

City Colleges Diploma

Assessments/Examinations

Students must attend at least 80% of classes to graduate with either the Diploma or Certificate of Attendance unless a serious and verifiable reason for further absence is provided.

If completing the course online, students’ attendance and participation in the live or recorded classes are tracked through Moodle.

A pass grade on the written assignment will be required for awarding the Diploma.

The assignment/project must be handed in on the due date unless a sound reason for lateness is provided. In such instances, an extension may be awarded at the discretion of the lecturer.

Lecturer

Nicola Mitchell

Nicola Mitchell has over 20 years’ experience of working with children, adolescents and adults as a professionally qualified social worker, accredited psychotherapist, and psychologist. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Social Studies (BSS, CQSW) from Trinity College Dublin in 1994. Since then she has worked as a child protection social worker, and as a medical social worker in a children’s hospital working primarily with children and their families with a diagnosis of life-limiting or life-threatening illnesses. Much of Nicola’s work was supporting families through loss, anticipatory grief and grief after bereavement.

Nicola is a professionally qualified psychotherapist and has worked as a Bereavement Counsellor for children and adolescents for over a decade with a national children’s charity. She worked for a number of years as a Bereavement Counsellor with families bereaved by suicide and more recently as a Student Counsellor with third level university students.

Nicola also has a Higher Diploma in Psychology (H Dip Psych) from UCD achieving a first class honours, and a Master’s of Science in Applied Psychology (MSc App Psych) (TCD) achieving the award of distinction. Nicola’s research dissertations at undergraduate and postgraduate level were both in the area of bereaved parents with no surviving children. Nicola is currently in the final year of the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology in Trinity College Dublin. She works primarily from psychodynamic and attachment perspectives but also incorporates CBT as well as other modalities into therapeutic interventions. Nicola maintains a keen interest in areas related to attachment, loss, trauma, suicide and murder-suicide.

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