Trauma: exploring issues, support and recovery in the pastoral context (DP3005Y)

Content

This unit explores the impacts and experiences of trauma in human experience, including via industrial and workplace disasters, natural disasters, tragic accidents, domestic violence, child abuse, assaults and murder. It will begin by helping students to develop a broad understanding of the trauma and its psychobiological impacts on individual development and relationships. It will then focus on trauma in these contexts, including an exploration of complex trauma which emerges as a consequence of international conflict/war and terrorism. The unit also explores theological and spiritual perspectives on trauma, as well as psychological, pastoral and spiritual support strategies for victims of trauma. It also introduces concepts of post-traumatic growth in relation to pastoral care.

Learning outcomes

Unit sequence

DP1001Y: Foundations for Pastoral Practice. A brief confidential interview with the lecturer will be required prior to enrolment in this unit in relation to its traumatic content.

Pedagogy

Lecture and seminars, with audiovisual resources, case studies, small group work, and guided reading.

Indicative Bibliography

• Briere, John and Catherine Scott. Principles of Trauma Therapy: A Guide to Symptoms, Evaluation, and Treatment. 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2014.
• Courtois, Christine A. and Julian D. Ford, eds. Treating Complex Traumatic Stress Disorders: Scientific Foundations and Therapeutic Models. New York: Guilford Press, 2013.
• Herman, Judith L. Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence-from Domestic Abuse to Political Terror. New York: Basic Books, 2015.
• Jones, Serene. Trauma and Grace: Theology in a Ruptured World. 2nd edition. Louisville, KY: Westminister, 2019.
• Joseph, Stephen. What Doesn't Kill Us: The New Psychology of Posttraumatic Growth. New York: Basic Books, 2011.
  
• Park, Crystal L., Joseph M. Currier, J. Irene Harris, and Jeanne M. Slattery. Trauma, Meaning and Spirituality. Translating Research into Clinical Practice. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2017.
• van der Kolk, Bessel. The Body Keeps the Score. Brain, Mind and Body in the Healing of Trauma. New York: Penguin Books, 2015.
• Walker, Donald F., Christine A. Courtois, and Jamie D. Aten, eds. Spiritually Oriented Psychotherapy for Trauma. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2014.
• Werdel, Mary Beth and Robert J. Wicks. Primer on Posttraumatic Growth: An Introduction and Guide. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2012.
• Wilson, John P. and Boris Drožđek. Broken Spirits: The Treatment of Traumatized Asylum Seekers, Refugees, War and Torture Victims. New York: Brunner-Routledge, 2004.

Assessment